American Eagles: P-51 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

·51 MUSTA G UNITS OF THE TH AIR FO CE

AMERICAN EAGLES ircraft of the same modet alld conflguratioll are ollly visually dlstillgulshable by Ihe markillgs carried, this pailltwork servillg to provide

A

individual/dent/lies and, in

CLASSIC

tbe case oJ 111illtary ",aeb/lles, oftell ullil asslgllmellt alld lactical markillgs, Additiollalf.n unofficial adornments are also sometimes applied by ANOI'E' Only a handl'ulo(MlftWlp.., I~ j5.\nl FG ~co;I:t.m ~ p>.inl.~'I\iIlWnbnna"~ P-510 Pnulnlff ·'b(~"'~2111 Ul.() bnnIt_ operatillg personnel. The MlChaircran_hMdn:' ,,~

r>pc1'Iuor.....'C'R' .....)IIOIoqU3Oron

l'OOJn.'fher

The first UK arrivals Eatty prodt.Jct)on P·S1Bs were Inttlally shipped 10 the UK dunn& 5ePlember.october 1943. and -ete ~ to eQt,lIP Ihtee Ninth AJr Force fChter aroups. As receiVed. the MustanCS were pcwtted In the then .tandard USMF

Neuer"

canoufIa&e

scheme of Dark OlIVe Drab (shade 41)

uppetSUftacn WId Gllrf (Made 43) Irtdet'SUffacn. The .ptMer was o.n OlIVe Drab. £Mfy producbon ..,Ctal'l featuted the fll'lt vefSlOtl at the '.tat WId bet· Muon" IMcnaa with • ted surrCU'ld. but most ..rcraft thM reached the UK had the blue SUfround. Of had th.. ~

e-nted befOl'e rNChll'll ~OM. On the fusetaIe. the dlImelef of the central btue dlK w,th the wt'lrte ~ was JO 1I"IChes. centred 36 ItlCI'IeS for..-ard of .tatlOtl 248 {reat of the tad'atOf MdIOfl On the UOP8f 'eft WId lower SUffacet the naflOt"l8llOSll"" 'Wat centred on .ut.lOl"l 186. klcM.ed .. the outwatd end of the tnm tab. and approXImately 55 1111nChe. from the oP The ~ of the centr81 ckMce 'Was 35 Inche•. The ~ttIOntnc and .Ile of the

rem" rc

w.,.

(I

syslem of uM mat1lings had been

devlsed whereby the 8Ircraft of the group's 353l'd. 355tJ'1 Mld 356th FSs would be ldentlftedon in "utIoIk. ... IltlIfUtft-ol

The first Mustang obtalfle(l by the EIghth AIr Force was an RAf Mar1l; I In 'IWtl1Ch Rolls-Royce had ~nst8l1ed a Mertln er"C.Ine, 5eflt to Bovlngdon, in Hertfordshlre. for evaluatIOn by VIII fi&11ter Commaf1cfs ";r TechniCal SectJon, It was given a standard USAAf camouf\age scheme of ()1M! Drab and NewaI Grey and later the white type ICIentJty bands as well. Powered by a Mer11n 65 and deslgl\ated 8 Mustane X, the (ehter's RAf seoaI (AM121) was painted on the fin In USMF fashIOn, and the code VQ-R was applied on the fuselage In wt\lte. The first EIghth Air Force P·51B fJ&hter group, the 357th, was obt81ned from the Nlflth Air Force in an excharCe for the P-47'-8q\,lIpped 3S8th FGthe two groups exchan&ed bases at the end of January 1944, the 357th mcMn& trom R8)'don to Lelston (both In Suffolk) and the 358th the reverse. At this time, the 354th FG. wtllch had flown Its first combat mISSion on 1 December

...

_~-nl,

..

~npcnn'll.T

IlodtJillhmlknc-do-__

fromlhtU41hf(. P'i18 n'('~\1 ...~ vi the' tina rndonI

ant

toroptnlolwulu:lC'

,.....,<Ml

1943, was stdl operatll'\& under VUl AiNer Command control, and continued to do so for

some time

to come. The 357th FG Mustangs did not join the 354th on combat mIssions until 11 February 1944.

The tad numberS of the first three blocks of P-SICs were of seven dl<s. four being painted on the fin and three on the rudder. SpacIng between the numerals was one Inch. With a later batch of P-51Bs havitlf, seveo-dtglt tall number$ (althou&h four fieures were painted on the fin

un

Th~muddH:tJ

and three on the rudder, as ""rth the p-Sle). the spaclna between the figures was two Inches. As P-SICs had a dc:M'rwated en&Ine, most of the Dallas-be,1I1t aIrcraft were supplied to taetkal reconf\8lssance unrt.s

J'.'ill!oI't~.>,62ndt"V

The 8trtval of P-51Bs In natural metaJ finish in Februaty 1944 led to type identity martlll"llS be.,.. ordered In black. Meanwhile. adverse reports 01 the wMe band bteakltlC up the dlstlnctMl 1qU8(& to MT Iud

.~'~Ih K.;."~

phnl ,,!'NIlIe' 'urpci"njU)

oh.tN

..

~""1Iw

.am Kepner.

to paint the noses

IOtW In fOOOYwlfl,

surt. end by earty March the 4th Fe 'Was palrrure the spuv'Ier$ end nose band or Its Mustangs

......lnJHI"'\.li"l

'1o'dl .... _ . . . , ""'II:bff.Io

WI

pet'm1S$1Of1

of ItS aircraft In a different colour for each SQUIldron. Other f.ghter Units were not

lIb 1 HlU,.

llu.uic

""",,on.Blr

.lh~"

P'i18IW>l419QPUul the- \.~llh Nlth F(. • .... ptlolollnf'hcd .II 1)ChdC'nlon 1~,"'rwt1 19-Illlx- -m;ill.hllC' «to\) ... ho\T lhe "'lflS. ruolintht':llntlullhe .l1n.l':Iflll.l.'lutI .. ru-'C'l.qtC'l.InL in".lllnl

if 8 •

P-51 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

The P·51 Mustang and Derivatives • un

9

1lw:tlfWltll"'-"t

........ -~

~.W~hl(,

"tr:.'WlID..oo..'('dup .riI~\Cd'C'du\

olt\ToJnbUknlhi, rnoc/JfV~tI''''\11t

-4\-().Il)l1lw:.hilcl'\n mdNdok'rual baIlrJ ~nt.bttnJWIICN

OUIdnt*,..",t'lnnIt \b\19-IIAnI~

p1mo-.lfootht ....looo:

Iud.ullwhc' eumpk11'4.VI PSIS/C. Il"I the 354th F5 ~ ~ It"etn l.q)ef undIt'Iwt.... YrhlIe OCherS. e-bC:UIa'ty eft.eJ [).{My. ~

Musl.JnCs 'etn8ItMf1C Sllvet' ~ Ifeen was .ppl $d to lhoe uppetlU,fec8S of 1M ....mp.

_Jed

crouP

this P-51D In ructrt).

ca'l"lOUftace

t(7UWl~ • • W

fuse.

CIaIbOme KlMatd·S P·5H).10 44-14292 QP-A. whic:h he new after assunqoorrmand of the Group 'wi Nc:Mmber 1944, Thts hed e S'Mf1 of csartt ween a~ the top of the WId a dIsnJ~ pattern of the same cokIur on the bare metal uppersu-fac:es of the 'tJWW'Cs WId tallplane. The pattern was made up 01 narrow WfNY banl:1s ~ out lrom the Ieadlrc to tntlllfC edges. later lfl January 1945. the CO Of the 334th FS, Mill HowM:l 'Deacon' HM!Iy. had the u~rsurfecesof his P.51().15 44-15347 QP-J plllnle.51& (I! 1Il69-11; 8 4 ·II;1;nd 11;·106839 8 4 E') tuu: unll"~)· \lripe).ThI) phOI0\U3ph w;I.) I~keoon,or )hortt)·aftcr.6Junc 19-H.~nd boefoR'rode kllo;'t') Iw boeco R"n)I;l;lcd.CV·II ...a... I~lcr lUtflCdUtffellfl"flJilto"and n'mll..I31t) R'ktplnl for u,.;-In lrainlfllt (codnl CV.(».oolr 10 boe kl!iIil In Ilk Nonh !'non

., fdKuM) 19-15

RIC,If, Atno.1I\46chf\ '01"""", 80.... olnpnTlltCn'llR".wcnft IIIIIW'dF~". ... Jl,llk lilt unM.lJ>rl>c>J un"JUfU. '" th.d W'O'l ,IIW2t'oU\ phol-.!h.m1'>II:U· "II!. uf umlluo..llC lb.tIo.

thl:rnr~d.u\

1l'T"'....llhth.. ~1''Of\ICT1tUtI.It'''-.

ll1ttfluPf""mdlt$:hl

IM ... UlItI~~

24 IOChes of the tuseiage

dedurC JUSt

forward of the fm also paInted WIth camouflage green.

Unl:ke the 20th FG. the 55th FG did not have IndlVKtual aircraft letters pamted on the geometric

snape. F"lMIty. squadron codes fem&ned as lhey wefe for the P·38 - eG. Cl and CV for the 38th. 338lh and 343n:l FSs resPKtt'o'eIy. In March 1944 the 55th had been asscned )'eflow and wMe check.erboatds as a t/(lUP ~ btJt u.s ..... as ne'o'ef appbed p r ~ because of the WOft( IfI'oIOt'o'ed lI"I physICally PiWlw-e t onto the P-38. and the wouP"s seheIJ

lomc'Ctthc"1tl(j.~.1.I1c

.Hrll/, 1Ih')I/ N/GIIT ..I \I)NfG1IT lnlhc'fkkl un>OUfl;q:r: 00 .\61nd"'" \".....IlIC-. ...I>u-u;.lI" ...v ntlnc-dlO.hc ...1"P'""... tf~"rlhe .. U1lt .. nd t.llll'bnIIl(til,~~( •• tn • • I!IC'~"ln.nll.... tl1nT'l

\4"ct .. hoklht~plncol(,II 11HHUllll/tJ)/t .....' udK-r 6totht",ltu~,",,511)

II I

1\()\)'Il"""('Odnl

'(-fl,;md

h~('

nu.I1)'

l1wu~.lh.~ l\c'i(\tl

1nl."ft;I.>on!h' ~M""IIJ.VTUld.

--

!+

"",~ha;"I,j& IllUoll)·.W....'lIN (.l1k'r. b" Tbr IIl11ff'GCII-6UO-1 CI: Kdtkm on II "'cJMc:mlX'r 1'11'i.1ud thot (uJll"d num~ 1'hrcT of the 'lI1n:n!1 In tht• ...::rir'liIf1\ III rdk- on Ibc IVttft tudOn. - ' IhD oundm:l UTTlJ T1UXIT (];(" tu~ 1M IftI t..r .... 1Iw ~k 1JI3'lC1-.J rowxt tht QIII'M''''' ~..-. ~ 10 CMroIlknry

tIM,...,

N/G/rr }oc'Thut). +4·Ii656 6"i-C pboll''Ill''l'pl'lnIln ble I'c'bru:ar} 19--lS ... llh 11 ... t'Jl1n rn:onlcd AppUnl on 'C\Tr.l1

~ ~

\Wlh fC. \l~lllc-c' 'ul ~"'Tn: on md Y1rI\lthcd 0\Tl"

pnntnJ. AluN

Mol"

UIT

P,~ID

It H~,,"(,L.K.f)r,..rWIy kah.onJ IkTbot did nut hn'C" the' UIJ numhn rq>btN tin the' .a~ I<J

~rudckrUurlWllnll.Md'r

• .a. kooc .Ilh -..Ihcr (l'1oi tin 18 \Un;h I'fn ll-"~, •

Prl,1('nS1\I1("III\lSO~K)... :a.

Ul'lr,rfthcf""I>.&ILL~P,~II>tInIC"'d ",Ih rnI and ..1\o1e tMrtlC"r 1U1P'C'" on 1hC" tnm uM .and had a barber pole JWflIC"'d on 11K r¢1 ...,Jo:- at tbt ~ _ Qcrn. dUdtudbC"'m a brarbc1" mCl'l.... hk'lbc \l1aUnft. wuaI plooc ..;uJohn Ranoen "·00 had the WllpII Otub ... LWt al'Jlbnllu lhC" kft ~oIlhC"noK

P-61D-2o.fr(A 44-64148 of tIM 504th FS/339th rG, Fowlmef., Mwch 1945 Group CO WOllam C Cbtt( took this aircraft as a r.peacement In late Match 1945 followln.c the lou tit his PJeYiousfy nsJcned P-5J.X 44-ll745 Happy'" on 22 February 1945. The latter .,craft hM:I taIJen to flak near eoourc. In Germany, whilst belnc f\own by Capt Ray F Hemnann. who was kJ8ed In the Incident. As wtth Cl.rtc'. other pe..-onllJ Mustanp. 44-64148 was Mso named Happy. Oottyon the canopy fnme was hi. wtfe'. name. Apart from personal adorrment. 339th FG Musl.afC$ also had no markings changes other

than the IOttoc:luet.ton of rudder cob.us during October-November 1944. Similarly, the tor the group mar1lJflg. ThlS came IntO use dunng the late summer or autumn of 1944 when few carnoutIar&ed altCtalt were stIli in serVICe. The shade used was probably Bntlsh Deep Sky Blue, \/Iokh ""CtS s.mllar to Inslgrua Blue. 352ncJ FG's ~ remained little altered apart from the use of II dar1( shade of blue

AJthou&tI the 353td FG had added another r(Nf of checkers to the standard twCH'OW P-S1 I1fOUp nose markinlS upon receIVIng the type, this was consIdered Insufficient. as the ne.gl'lbounng 55th ro's green and yellow checkerboard also appeared to be black and yellow In

P-41J>.~A 44-14882 of the 328th FS/352nd FO, AKhe, J....... y 1MI Ort,.,...., ~CJNId to lothar Ret In OCtober 1944 (e. e replacement for P·S1D 44-13801) and named K.tydld. this Mustanc dl.pter- the darker .hade of bfu. IntrOduced by the GrOUp lot Ita now martlJnc durtnc the summer of that y"r. 44-1A882 we. r....lcned to enother pUot when 66-fTUssJon vet.ran Ree retllrned to the US tour..ltplr" In ea"y March 1945. It did not auntve lot tone foIJow1ne departur., how... r. the flthter belnt lost n"r OkIenbur' In Germany. throuth enclne hlllilr. on 30 March. at whkh tlme It was catryfnc the rathef strllnt. moniker 3rd &HI the S«ond. The pilot, It Frenc.. J McCarthy. w.. kJlIsld In the cruh.

FIe,..

\H(Wr 1>00. fnnk Kdxlrrwl had a "'''lUI'ile: R'\I KMf .... itll while polla 1\,aOO hC" had 1hC" rnddC"T ofhb

P'\10

1i1~~S9/0,W~o.lf"·POLECAT

uWty ~1C"'d Thb aln:nfl .... ~ .... tubt no..·n b)' anothC"rpllol: on \11kl..~bnl9-t"'lioccllutthebl~

IIJOIoc 1TUr\tn1t11:u b«n exlel1lkd IIJUnd Ihe canop) fl'1lllt

./()lOfV:ilph.l~lenInJ:lIlUM)' I'}l~.

the fkkJ.

~P.SlD(·H-lflS2)"'-,"lhcblft_"inJtlllOWllo("",llwnGrubc-r

P.SIOG-t,S H-IS6O"" eatT'in the IWIlC' Tk.t Tt, LiKrlltlf' bc'nnlh the ntuU!'.l nund'ok! tn ~_P.'IKGI.(; ·t4-II611.' b U""..(Jo.Il",.:andGlloi. .~.\I';X b 1I(l"''''(l('lbc: \.ut kknull..bIoe;llrcnl' tn Ihcfl,j,:.ht ~Gt·X ..-U:dl9l} TOOU\ FOOU'/lEl'EACE

P-6.1C>-25-NA 44-73.144 of the 354th FS/355th Fa, St. .pI. Morden, April .1945 E1Cht«JI1

Ke

Claiborne H KJnnard·. Immaculate MustanC was martted wtth a distinctive white

paint sc::hoeme on the nose to dlstJn&U'sh It as the mount of the 355th FG·. commandlnc: officer,

ThIs was KJnnard's fifth personal P-51 whilst "ylnc wtth the Steepte Morden--based Coup. all of wtlich featured the WR·... code and were named Man O·W.f.

BClIR

Tbt '\f,(tl F,M IUIDC'

50 •

P-S1 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

The P-51 Mustang and Derivatives •

/lIltlQ Jlt,'l ~~('>(h t.... \t~ .. ,(h,~wo. ru.kk.... ~m(hc-('1..... orthc P."II) ~ ,clio..... 'M>l'f" Ir..urxllW" .... It m.ut.('IJ"'~ (U""''''~I) .moJ thu:.un8I loll' NnIlcT n'mt...n 1".1 Ir:a.... 'fllt .l1n:l':afl Tbc' Ull numl'1c'1' on (he' lin /u.' t>«n ~.c.J ...... WM

nGI"

p._nc

IOlno.tudr the' fuI1~. I\.!~I

\l1tPI""~-6lhf'''~>ho.'''''''~lm''''~

LadIrl:I ·!o.ro .''-'Ift'(I .. II''i.!tll~\).. uh1C'Cltournltnm bib ..... I."~IE')\ c.,nq.U) &1t'rU h.uftd\ 1"-"18 t_ .. t'9' .. IIJl.aNao.'" o:llhcr",.nd..:~Uftltthll'I""-~.lt,....,.... Tbb .......... nI: .. ~ 0Ik'C ...-ann!to .... 'C D;ok "pmcn

\\J" InlnxllKTd In 111t" Jut) l').t l, "'lu:ldron cul"ur, un rudtk,... In Nmt"mbc'"' 1nl! on ,,111J\llp'.lnd ("".I'''Jlll fr.ame-. ,J"linll)Jnu;ar)-lcbrtl:ltl 19j~ TIl., lTllulnlnjl. hbd. 'ypc IOrntl,) lJ l l l n ' ~ .

(~(,......,.(

---...

j'..,ll?-l)nkadnf UdliErdr.. a

,...,

~

P·51D-l~A 44-15031 of the 374th FS/3Ilat FQ, Chl.vr••, March 1945 A replacement aircraft received by the 374th FS In November 1944, thl, Mu,tane wa, Involved In a 'atal accident on 4 January 1945, the pilot. It John R Wll,on, beinc killed.

51

52 •

P-51 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

The P-51 Mustang and Derivatives •

VQ" ,,"""'ot 1\1l!:l"I~

wtblbtirtal....w.rr~ \ l. .

........

.

•""'R""hb.,J

-..aI .. tlwl'ilul eJIIl!:a",fdw_ .. _~

"'.lnklD _tJw-m • •

..-

.

"'"

~

I II/G'"iM) 8Haw Th" ,Ii phucOfO"'l~fnlUftlllt othn


\t~"C'lT""".i:.llh~",Ih thr~mc ~lh,,
finiShed In SI!Yer. 'Mth red filler points. The most used tank by VIII FIChter Command ""as the SCM:8l1ed 'paper' tanK. a hChtwelCtlt p1asuc/paper compoSition tank rated as 108 pl'ons and shaped muctl as the steel tanu of ttus cttPKlty. These were Sliver finiShed. ""Ith the bands at anaetvnent pc:llnts patnted red.

A8(1l'C lbIt~ln .~ hc'Mlqwnc:f'" Iud ;lfIt,o.~~

bollittru"l' lnd~P-~I" ~

1-11660, .. hkt\

.",,~b)thlt

66thflghln'll in ll: 1llItfi.lthlltr .."" adorT\cod."h;l

""",.........

rornpoKtloirro ITlJ""",h'IIt.~

;Ifl4lbbd-quun1lllt I'U
~AirFcwu

poor tQAmc'nCI, mtrotnlothc .. ..,Uc "b~lhc'fiN

Ilh fC", pUou 10 aW..C" lhe 'lup0t5 an rnatl}- ain:Taft,lhc ~ M- wlil Ix able 10 taLc lhc bouocc and ~ to the lIun And II 10 h.udcT lOr him 10 bout\« }"OU if)'OU are p:oIng f:l.SC Of~. k~in~ :I high ~ in f0mt:2Uotb bi 'on)

Iwd b«aw.c Ihc formalion &lb apan.a.nd aJso lxausc ollr)ins 10 ~,'t"~. Built is an Ifl)porunllhln~ • • .11

piIoC to ~whcn M- ~ ~lcd from

hl~Itf"OUP.Of""hcn~pht up mlo~1J Unlb_Aho, when

bouncill8 a Hun il i! JtOOd 10 tu\'t" :b much l>pecd :b ~blc l1lc ainnft WI !wi spttd lw the ....-:.maw: on the 00t" WI h1s.nlllc tus lhe Initi:llh-c b«ausc 5pccd ClIl a1w:n"$ Ix cOl1\-.:rtcd inlOalUludc ~w1h

l1lc problem olo·..cnllOOllJqt a Uoo coma up qullc otIcn In both lhc P..i- and 1M- P·SI hcaw.c oflhe Jotw1 T Godfrey sho( down 13 and shared in the desuUCbOn of two other enemy 8lrctaf\ ..tIIIe f')q Mustq.S. He had two VlCtones and 8 sheted ft)'Inc P47s and 12 plus a shared whale lUound-sttaf. .... HIS asscned Must8f'C.S were 43-6765 Vf.P and 42·106730 Vf.P Reggte'S Reply duM& hI$ rllSt tour. On 24 AiJlust 1944, wtllist on his second tour, Godfrey was ac:adentaOy shot down by I\Is

\n")' ~ 0\"'etUking spn'd lhe)' pkk up in the dl\'t".And -.ornctimo pik)U report after a combat tNt lhe) cuukln't ~ the Ilun~' ~ 1IIUCkiOf{ bcaU!\C (he) .O\~ him-.And the qUt":SliOn i5:bked. 110'" do }UU ;I\"okl O\~~'

'WIrwnan dunrC a stratirC attack on Nordhausen airfield. He was

~ eapc:uted. and retl"laJlled 8 PoW untll wal"S end.

Don 5 GentlJe earned much wartJme lame as the 4th ro's most successful ace. dalmlng 21 and two shared 1IICtOrie5. Of these. 13 and 8 shared weft! obtained In the P·SlS. four and

a Shared ....Ith the P-47 and two .... Ith the Spttfire V whilst Gentile was serving WIth the

AM. He

also had sa sttafane credits, Gentile's M18. 43-6913 VF-T Sharlgrl-U, earned a block of red and whrte checkefOOafd below the e'"CIne exhaust stacks. as did John Godfrey's P·S1B when tI'Ie5e plOtS new as IeClCler and WIngman.

George Garpef'\ter scored 12 and two shared kills In Mustangs. plus a lone victory In the P-47, He also had four strafltl& credits. carpenter usecl P·SIB 43-6575 WD-I Virgin/a 10 echJeve elihl of his vK:torIes, and was eventually shol down and caPtured on 18 April 1944 while flying

42·106675 WD-1. Ho¥tard 0 Hrvely had 11 credItS while flying a Mustan, and one WIth a Thunclerbott. He flew

two tOUtS WIth the 334th FS and became Its CO. his assl&ned Mustan,s being 43-6898 QP.J Met 44-15347 QP-J. NIChotM Megura shot 00wn len enemy aircraft end stwed In the destrUCtJOn of roor others. malllly tIylrc P·S1B 43-6636 QP-N III Wind. HIS combat career was terminated when he had 10 seek refuee In Sweden With an 8111,. Mustane on 22 May 1944 Ffed W GkNer atso ctawned ten victotIes end a shared. as well as 12 stran,. klUs. He flew 43-12214 VF-C Rebel Queen and later 44-14787 Vf.B. Ted E Unes was ~t another to down ten enemy &dcreft. rune of wtueh wet'1t! c1auned while tIylrc hlS aSSIgned P·51D 44-13555 WD-O. Another 4th FG PlIOt WIth ten In Mustwes was Willard W M, 111ean. ¥WhO also had three credits \IIWhl1e ".,.. P-47s_ HlS personal P-518s weflt! 43-6997 VRI end, later, 43-24769 VHI M,s5OCXl Mauler. In INtMctl he was shot down on 30 May 1944 end teken pnsoner. Another P'Jot from the same squadron ...mo ended up III •

pns,on e-np as • rnut!: of strafrnc. thls tJme on 20 Jooe was James A GoocIson, ...mo hid Nne &or crfldlt. In and (r0#81l"1 P-47s. and hid alSO desttO)'ed 15 enemy _cratt on the Good~Of''I"' MustanlS were 43-6895. 43-7059, 43-24848. 44-13300 and 44-13303, .11 coded vr.fJ laud H Nor1ey also hid n.ne eeMI vtetonn In Must..... 1944,

~

eroood-

'*"

one and. shared 'IIIhde In Thu"Idetboltt P 518. ""£I'Ied to him durinI hrs fnt lOU' .....ere 43-12416. 43-6802 and 43-6666.... coded Vf.o. P-510s In tit. second tour InCluded 44-14435 W().() and 44-15028

wo-o

8UCN

()n(oofllolJ'll

KkJ'Ik){n')

C'Onlanpot2tic'olnllw ~~th"".~ 'ochc eo--"bo,.-\ltll un • hlt"Iht"KkJ',~br't"II

lninc:t.l byd't" ~AnOIht"I" t"ll1orC".lrly~ "Ithlht"\l~

\'Cllun "'U crnlUN ,"llh 11l'1Hkllbalkl ~J[ ~lN~

hon.n-n , ,\l;&rCtl md 22 ~,~

19-'llIbl'f'O'l\l~tijl cambal CU"CTr "'n 1\.1

lhononlht"L1Ilt"rd.olt ..he:n hb \'INMl/l. (H'71Sll)""U~.\IfI

In t"rrur b)' :an OO't"f' ~"'\fIpIlot .. 1u!.M-~Wtl

~hokd.\lt'1l'ora

"U'ortt'dWI'fa."" bntllnl1C'Ulnl"l.. ro

... hn't"he:WUUlI('l"lll"ld unbll8J_

\1) own Ida i1 ltgl O\-cnhoocins is a ,t'f}- JtOOd Ihinfl Speed 110 JtOOd and should ~Tr be kiost. \1;~en \'.1I high)p«d UP)OO can lx:!>Ore of cb\;1nft: inlO t2rlf(C bcfon- opc:mns firc.alllllhc ~ lOU fCCI, (he bnler ctuncc: }"OU tu\'t" of hlltin~ him Abo, a.nother good point to n:manbct is tNt when ,-ou an:: (~ptl>wnt"' Ike ~ cou/tho: _\_Hth ~". l't"("tlWIl..) dtuab of hl~ t'-1Unt'lns a Uoo rOll are on the offemh'c, and h;nc lhe :k!\.,nl;tgc DUI IhlflStS tuppcn in sphl '«'()(Kb up l't"tlck ;md zoom up ;tbO\-c hinl, when:- rou arc mid) 10 all:llck a~in 'C"-cr fli'c Ihc Hun an c\-cn bn:;ak If )'Ou ha.\"(," an) ;td\"nt;l,~ on him, keep il and usc il. So, ... hen i1l1Ackl~_ I ...'Ould say pb.n to O\"(,":~hoot him If ~Iblc, and hold nrc lImll ... ilhin r.J.tlf(C, Ihcn .ili00l :.Ind clobbc'r him oo.... n to thc b..'>t in'-t:.llll heforc brcakin~ ;tw"r-!t's ~:I' lil.:e l>noldng up br:hind and hilling him Wilh a bal>c:baI1 b:.lt \\ncn thl~ b oone,:.I pllOI will ha\T 10 Ix CArdul nOl I.) r.lIm lhe othcr a1rcr.U1 on Ihc bmt.k:.lWA).N. hc o\'eDhootJ and pull~ up .)h:II1'l} atxt'o"c Ihc II1In, hc an lakc a qukk look around 10 dcar hi~ t.lil ;tOO lhcn roncCnlr.lllC on hi,) IIun :lpln, nuklng:1.) m:'1l1) P;I-,,-"C) and o\eDhooL~:I..~ n«~Q.'l' to finbh him orr W1't"n the cner-Il)' i.s ttJdng viotcnl t"\.,~I\T action II b tunJ to ~ a JtOOd shot:.ll him Ifrou:.Ire ~ns tOO fJ..~I,~ ~ l""an be CUI oown.1l hllle lIN ~ IonfI as )00 an:: MUI ~ns (:I..'ilcr tJun hc b An :.tlIacl.: of thi.> I.:lnIJ pre\~1S the coml);tl lumlfijl, Imo a doftn.wll wilh botJI :tircraf't ;1.1 the ~mc ~,t"".&Ch fighullfl !Of" the ad\"nt~_lflhc Ilun 'ltt'I )"l)Ucom!nll he an tum InIO)'OII:.1OO mcct)OO -.cml·ho\k)n,!>ul }'OlII,.":.oI1l '\1m loom oocl.: up 1ntI ctlml:do....n on him 1I~1n Ileca.nt I.:~ lumlnsdrcb alllb)" - "\OOncr or b.ter he must brcU: (orlhc lkd.:,antl .... hen hcdoe\.lhb,Iw-', tetd il I"roba.bt) Ihc blAAC'1 (hlng 10 .11 fighler pilOt I~ bcIllf1 Ablc 10 'oCC thl~ - not onI) to -.cc them. hUI 10 Inl fJlrel thcnl \\ben he fijthler-.. 1110 fu aWOl) 10 f't"'COIlIli~. hc ,oould ha.\'C 11 f.1lltl) flOOIllda of wht"lhet the) arc friendl} Of" not b) the "") Ihe) aet - b) Ihe "i"~ the\ Cln:k' a hnmbcr fumullon or b)- IhC' wa) IhC')' X1 ... hen nor othcr nflhlCT:\ IIl:.II arc known to be fricndh Thil; i> ~thillflltul COOle"> pmt), much .... lIh nJ)Crkncc, bul a thln(lltut ca.n be pr.llCllloCd b jU.)1 kIoki~ allll rccottnl\ifijl wtetl )'OO-.cc The filUl thlfijlllul ma.k!'" ;I pilot decide ... tut 10 do I~ ... hen M- defirute" f'C'C."UlUlI, the other .lIteratt as c~m) or frkndl}' - and the futher a.... ':l.) il b" hcn he doo I"CCOjtru-c II, 1M- OOler chan«' M-Il ha.\T to ~ 11_ Of" to 1\'Oid buobillfllf il III a friend \1;1lcn !l)lllJLlt l\flOOd 10 bc kt
\IlulNr

Ubf( • • ~\l.Ij~

(.oo.d!oca p:'":lI 7,000 fl, 10/lChhs:u 5.000 fl

5 and 1 shared ground. 5 enemy 43-7181 W[).l (KIlled in Action 19/4/44) 81r.

Bernard L McGrattan 7 and 1 shared air. P-51Ss 43-6767 WD-D and 42-106576 WD-D (KIlled In ActJon 6/6/44) Pierce W McKennon 7 8nd 1 shared air, 9 and 3 shared ground. 5 enemy aircraft WIth P-S1S 43-6896 WD-A. Other assigned a/reran P-S1S 42·106911 8nd P·51Ds 44·13883, 44-63166,44-14221 and 44-72308, all WD-A, and the last four named RIDGE RUNNER

O

AHOI P ..., mrnlk'onnl III the OIpclon ~l1o(nT

Wllbtd \tUlk' \Ililou.

atrenl"lbnn,;tutb), MlI!oUflIl .... ~plklll

""b'llnnpcUl¥tu avoOaaMI>u""OO" Wtllmbulll on ~I ".~ 19-1-tlbr

1\.""1lM;~

~:III'oW

'~/"

Idltf•.lu:

PIna')Io.~nr..

MImbn <J}.l..-mp -.nI6J/JGI

_ ... ............-

ur group hlld rcnden-ouscd wllh Ihe bombeD and wC're llwccplnjl south of the target under :an

Ol'Ct'Calll ~ " 25,000 ft AI I·f I0 lu'S we -.;lW :a lalltC conlr.tll comlnJ( up :al :a .(eC'P :anglC' \.C't'). rotpklly (:,.I11t of lhe l:tl')tet, he:tdlnJ(ln a wC51erly dlreCllon Cal)' Glover, who \Vb le,ding the lcU'Oup,lllaned .Ifter II and managed 10 keep II in .*1" from 1:l.l.:«>IT ulllil II m:tde an allack on the bombef' and :!>1::lnC'd

abo ((0 .'ktlm 10. ""1 O\Tt (ic'mutl). h.

10

down a~ln. Durtl'l!t Ihls lime approxlmald)' II more of lhe'IC: conlr.tl~ c:une up, :l11 headed in the ~er.tl direction of Ihe bombers UPI Glcwer c11bC'd 011 the Ollt' he wall kttplng in ~1g1'll and t'C'COf;11bed an \Ie 163 - he llu~ledlhat we '1:.1) belo..... Ihe hue In order 10 c:uch them on thdr dncclll I v.~ leadll'l!t Caboose .sqmdron l on hh t;ullp.;lln

1Ip . ._ . ._ _I~Ap'I 1941 pmda

l'pto lhb lime lhe tel tud not: b«'n 1.1.'1"1: hb bIoW(,f,ll k.l.'" he v..l.' llt}l cnuUU'It"") bbd \mol.;e ", I d,l'oC'd on him lhe sccood time he u.\C'd hl\ hkwo-a IOf' rourlC' of "«Ond,;tnd thc:n CUi il oft ,~n

Itt

cnl-kcd

..-tbdw

fl'C"

Irkdlbcrwacr.

* __

-...,... ..-r_ Tk .....

....- ....... ~

wo.o,

Paul S Riley

Frank C Jones

69

I d.)Oo('(j 10 '00 \':lfd5 trom 20 dquttoM."',~ludthrunlO,lU(' o.b.a:lnetlOn\oI'ft"Oq"lth;&1l!hn:'c"

""lU:I'Jn,,,...

,tlw\thr~thH.o.Iunl'1IlM

I"UI
the Huh r lIlJ,anwan

19~
low on ox}'~n:and "'xmId tu\~ 10 (CO 10 J

I'U'"

brnk.., and Jl)me M05.-nc cku fur ZO milo \l(' QW lIlr.dn and proc«d«110 strM'c: II "I), NumberThn:unntt tNt tanw: tnT wlI1(UNJ1 tud Q!kd RlpYW', ltullxll''IlIht" (01) qa.lk)n 10 a",,",,~r:.Uta nun)' :tltemp" lU eutt3I;t UlIbM" lll.o1 _ _ un B ( .and 0 dunnch JI(, rtttncd II wtd cnrH,brul(' bc-1"Il til no U,"C' 10 mt' excC'pC 10 ~OC:llc "" .:&PJ'TUXlnul(' P0'lllMln

UIt)I·t',IVt) IIIG''''' 1k1oC' phoco,;nph~

ofJOOn

1.ar'odcrI' I

r ~12UI\li71
,.

~ thl~

(J\'enhool;

I ptillcd ~'C' him and

";I.'

(oC\IIllII"~ ~,...lhteatDml~trtlroWl.' ~ d1",11

"':0. C'"l'ICmO

aan.nI\

~1Il

....,.lIlon(l~ l~~

ont m",*"lII It" \ ....,,~

.. ml(' U1<Jblid

.. hmht lit! .. hft(' 1\'lIIK).P".1IC"I*'
... ~l

~1'Jot1"",

,

..ctones

bIcr . . . ....-IN ..

Win,am T WhISllef was credIted ¥WIth 14 and one sNlfed In poSts. and also had three

IhC'~.-J....

...... --.. ...

.... .-dla,-"II)'iO;

strafing w:tones. HIS P·51B

-...-..

VlCtones were obtained ftyJnc P-51D 44-14237

H().W Moonbean ~ .

_bIoroorr ... Jftd

John F Thornell claimed 12 and two

Il ~ 1a''\ID •• It!-II~.

WdT'\T

shared aenal VlCtones and two ground kills in Mustangs. haYine previously obtained four and a shared ftyirc Thunderbolts. Eight and

......... I'trlhn' .....

.... d \Cl(Fl"

was 42·106449

H().W PrIncess Elizabeth. but 12 of his

f t M .. ,1b l' ... .-n.ll :t.WIn

...... ."...

Ibc"f_~1D

the shared VlClOne$ were scored ttylng P·51B 42·106872 PE·T PattJe Ann II.

I 1'\1 \!

COMBAT REPORT

1ST UEurENANT JOHN F TI'ORNEUJR j28th "Vj~Znd 1'(; IZJunc: 19-H 'lime

I02~IOjO hOUD

Loculon jOllthof'l 0\1;110 Conditkx\) CJoud;lt ~er ;lIHt!.Jdn

I:; =.~':':::c=::~::~~onw:t~ :::m~=I~=,::,~:70:~h~~A;'d::i:rsJ 71tw~c.~.Jlflhar UIJrit1 'tWm.uIr. .. tu..h ......... lhc'

'thnr

lrut.ullntcr ..

~(.lt'nn"n

\kll':lnn.... P"il(

tlIO\i,!l)

Ii().~

MkJ

}(>hn\l~.....

P-"11) 11111"iIIlO-\lmtlx

wnunn"f I"'li \kJnn .. .!oJ (Ml arbtt ;Wf,"I'2/llluotlthre (KilM!d mActIOfl 13/5/44)

Stephen W Andrew

7 au (Plus one .....Ith a P-47 and one In SWPA). P-518 42-106467 Pl-A (6 ~s WIth this aircraft) (POW 2/7/44)

Waner E Starck

6 8lr (Plus one with P-47). P-51S 43-24807 H().X Starck M8d and P-518 43-6929 H().X St8fC1( MMJ

Willie 0 Jackson

6 air (Plus one with P-47). P·518 42·106661 Pl·J Hor Sluff and P-51Ds 44-13398 Pl·J and 44·14709 PZ·J

Edwlrt l HeIJer

5 and 1 Shared 81r. 16.5 ground. P.518 43-6704 PZ-I::I. and P·51D 44-14696 Pl-l::l., both named H~/~, Bust

Ernest 0 Bostrom Ea1

R Lazear

AkU F Sears

Duetr H 5ct'd1 ¥t, .ern J

StanceI

5 aIr. P·51D 44-13929 PZ-o UrrM MlNj~ 5

el'. P-51D 44-14877 PZ-l

~'s

ElIrl

5811.1 &round. P·51D 44-14788 H().E The Sheepherder 5 e.,. P-51D 44-13530 HO-A Duches.s 4 and 2 shared 8If. P·SID 44-14015 PEe SlJnky II

353rd FG The

successful pdOt wrth the MUSWlC In the 3531d FG ....as W'fM K Blickenstaff. P'kX of the Gtoup. he .....as 8bte ontt to make probllbty desttoyecl or dama&e his (an;t tow /'I)'InI ThuncSerbotts. Clunr'C Nt secxn:f lOUr. ~ In the .m.nn of 1944. 81~f new Mustanp and Jhot down ten enemy ..rct.n. HIS ess'lfled P.-510 ..... 44-72374 L.K-lI &my E. Nthur C Cu1cty h8d dWned 101 aenaI vtc:tonn dur"'C the Winter of 1944-45. but then lost hd 1e on 11 Marc:h 1945 when his M~ went down In the North Se• .ner IUftenrc en&lne UOWIe. H,. • ..,.., P-510 ....... 44-15092 SX.U ~ RM'ftmtIt JlImfnfJf n"IOSt

M ~ combat

ca.ms dl.I"lnC

~8O\'IiAXD

IUGIfT' 'knry 8to'Ito.,,·s

~551h

FG "'510.... Ilh Unll-llppllni lb.ft

P'C'"I c1.lbo> .....,.1I13opU'nl b) Ilb pantl1fWOOQ In.a ~Ilk fblt:hlto th.-l R

MBylag

05-K. 44-14314 05-K and 44-72311 05-K, all of which were named Prune Face

leslie 0 MInchew

REIO/IA

Tho:-

'~"Ib f(. ~

5 and 1 shared air, P·51B 43-7103 OS and p·510 44·14753 05-0

(l.oP."..

.....~th.-lir'I.

(umbil c..mnunok'f "f tbc' V'llfl F .. hdl tuol ... buDdo"" "JII'It\

C"IIIhktnhmo.,..n..r BIIIIJ-•• MIf.Ilbr -....hu I tdlnltunthc: ~1, .. linK

the-

1mC1'~Itwrn...

\Io.nbna ..... th.-(o. _\Ilul"'o.n.runl • ..... _crr rumtd 1f\'OIJIRJ'WtlIC'(! I).Ntf''''Ml

rtqlIlluwpnJrnl baO.JJlJI Thnpan.uwr

No other 355th FG pilot ran a score Into double figures With Mustangs. although William J Hovde came close With nine and a shale and also two strafing victories. He had previously shot down an enemy aIrcraft while flying a P-47. and In lhe Korean War he was credited with a MIG. All Hovde's aircraft were grven his 'ather's nickname. Machines known to have been assigned 10 him Included p·51B 436928 OLe II and P·51Ds 44-13531 OLe 11I,44·14541 OU IV, 44-73155 OUVI.

P"lJ'l'I~I'I'.\

.Nl:hlu.tutl,t.rlfl

Mldn.Mk'rnf'l("

The rema,nlng 15 P-51 aerial aces of this i!oup were:

....,.~pUl'lInl

OUIVultutlhc: .&rn.nft.dw.ho_.... ~-",,J/r.C1' ~\lAIcukn"'ood

ClaJ/)O(ne H KInnard 8 alt (one With 4th FG), 17 ground. P-SIB 43--6431 WR·A and P·SIDs 44·13375 WR·A. 44-15625 WR·A and 44-73144 WR·A, all named Man D'War

IJU.OlJ'

C1aiborn~

Kinnl"htl'llnJ

,liAN O'WAN w~ It'! 1lOOth~t

.'5,lIh

~10

M~tlnllwhh'lnthC'

r>ckJ' Clmoufbw;' (on the tmclaw;' ronntK"d loth~ lopd«kInll Ilk~ Klruul\l. pR"'iklU' nllhu:",wllhthb lU/1k.il~plIln..:-tIlA ... hh~on a rt"tIhulfIrti ~pcback1n1t-

tIJOI'F Capt Rohen. "'uotIy'.H-65lOWR·R "'';l,nurt.:n!wilh "UI1pk wh,te JIIlc ftdltn-',Ol..~l>n.b

.\~SthH,

l~W'ootIy....,

l;utofllmt)lk1k.

'..-..:oflhclutl

OfIll>crqthllJl!lbd.

\k"uo,'Cd f'SBfIOCh flIlZ ....prilI9H.0fIC'

'oIlI>cJll".l'lf1tla' nxdunla b nubnJt ~l>cl.dca."II('1>c

rolut. IUIM, rn:onkd In,dloa lu.wmr-Vc~1bn

"'~l"\1ofIflnnll(lpdot

AntI u'...... dud t1ofl~

(lI'I

P."IIIHl1-4-'1.\~

n.w.'l1"";a«~

"l,I'Il,h!:'a

80 •

P-51 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

'N,lham J Cullertoo

5 alf and 15 wound. P·SIOs 44·13677 os-x Miss

The Aces. 81

Ste~

and

356th FG

44-64011 OS-X (POW 8/4/45)

James N McElroy

5 8,r and 6 ground. P.SlB 43-7023 YF-S Big Sroop and p·StO 44-14498 YF-S Big Sroop II

Norman 5 Fort>er

5 alf and 5 and 1 shared ground. Most WIth P-StS 42-106870 WR-H. and also P.SlOs 44-15373 WR·N and 44-72361 WR·N

The 356th FG's fortunes In aIr combat ImP4'oved greatly with Its conversion to the P·51. Of the three pilots who shot down five or more enemy aIrcraft With the Mustang. the leachng ace was Donald J Strait, who hed ten and one shared destroyed. He had previously claimed three aerfal kills while fly1ng Thunderbolts. Most or his P·51 victories were obtained In P-51D 44-15152 QI-T JERSEY JERK.

new

Charles 0 H8UVef

5 81f. P-51Ds 44-14090 WR-R Princess Pal lind 44-14704 WR·R Pnncess Par II (all kills ....,th this laner aircraft)

Royce W Pnest

5 8'f. P.SlDs 44-13764 WR·E and 44-15652 WR·E

Charies W Lenfest

4 au and 3 Shared. 2 and 1 shared ground. p·Sies 43-6948 WR-F Lone II and 42-106874 WR·F lone III end P-StD 44-14275 WR·F

The remillning two aces both scored fIVe aerial viCtories each, with Clinton 0 Burdick also sh8l1ng In the shooting down of a sixth enemy aircraft. as well as claiming a strafing credit. His P-51D was 44-15310 QI-B Do Do. Wilbur R Scheible 5CO(ed five aerial victories in Mustangs and one in a P-47. and was also credited WIth three stIafing kills in the Mustang. HIS P·510 was 44-15083 QI-Z.

Lone fV(PoW 3/19/44)

loI..qDon~n1I~his

"Q....dnJnduti. . ~ C"C'On~lothc

od~t1nnyl1C'llr

lutdmdodoo

'Fttltuu}·l9-fSOn Ut. (by the jS6ch Fe hdpN~»f

Ilcl'1- Ilombtn (rom ItInst a." ~"bIc

fomulion 'i. Ile usu:l1l)

1

hdd l''f'rtha' JUM ....i Iontl ~ ~lbk. both orlcmf'-c:t) and dcfen~"ct) 11M: lIun dc:flnltct) I'Opccb fouMhI()\ whkh will unttJ he ~ he m, "cry othe, Mh~UW. pl~ numbc-n t_-o 01' thn:c lO one: In .atUddn8 ...llh fou, .rup.. the tliRtIIln&k, ..t thc dcmcnIlacJtt tn!',",e In 10 flr"C _llh the ....lngmcn CO'Vmnjl ""lngmcn ~ 1Uy Wlth lhe ~, untU boch h,n-c:

Tht bJr

I..cpt

Ilh .. VI(lun

r~dy

tI'UI'\

otlM:'n nul c:ontmoc 10 n:ntkz\~ After ~"OUS, wc ~t) c.lrop 1:ul-1..3 '" hen cn"11\ .all'Cr.lfl ~ an lhe

a1",~),

I ltadio lr;u\)tfli»ion I~ lLd lodnlWUle~"Cmhl)point fo, lhe WOUP ~tiC'f:a comb;!1 \\"c lbWlly tl'} toa»cn\bk O'T' tArt alUC~ bc:for-c: l-.an~ al'C dropped If po»lbk.:a ..null fortt ",ill bc tk'fUotchcd

10 bl'C:&k up ~) ain:nrt

Ithl

'tI"""2Ikd pnin;t ~.up I prdier to ~

a., .. e C2t1

:I dl!'Old,~nu~

from I'Cttflt C1pcri1:'nc'c.lhe,uc- ofthc mnn) ~ .1Iln:n!t fomullon Iul. not much mllucnttd OW" ~,auf'" 11W:"'c"11J"I' .. ~todropt.ackIO;ll

In

t'C",u In

In :a po">llion to :uurl., ~nd v.~:;Ir"C fn:t: 10 fiJ.:,h1. "'T II'} 10 dunb up 10 CJX'fJl~ .1Iircr.lft .and C1lPIll" A... Ion(o:

"""n

\toknt

bOo hip Element

udt tol tbe:

:lte

the cncm)' :lln:T.l!"l. wc do not feciliul "'c .II'C al

tM: ;abk to C'Omt mlo

:urn 1llorn.1flhortntm\ .III'cr.ltl:cil:'cutodl""n,-:r> .Ibk 10

l.. no nttd lO 'oCIIllU R#lh .1te dt->J.ro\cd OI'"v.kkt) dhpc.-nnJ - ",hcft lhe} \lrU.c In f~ohboul "hw rntwt' t-.w.ll~,d~) "'Ill ntll ",n1r: ","h !t'-.... lIun "iC1,.md '" kkMn.1I C"er.llntl

far",. crwnl»'l in a do""c 1Jnt' abf'easl bank funrullOn TIu., ~ to bcttC'f ~fwno..,"ftmdU'lJWldlWr:MCl.'.mdprnCTII~\tt:l~lflItn~I~.andindl,td~"'t~e:t.WTtoOyttu.n .. tdc~fomgtKJm,md .... a1Ionk pdlJt .-pk oppl'lf'1UMJ It) k.ltJlt UfJWld to"~

lhe

~_

mOI'"t'

ltun one

~ud1

fomUolton

" I \'C'f\ clfuf'l b nudc 10 t'l\Il2IOt' conn, ..In:Taft tw:fon: 1hc1 nn ~ lO the bon\bcro. If thr\ can be' c.nl¢1l lhc-n.11 I" t'.1I...1Cf 1\1 Itt" n\lOft' \11 them "', l~ Jr"C conccnll1illlnll on the bc1mlIcr-ro :and bn:on1C' fIln ludfllCment

on

.

bnllO a:rtad. 1bn' Jift' ..

/I tho tuvc lI' Ir....-c lot .. hl---.c

.It" ~ tw..-ccJ..;md "JmCOnC cN k

'Cfl1

.It" tnf,,'C' lrlll, lhelr un II

\lhlle tlJ

U1Jt

l<Wtl\,Iuon I.. I(ltlCIhc't lhl: RiP'I.md ckmt'fll k-.aoJc" nu\ 'Urt.l buuJIC'C. pnnllkd Ihc\ Ullilln IIlhe k-Jdn' oJ,;

Col1ntanUC' lhe 1"I00I'll,:1' or k-.a\C '..rnulldl'l.lhc' Ut'lrntnaJ,..l Ieh rn:.I1k'tJ .. ht'n "'t: Ut' "'Ith ttlt' homhc'r-. tbnt hht'm l'

Ill'! ~ lhern tt'nlkd

84 •

RIGHT'

POS1 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Foree

The Aces. 85

n..- rflo....

~ut.nllIll

19ot1~"'lbc' ~at\.nfillltftt~ ~.Jlpioo~w.1Ill ....,,[),.....w80~

an-,lftnnl-S lobn1M~""

."1'''1 •

~D( ..........

~HirulllI9

--

~19.f'''' I I~f

.

'''H'':!IW>
UPf'rVEIIAOm _

I

commonty tN:vd

8rilbh w:mlmC' CJ[~Ih3I"""

adopted bT John En,.b.ndblhclWllt: fof hb P·518 UI0b+61

G1·It, ..hkh b

~n

hc'rein}ur'IC' 19"4 The' 1UmC'~... pp"C'd1n

rnS Mt.»lon.,'mblol~. ... hkhlndlodnJlhrn: dlldJlotlUllU" e:~ Jl""ffi1C'dlnydklooro 00

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86 •

P·Sl Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

61G1" IkbdPrl"""""""!I> II I Wl'! ",...'tl'k Ihrttfiahln-.IWtlnlIllIUll Itflllf IKJ\ll aIIo' .. II ~"", ......-.Jt~T h,IWn("'" ~1Utu>",hn-tlp.uIl.n!lIlhtuc

The Aces. 87

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88 •

1"-51 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

The Ace• • 89

RICIf7'
Fletcher E Adams

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:tbout 60 ~ , dcf1CChOl1. !IOO '.... n1.-, :and

l.m1)'IN("~-~"UiS).

ttlree ground-stlaflllg aedrts, HIS assigned P·51Ds were 44-1468S E9-L and 44-64005 E9-Z. both named Mary Mine. The rem8lflmg ace was Wilham J Sykes WIth frYe air and frYe ground

IIc~

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96 •

P-51 Mustang Units of the Eighth Air Force

LOURS

~~ICAN ~CAN EAG~S ISBN H~03223-'8-0

The most comprehensive study of the

P-S1D-l()..NA 44-14423 of the 434th FSj479th FO, Wattl....m, Dec.mlMl 1944 UMd by 14-k111 ace Arthur F Jeffrey

.1 hi, pel'&Oflal aircraft from september 1944 throu(h

camouflage and markings of the

to January 1945. thl, machine wa. credited with the destruction of three Fw 190s and. fourth damaCed (all on 5 December 1944) and two Bf 109t destroyed (on 7 OCtober and 2 NOYember 1944). Jeffre, replaced the flChter wtth P-51X 44-U674. which also carrled the name IJ()OMERANG JR. P-5J.O 44-14423 was declared latyae_ In May 1945.

The other 364th FG James M

Fow1e

Mus~

Luftwaffe fighter force ever published

aces were:

8 8i1. all obtained WIth P·SID 44-13829 SY·J Terry CIBlte 1/. Ass.gned P-51D 44-14184 SV-Q Terry Cl&re 11/

G'lbe1t L Jamison

7 alf. P·SID 44-14035 5£·A Efta Jsne

samuel J WICker

5

alf

(plus 2 in P-38s). P·SIDs 44-13936 N2-W Betty Jo 1/1 and

44-14243 N2·W BetlY Jo IV

James J Pascoe

5 alf (plus 8 Shared in a P·38). All victories In P·SID 44-13890 5E·W Gteen Eyes

W Jam F W,lson

5 alf. P·SIDs 44-14258 SE·Y end 44-14838 5E·Y (K1Ik!d in Flying Accadent 1941)

ISBN Q.9526861-6-7

ISBN 0·9526861·1·5

ISBN 1·903223·()6.7

ISBN 1-903223.()1-5

479th FG The 479th FG's lOP SOOter was Raben Cl'ds 'WIth 12 aenaI ViCtOOes In P·S1s and rIVe In P-38s. around sttafltlC credits. HIS ass.ane