5th U.S. Army Air Force

HQ : PHILIPPINES

Order: Patrol the south-west Pacific Ocean

Version: 22-01-10 (D-M-Y) - 171 profiles to see here
 V. Fighter Command
-
8th Fighter Group
35th Fighter Group
49th Fighter Group
58th Fighter Group
348th Fighter Group
475th Fighter Group
418th Night Fighter Squadron
421st Night Fighter Squadron
547th Night Fighter Squadron

 

 

 

 

"Attaquez et Conquerez"

8th Fighter Group
-

35th Fighter Squadron

36th Fighter Squadron

80th Fighter Squadron
     

1942, April 18   -   Bell P-39 AIRACOBRA   -   Port Moresby, New Guinea
The 8th arrived in Australia in March 1942. In April 1942, the 35 and 36th squadrons moved to Port Moresby when the Japanese
tried to invade the area (Battle of the Coral Sea). In July 1942 both squadrons went back to Australia...
- - not yet

In August 1942, the Japanese invaded Milne Bay where it was reported, that the 8th Fighter Control Squadron played an important part
of the ground defense with four wheel drive vehicles capable of moving supplies and ammo through mud to the ground personnel.

1942, September 18   -   Bell P-39 AIRACOBRA   -   Milne Bay, Australia
...once again the 35th and the 36th replaced the Australian 75th and 76th in Milne Bay on September 18, 1942
with the 80th following on November 8 for limited air action.

 D  "?"
P-39D-1-BE (41-38357)
Lieutenant Leder
Milne Bay, October 1942		 - not yet

 P  "?"
P-39D-1-BE (41-38350)
Lieutenant I.A. Erickson
Milne Bay, October 1942		   not yet

1942, November 8   -   Curtiss P-40 Warhawk   -   Milne Bay, Australia
The group served in combat until February 1943 flying P-40s, when they returned to Mareeba where the 35 & 36 FS were equipped
with the AIRACOBRA, which came from 39 FS, 35 FG, who switched to the new P-38F LIGHTNING in October 1942.
The 80 FS was also equipped with the new LIGHTNING which they took to Port Moresby in March.
- -  

1943, March   -   Port Moresby, South-Western New Guinea
Bell P-400 AIRACOBRA Bell P-39 AIRACOBRA Lockheed P-38H-1 LIGHTNING
     
Note that it seems the yellow code letters were first used from now on.
When the AIRACOBRAs belonged to the 39FS, 35FG, they were identified by the number on the tail only.

 37 
P-400 (BW-134)
Port Moresby, July 1942
80th Fighter Squadron (??)
(ex 35FG, see below - still in old markings)
 K  "Miss Helen the Flying Jenny"
P-39D-1-BE (41-38359)
George Schwartz Welch
7. Dec. 1942 ??
-		 -
-


 F 
P-39F-1-BE (41-7170)
Boyd 'Buzz' David Wagner
Fate: Aircraft salvaged Jul 1, 1943
Note: Inherited from 39th FS,
it still carried its badge on the cockpit door

 -
-


 W 
P-400 (.....)
80th Fighter Squadron (??)
Port Moresby, end of 1942

 -

 K 
P-400 (BW-102) (AH-736)?
Norb Ruff
35 FS (80 FS ?!), Milne Bay, New Guinea, 1943
Ex  19  "The Flaming Arrow" of 'Dick' Suehr
(35FG, see below)
 Q  "Nip's Nemesis"
P-39D-1-BE (41-38338)
Lt. Donald Charles McGee
Port Moresby, New Guinea, ca. end 1942
-
-		 -

Resuming operations in April 1943, the 8th served in combat operations through the rest of the Second World War,
providing cover for Allied landings, escorting bombers, and attacking enemy airfields.
-
 K  "Miss Helen the Flying Jenny"
P-39D-1-BE (41-38359)
Lt. George Schwartz Welch
Port Moresby, ca. February 1943
P-38H-1-LO (4?-?????)  E
Captain George Schwartz Welch (5)
 June 1943
-
-


 Q  ''Air A Cutie''
P-39F-1-BE (41-7310)
Port Moresby, 1943
Also with white tail later - see below

 -

1943, late   -   Dobodura, New Guinea
Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK P-39 AIRACOBRA & P-47D THUNDERBOLT Lockheed P-38H-1 LIGHTNING
The 36th Fighter Squadron was the only unit of the 8th Fighter Group to receive the P-47.
They were used from the fall of 1943 until the spring of 1944.
Note: For easier friend-foe identification, the standard fighterplanes were marked with white tails and wingtips in these days.
Because of the distinctive shape, there was no need to paint the LIGHTNINGs, and so these kept their olive-drab camouflage.
Note, that the white band around the cowling of the P-39/P-400s were a worn by the 36FS only.
-
 F  ''?''
P-47D-5-RE (42-22630)
Port Moresby, December 1943

 A  ''PORKY II''
P-38H-1-LO (42-66682)
Major Edward 'Ed'/ 'Porky' Cragg (15)
Finschhafen, November 1943
He commanded the 80FS from March 1943 until his death over Cape Gloucester on Boxing Day 1943.
-
 G  ''?''
P-47D-3-RE (42-22604)
1st Lieutenant William K. Giroux
Nadzab, end of 1943
 A  ''Betty''
P-38H-1-LO (42-?????)
The new CO 80th FS Captain Jay T. Robbins
Finschhafen, December 1943
 
 M  ''-''
P-39Q-5-BE (42-20013)
Port Moresby, end of 1943
 H  "?"
 P-38H-1-LO (4?-?????)
-
 
 Q  ''Air A Cutie''
P-39F-1-BE (41-7310)
Dobodura (New Guinea), November 1943
Fate: To RFC at Ontario, CA Jan 28, 1945
 3  "Staten Island or Bust"
 P-38H-1-LO (42-66535)
Donald C. McGee (2)
Dobodura, 2 November 1943
   ?  "?"
 P-38H-1-LO (42--66555)
 (36th FS)
Crashed into ocean near Yamai Apr 16, 1944 during infamous Black Sunday mission
to Hollanida, pilot killed		  
 
''Little Sir Echo''
P-39Q-10-BE (42-21144)
71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group ??		  

1944, January   -   Tsili-Tsili, Southern New Guinea
Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK P-39 AIRACOBRA & P-47D THUNDERBOLT Lockheed P-38H-1 LIGHTNING
     

 C  "Cyclone"
 P-40N-5  (42-105506)
Major Emmett. S. Davis
Tsili-Tsili (New-Guinea), January 1944		 -
 T  "Down Beat'' 
P-38J-15-LO (42-104012)
Richard I. Bong
On 12th January 1944, Bong shot down a Ki-43
in this plane.
Note the command stripes at the wings ?!

1944, January-April   -   Nadzab & Finschhafen, Eastern New Guinea

The group supported operations of the Marines at Cape Gloucester, February and March 1944;
flew long-range escort and attack missions to Borneo, Ceram, Halmahera, and the southern Philippines;
provided cover for convoys and attacked enemy shipping.
They were stationed at the eastern side of New Guinea just opposite of Cape Gloucester on New Britain before finally moving there.

 L  "?"
 P-40N-5  (42-105288)
Pilot ?
Cape Gloucester, New Britain, February 1944		 -
 H  "Hill's Angels"
P-38J-10-LO (4?-?????)
Lt. Allen E. Hill (8)
 Finschhafen, 1944

 L  "Lazy Lady''
P-38J-10-LO (4?-?????)
Lt. Glen C. Holder
1944		  
 X  "Sweet Sue''
P-38J-10-LO (4?-?????)
Lt. Paul C. Murphy (6)
 Nadzab, 1944

 985  		-
"Jandina III''
P-38J-15-LO (42-?????)
CO 80th FS Captain Jay T. Robbins (21)
 Nadzab, April 1944
Written off in a wheel landing at Saidor,
7 may 1944

1944, summer   -   Lockheed P-38J LIGHTNING   -   Dutch East Indies
-

 8  "?'' 
P-38J-15-LO (43-28831)
CO 35th FS Major Cifton H. Troxell (2)
Owi Island (near Biak), July 1944
-
 18  "?'' 
P-38J-15-LO (44-23255)
CO 36th FS Captain W. K. Giroux (10)
June-July 1944
-
"Jandina IV''
P-38J-15-LO (42-?????)
CO 80th FS Major Jay T. Robbins (21)
 If CO, the plane should have command stripes
like on Jandina III (missing on this skin)

  3  "?'' 
P-38J-15-LO (42-103921)
Captain Richard L. West (14)
First and leading ace of the 35th FS
Owi Island (near Biak), July 1944		 -
 U  "Uncle Cy's Angel''
P-38J-15-LO (42-?????)
Captain Cyril F. Homer (15)
Morotai, October 1944
 

1944, December   -   Lockheed P-38J LIGHTNING   -   Mindoro, Philippines
The 8th FG received a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking a Japanese fleet near Mindoro on 26 December 1944.
It supported the landings at Lingayen, supported ground troops on Luçon and escorted bombers attacking targets
in Asian mainland and on Formosa.
- -
 L  "Corky IV''
P-38J-15-LO (42-?????)
Cornelius 'Corky' M. Smith (11)
1944 (1945?!), January
Note the stripes on the fin!
- -
 U  "Uncle Cy's Angel''
P-38L (J?) (42-?????)
Captain Cyril F. Homer (15)
 Note the checkers on the fin!

1945   -   Lockheed P-38J LIGHTNING   -   Ie Shima
The 8th flew its last missions against airfields and railway lines in Japan.
At the end of the war it was based on Ie Shima and had claimed 453 confirmed aerial victories and 84 probables.
- - -

 

 

 

 

"Attack To Defend"

35th Fighter Group
"Cloud Cobras"

39th Fighter Squadron
 "The Cobra Squadron"

40th Fighter Squadron
 "Fightin' Red Devils"

41st Fighter Squadron
-?-
     
1941-1942   -   Bell P-400 AIRACOBRA   -   'Twelve Mile'-Drome, Port Moresby, New Guinea
P-400: The export version of the P-39, delivered in RAF-colours but used in the USAAF in the end (after Pearl Harbor).
It has the long barrel of the 20mm Hispano cannon used in the RAF order and has 12 exhausts on each side

  19  "The Flaming Arrow"
P-400 (BW-102) (AH-736)?
Richard Charles 'Dick' Suehr
Later with sharkmouth - see below		 - -
Somewhen around february 1943 the shark-mouth was introduced in the 39 FS.

 13  "Pat'' / ''Wahl Eye II"
P-400 (BW-...)
Lieutenant E. Wahl
12 Mile Aerodrome, New Guinea 1942.
 52  "Jane"
P-400 (BW-142)
Pilot?
Port Moresby, July 1942
 80  "Macushla"
P-400 (BW-...)
Pilot?
Port Moresby, July 1942

 19  "?"
P-400 (BW-102) (AH-736)?
Richard Charles 'Dick' Suehr		 - -

 23  "Grace"
P-39K-1-BE (42-4358)
Port Moresby, June 1942		 - -
1942, October   -   Port Moresby, New Guinea
But in October 1942 whole 39th FS was lucky to receive Lockheed P-38F fighters as first Fifth Fighter Command outfit.
The P-400s went to 8FG./ Still some P-38 and P-39 mixed in 1943 says another source?
Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING Bell P-39K AIRACOBRA Bell P-39K AIRACOBRA

 20  "?"
P-38F-5-LO (4.-...)
Captain J. Curran
Port Moresby, October 1942		 - -

 ?  "?"
P-39D (41-6723)
New-Guinea, November 1942		 - -
1943, end of January   -   Papua-New Guinea
The Battle of Wau, 29 January-31 January 1943, was a battle in the New Guinea campaign of World War II.
Australian forces at Wau were attacked by Japan.
-
 9  "?"
 P-39K-1-BE (42-4349)
Captain Tom Winburn
Flown at Battle of Wau		 -
# 10 - 39 # 40 - 69 # 70 - 99
     
1943, August   -   Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING    -    Tsili Tsili, Southern New Guinea

 10  "?"
P-38H-1-LO (4.-...)
CO Lt.Col. Thomas Lynch
Tsili Tsili		 - -
1943, October  -   Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING    -    Nadzab, New Guinea
- -
 N  "-"
P-39D (41-38500)
Lieutenant Alvaro Huter
Nadzab, November 1943
1943, December   -   Lockheed P-38H-5-LO LIGHTNING    -    Dobodura, Eastern New Guinea

 16  "?"
P-38H-1-LO (4.-...)
CO Captain Bob Farout		 - -

 33  "Japanese Sandman II"
P-38H-5-LO (42-66905) (c/n 1417)
 Lt. Richard Eugene Smith
Fate: Crashed due to engine failure
near Dobodura, Dec 4, 1943. Reported 1979
at National Museum, Port Moresby, PNG.		 - -
1944, February  -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT    -    Gusap then Nadzab, New Guinea
The P-47 was used between November 1943 and March 1945.
 
 42  "Melanie"
P-47D-3-DA (42-222640)
-
Nadzab, beginning of 1944
 73  "Hoyts Noss"
P-47D-5-RA (42-22855)
 Captain E. Hoyt
Nadzab, March 1944
   
 91  "-"
P-47D-11-RA (42-22896)
2/Lt George Gaffney
On March 11, 1944 the Thunderbolt was being flown by 2/Lt George Gaffney on a mission to escort Liberators of the 90th Bombardment Group. On the return trip, Gaffney stopped at Saidor to refuel where he said he had shot down a Japanese aircraft. A short time after this, Gaffney's aircraft went missing between Saidor and Gusap with no sign of aircraft wreckage. MACR 3308
Remains of both the aircraft and pilot were found in June 1998 by a team led by Fred Hagen. 2/Lt Gaffney was buried with honours at Arlington National Cemetery on June 10, 1999.
1944, July  -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -    Owi Island, Schouten Islands near Biak
- - -
1944, September  -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -    Morotai, Moluccas
- -  
1944, December  -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -    Leyte, Philippines
# 10 - 39 # 40 - 69 # 70 - 99
     
In the Philippines, the prewar tail stripes were added again

 20  "-"
P-47D-23-DA (42-27896)
Pilot ?
Gusap (New-Guinea), spring 1944.
Nadzab in July 1944.
I think, this was much later. Maybe a 'War Weary' used as hack behind the lines??
 67   "My Baby"
  P-47D-25-RA (42-28110)
Captain Alvaro Jay Hunter
December 1944		 -
1945, March  -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Lingayen, Pangasinan Province, Luzon, northern Philippines
In the Philippines, they painted a black stripe for easier recognition
 
 51 
 P-47D-28-RA (42-29488)
(58th FG, 310th FS??) crashed into San Hose Sugarmill, Philippines Mar 19, 1945
Pilot killed
  80  "Battly Baby"
 P-47D-28-RA (42-28485)
-
-
-
 
 57   ''Miss Lorraine''
 P-47D-23-RA (42-27886)
Tanauan (Leyte), end of 1944
(referred to as 348FG, 341FS ??)
Placed here by me, fits much better to the others ...		  
 
 65 
P-47D-28-RA (42-28535)
Tanauan, beginning of 1945
(referred to as 348FG, 342FS ??)
Placed here by me, fits much better to the others ...(if blue was red in reality)		  
1945, April   -   Republic P-47D-28-RA THUNDERBOLT   -   Clark Field, Luzon, northern Philippines
Soon a second fuselage stripe was added together with two (sometimes three) stripes over each wing.
 
  46 
P-47D-28-RA (42-29080)
 75  "Jerry"
P-47D-28-RA (42-28508)
Complete cowling coloured
- -
 73  "Dixieland Darling"
P-47D-28-RA (42-29087)
- -
  74 
P-47D-28-RA (42-29088)
-
1945, June   -   North American P-51D MUSTANG   -   Okinawa

 10 
 P-51D-20-NA (44-64124)
CO 39FS Captain Leroy Grossheusch
-
 47  "Irma VIII"
 P-51K-10-NA (44-12.82)
Captain Faikus
May 1945
 70  "Me Darlin"
 P-51D-20-NA (44-12.82)
CO 41FS Major M.H. B...
Clark Field, April 1945

 30  "Barbara"
 P-51D-20-NA (44-72.25)
Lieutenant B. Crawford
June 1945		 - -

  34  "Viscious Virgin"
P-51D-20-NA (44-63859)
Pilot?		 - -

 

 

 

 

"Tutor et Ultor"
(Protect & Avenge)

49th Fighter Group
The 49th flew a composite of fighters:
The 7th and 8th squadrons flew a mixture of Curtiss P-40E's and P-40K's, with some newer P-40N aircraft arriving in October of 1943.

7th Fighter Squadron
 "Screamin' Demons"

8th Fighter Squadron
 "Blacksheep"

9th Fighter Squadron
 "Flying Knights"
# 11 - 39 # 40 - 69 # 70 - 99
blue spinners yellow spinners
(black on metal finish)		 white spinners
(red on metal finish)
1942, April   -   Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK   -   Darwin, Australia

 36
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
CO Captain William J. Hennon
Australia, Summer 1942
 57
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
Captain George E. 'King' Kiser
 Darwin, Spring 1942
81  ''SKEETER''
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
2nd Lieutenant John D. Landers
Australia, Summer 1942
   
 84  (?) ''Texas Longhorn''
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
-
- -
 85  ''TARHEEL''
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
2nd Lieutenant George Preddy
- -
 86  ''STAR DUST''
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
CO 1st Lieutenant Andrew J. Reynolds
- -
 94  ''BOB'S ROBIN''
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
Lieutenant Bob Vaught
1942, October   -   Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
The 9th transitioned from the over achieving P-40 to the P-38 in October of 1942.
General Kenney handed the Lightnings to the 9th after practically stealing them from the 17th Fighter Squadron.
Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING
-
 43  "JERRY II"
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
Lt. Bill Day & C.C. Gilliam
 3 mile field, Pt.Moresby, November 1942		 -
1943, March   -   Dobodura, Papua New Guinea
Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING
-
 49  ''DOTTIE II''
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
Lt. Bill Day & C.C. Gilliam
 Dobodura, April 1943		 P-38F  70 
-
 54  ''Kansas City Kiddie II''
P-40E-1-CU (S/N ?)
2.Lieutenant Robert H. White
 Dobodura, May 1943		 P-38F  70 

Stations of the 49th FG
The white paint on the rear fuselage was a recognition feature used by
the different Allies in the Australia/Papua-New Guinea area		 The typical layout needed no white markings
1943, October   -   Dobodura, Papua New Guinea
Some newer P-40N arrived in October of 1943
Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING

 7  ''Sandy''
P-40N (42- ?)
Lieutenant Joel B. Paris
 Dobodura, mid summer 1943
Lt. Paris went on to becoming an ace (9 kills) flying both the P-40 in
New Guinea and the P-38 in the Philippines having won the Silver Star for his efforts in keeping
a visiting group of visiting VIPs flying in a PBY Catalina (during the invasion of Mindoro)
out of harms way from a group of attacking Zeros and was promoted to the rank of Captain as well.
Capt. J.Paris was to survive the war, eventually obtaining the rank of General.		 P-40N  40 
 79  ''-''
P-38H (43-...)
Captain Richard Bong
November 1943
P-40N  11  P-40N  40 
 83  ''-''
P-38H (43-...)
 Captain Gerald Johnson
Dobodura, November 1943
P-40N  11  P-40N  40 
 99  ''Beautiful Lass''
P-38G-13 (43-2204)
Captain John G. 'Jump' O'Neill
The girl was originally illustrated as a dark skinned woman and later changed to this final rendition for unknown reasons.
O'Neill scored his fifth and six 'kills' on October 24, 1943. While leading Green Flight to Rabaul, he a two others dove from 6,000' down onto three Zeros at 3,000'. He made several ineffective passes at one, finally shooting the entire tail off a Zero at a 45 degree deflection. Minutes later, he put another burst into a second Zero, causing it to fly straight and crash into a hill. Between October 15 - 29th (14 days) he scored six kills.
By the fall of 1943, the 9th had pretty much used up the remaining Lockheeds. They needed to be replaced with new aircraft.
Unable to get any P-38's due to the demand in the ETO, General Kenney was able to acquire additional Thunderbolts to replace
the worn out Fighters. Kenney decided to transition the "Flying Knights" of the 9th FS into the P-47D-5-RE.
On November 12, 1943, the remaining P-38s were handed over to a maintenance squadron and the 9th began training with the P-47.
By late November, the 9th was declared as operational.
1943, November 12   -   Dobodura, New Guinea
Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT

 13  ''Rita 13''
P-40N-5-CU (42-105202)
Robert M. Dehaven
 Dobodura, late 1943		 P-40N  40 
P-47D-5-RE  83 
CO Major Gerald R. 'Jerry' Johnson
He would get the squadron's first victory with the P-47. Yet, it was a victory that should have been passed up. Taking an opportunity to fly with Kearby's 348th FG, Johnson accompanied them on a sweep over Finschhafen (New Guinea). Spotting a radial engine aircraft flying about 3,000 feet above the jungle canopy, Johnson raced down and put a burst into the plane's engine. A parachute was observed.

 28  ''O'Rileys Daughter''
P-40N-5-CU (42-05405)
Lt- Jack A. Fenimore
 Dobodura, late  1943		 P-40N  40  P-47D-5-RE  70 
1943, December   -   Gusap, New Guinea
Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT
Note, that the red outlined 1943 markings were used until early 1944 in this group!
But why are then the other blue marking pics dated 1943??

 24 
P-40N (42-?)
Lt. Elliott Dent
Gusap, New Guinea
 51 
P-40N (42-105834)
Lt. Don Meuten
Gusap, New Guinea		 P-47D-5-RE  70 

 20  ''Keystone Kathleen or Empty Saddle''
P-40N-5-CU (42-?)
CO Arland Stanton
 Gusap 1944		 P-40N  40  P-47D-5-RE  70 
1944, April   -   Finchhafen, New Guinea
Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT

 12  ''Little Jeanne''
P-40N-5-CU (42-105915)
Lieutenant Robert Warren
 Tadji strip		 P-40N  40  P-47D-5-RE  70 
1944, May   -   Hollandia, New Guinea
P-40N  1  P-40N  40  P-47D-5-RE  70 
1944, June   -   Biak, New Guinea

 8   "-"
P-40N (S/N unknown)
Lieutenant Lt. Bob Decker
 Biak 1944
Decker would go onto flying the P-38L in the Philippines and eventually
get 3 career kills while flying the P-38L		 P-40N  40  P-47D-5-RE  70 
1944, October   -   Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING   -   Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
Late in 1944 the group got their beloved twin-tails back.
While they somehow accepted the replacement of their war weary P-38F`s, they now received fresh P-38L`s
# 11 - 39 # 40 - 69 # 70 - 99
blue spinners yellow spinners
(black on metal finish)		 white spinners
(red on metal finish)

 42  "-"
P-38L-5 (S/N ?)
Major Richard Bong
Major Bong was officially assigned to the Fifth Fighter Command
but flying with the 9th FS; 49th FG at the time he flew "42"
He had already gone through a few P-38J's named "Marge" before.
As it seems, this one (his last) wasn't named, though.
1944, December   -   Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING   -   San Jose, Mindiro, Philippines
- -
 10  "Almost A Draggin" / "Kittie"
P-38L-5-LO (44-25638)
Maj. Clayton Isaacson
Philippines, 1945
1945, February   -   Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING   -   Lingayen, Luzon, Philippines
- - -
1945, August   -   Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING   -   Okinawa, Japan
Note: red/white stripes of the 5th Air Force
- -
 83 
P-38L-5-LO (S/N ?)
Deputy CO Major Gerald R. 'Jerry' Johnson
-

 

 

 

 

"Non Revertar Inultus"

58th Fighter Group
The 58th Fighter Group was created in the USA in 1941, at this time it was composed of 67, 68 and 69 Squadrons.
At the beginning of 1942 the 67 and 68 were transferred to the 347 Pursuit Group and the 58th received the 310 and 311 Squadrons.

69th Fighter Squadron

310th Fighter Squadron

311th Fighter Squadron
A1 - A33 H34 - H66 V67 - V99
1942   -   Lockheed P-38 LIGHTNING
- - -
1944, early   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Dobodura, Papua-New Guinea
It arrived in Dobodura in November 1943 and effectued its first mission on 2 February 1944.
It flew escort missions for bombers and attacked airfields and ground installations and covered the landings on Amiralty Islands.
     

 A23 
P-47D-15-RA (42-23224)
1st Lt. Herbert B. Emrich
New Guinea, in early 1944
-
 H34 
P-47D-16-RE (42-76059)
CO 310FS Major John Mc Clure
A/C lost Apr 11, 1944 near Wewak, PNG.
Pilot KIA (311FS ?)		 -
 
 H54  "The Pied Pieper"
P-47D-16-RE 42-75885)
-		 -
1944, August   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Noemfoor
In August 1944 it moved to Noemfoor and later to the Philippines, first to Leyte and later to Mindoro.
- - -
1944   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
During the evening of the 26 December 1944 the 58th was informed that a Japanese fleet was sighted with the intention of bombarding
 Mindoro and the group was ordered to attack it.

The group decolled between 20h15 and 23h00 and each pilot made at least nine strafing attacks until they were out of munition.
Nine planes were lost but six pilots could be recovered.

For this action the 58th received a Distinguished Unit Citation while the Colonel Atkinson (group commander) received the
Distinguished Service Cross, Majors Orden and Self (both squadron commander) a Silver Star each
and 23 other pilots received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

 A5  "The Golden Gopher"
P-47D-11-RE (42-75239)
Captain H. McMullen
Tacloban (Leyte), end of 1944		 - -
In January 1945 the 69th Squadron changed its color to red
     
- - -
April 1945 =>
The 201 Mexican Fighter Squadron arrived in the Philippines in April 1945 and was assigned to the 58th Fighter Group.
It effectued its first was mission on 4 June.
Between 4 June and 4 July 1945 it accomplished 52 missions in support of the ground troops on Luçon which represent 818 flight hours.
In July it flew four missions against Formosa. The squadron flew its last war mission, an escort for a naval convoy, on 26 August 1945.
On 1 September it was transferred under the control of the 13rd USAAF.
On 16 September 1945, five pilots were decorated with the Medal for the Liberation of the Philippines (Note: I am unsure of the translation of this medal) and two more were recommanded for the Legion of Merit Medal.

69th Fighter Squadron
 

310th Fighter Squadron
 

311th Fighter Squadron
 

201st Mexican
Fighter Squadron
A1 - A33 H34 - H66 V67 - V99 # 100 - 129
.      
1945   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   San José, Mindoro, Philippines

 A5  "?"
P-47D-15-RE (42-23213)
San José , beginning of 1945		 -
 - 
P-47D-23-RE (42-227995)
Philippines, beginning of 1945
 18   "-"
P-47D (44-33721)
-
1945, July   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Okinawa
In July 1945, the 58th moved to Okinawa and from there attacked railway lines, airfields and ground installations in Corea and on Kyushu.
- - - -
At the end of the war it had claimed 14 aerial victories.

 

 

 

 

"Per Caelum Victorae"

348th Fighter Group
General Kenney was finding it increasingly difficult to obtain additional numbers of the big, long ranging twin. Another dilemma facing Kenney was that many of his existing P-38's were older P-38F and G models with considerable combat hours in their logbooks.
It would not be long before many of these would be officially classified as "war weary".

Kenney was offered a choice of several other fighters in its stead. However, the 5th was already well populated with the P-40 Warhawk. The performance of the P-40 was only adequate at best. Its range was limited, which largely meant that it was not suitable for many of the 5th's mission requirements.
There was but one other option, the new P-47 Thunderbolt. The word had filtered down to the 5th that these were hot fighters.
However, that would be of little value because the Jug had shorter legs than the Curtiss P-40. Without external drop tanks and a remarkable thirst for avgas, the P-47 could not even match the Warhawk's combat radius.
Kenney was handed the hot potato when Gen. Hap Arnold offered him a newly trained P-47 Group.
Kenney, who was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, promptly accepted.

The 348th Fighter Group arrived in Australia on June 30th 1943 with their P-47D-2-RE Jugs.
Just as in Britain, the Thunderbolt made an immediate impression upon the RAAF personnel.
Reportedly, as a P-47 pilot climbed down from the cockpit, one Aussie ground crewman inquired:

"Where is the rest of the crew?"

340th Fighter Squadron

341st Fighter Squadron

342nd Fighter Squadron
# 1 - 25 # 26 - 50

# 51 - 75
     
1943, August   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Wards Aerodrome/Port Moresby, New Guinea
“When we finally shipped out, it took 30 days to steam to Brisbane, Australia in June 1943.
They brought our planes on freighters. We slow-timed engines for about 10 hours.
We then flew to New Guinea in August, where we operated from Wards Aerodrome at Port Moresby.
We flew a lot of protection for transport planes, flying supplies to the other side of the island, to Dobodura and Nadzab.
(Lieutenant Lawrence F.O'Neill, 342 FS)
First blood was drawn at 1500 hours on
August 16, when Captain Max Wiecks of the 340th Fighter Squadron was credited with downing a Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa near Marilinan.		 Lieutenant Leonard Leighton of the
341st downed another Oscar half and hour later, but was hit himself soon afterward.
Although his squadron mates saw him parachuting into the wild New Guinea countryside, months later an Allied patrol discovered his body, confirming Leighton as the 348th’s first combat fatality.		  
 - -
 73  ''Fiery Ginger''
P-47D-2-RE (42-8145)
 (later) Colonel Neel E. Kearby
A/C lost Oct 22, 1943 (342nd FG). MACR 4361
-
1943, summer   -   White bars added to the roundel - no outlines yet!

''Fiery Ginger IV''
P-47D-4-RA (42-22668)
CO 348 FG Colonel Neel E. Kearby
On October 11, Kearby shot down four Oscars and two Tonys in an action for which he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.
Also promoted to Colonel, Kearby was transferred to V Fighter Command on November 17,
while Lt. Col. Robert Rowland took charge of the 348th fighter Group.
The profile is based on a pic referred to: Finschhafen, March 1944
That would mean, he was already at the Fighter Command.
However his aircraft still weared the 348FG colours from earlier days, so I place it here
BTW: This Aircraft was lost Mar 5, 1944, SW Pacific
-
 31  "Miss Mutt II'' / PRIDE of LODI OHIO
P-47D-4-RA (42-22684)
CO 348 FG Lt.Col. Robert R. Rowland
Wadke Island, Mid 1944
The plane was probably still in use at Wadke
But Rowland was CO since November 1943 and the colored-fin tips time seem to end shortly after, so I place it here.
Also profiles with red fin tip do exist ?
 68  "Bonnie"
 P-47D-2-RA (42-8067)
W. D. Dunham
Port Moresby, November 1943
-
-
-
-
-
1943, fall   -   Red 1943 outlines added around stars and bars.

 12  "-"
 P-47D-2-RA (42-8077)
(340 FS)
Port Moresby, fall 1943
Red outlined bars only!		 -
 2 
P-47D (44-5744??)
South-East Asia, 1944
Serialnumber is as fictional as the rest,
I guess ??
1943, December   -   The coloured fin tips were changed into a wide band around the fin
 
 29  ''-''
 P-47D(-1)-RE (42-22669)
(341FS)
Port Moresby, end of 1943
First Evansville production block.
Originally, only Evansville-built P-47s were to
be designated P-47D, and the first Evansville-built P-47Ds were P-47D-RE.
The RA designation
for Evansville and RE for Farmingdale was introduced on the next production blocks.
 99  "Kathy / Veni Vidi Vici"
 P-47D-11-RA (42-22903)
Lieutenant Lawrence F.O'Neill
Destroyed four Japanese Betty Bombers on a single mission in it (December 26, 1943)
-
-
-
-
-
-
 
 38  ''Daring Dottie III''
 P-47D-3-RA (42-22637)
Major John T. Moore
Fate: Damaged at Finschhafen airfield Dec 27, 1943
Also profiles with red fin tip do exist ?		  
The 348th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for supporting the landings and ground troops
on New-Britain between 16 and 31 December 1943.
1944, Early   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Finschhafen, New Britain
Our next move was to Finschhafen, on the other side, and were there for several months,
until we moved on to Saidor, then Wakde Island (off the northern coast of New Guinea), Biak and Noemfoor.
(Lieutenant Lawrence F.O'Neill, 342 FS)
- - -
1944, ~ Spring   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Saidor, north-western New Guinea
In the early spring of 1944, while the group was at Saidor, fighter-bomber work began in earnest with attacks on the Japanese concentrations in the Hansa Bay region just ahead of the advancing Australian troops (wikipedia).
- - -
1944, ~ Summer   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Wakde Island  (off the northern coast of New Guinea)
- - -
1944, ~ Fall   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Biak and Noemfoor (off the northern coast of New Guinea)
-   -
October 1944 =>
Note: New numbers and from now on with an additional 4th Squadron, the 460th

340th Fighter Squadron

341st Fighter Squadron

342nd Fighter Squadron

460th Fighter Squadron
# 10 - 39 # 40 - 69 # 70 - 99 # 100 - 129
switch to yellow? switch to red?    
1945, January   -   Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT   -   Leyte, central Philippines
After 18 months (=> that would be January 1945?) in New Guinea the 348th boarded ship and plane for the Philippines.
One squadron, the 460th, arrived several weeks before the other three, and proceeded to roll up an imposing score of enemy planes, shipping, and personnel destroyed, providing cover for convoys, flying patrols, escorted bombers, attacked enemy airfields, and supporting ground forces. During a three week period it sank 50,000 tons of enemy shipping, which was slightly more than one-tenth of all the shipping sunk by the entire Fifth Air Force during the year 1944. On one mission seven planes of the 460th squadron wiped out a convoy loaded with an estimated 10,000 enemy troops en route to reinforce the Japanese army on Leyte.
The squadron's planes were the first of the Army Air Force to fly over occupied Manila after the Japanese capture of the Philippines.
A flight led by (later) Colonel Dunham, made the first return flight on 17 November 1944.
(wikipedia)
-
 44  ''-''
 P-47D-23-RA (42-27883)
(341FS)
Noemfoor, fall 1943 1944??
Really red ??
 84  "Sylvia"
 P-47D-23-RA (42-278884)
Not before 1945, I think
-
-		 -
1945, early   -  Stripe added to fuselage and wing
       
1945, early   -   Switch to the P-51D MUSTANG

   100  ''Dirty Dick IV''
 P-51D-15-NA (44-15103)
CO 348FG Lt.Col. Dick Rowland
Luzon, beginning of 1945
Note, that the CO gets one of the first P-51D, only one fuselage stripe and no fin stripes added yet !
Note also the unique colored spinner! Other staff plane's spinners were painted just the other way!?
1945, spring   -  2nd stripe added

 3  ''Josie''
 P-47D-23-RA (42-22637)
Lieutenant M. Dikovitsky* (340FS)
Leyte, December 1944 (??)
Not before 1945, I think
-		 - -
 120  ''Bonnie''
P-47D-23-RA (42-27884)
Major William D. 'Dinghy' Dunham
Three stripes on each wing
Before late march, when the 460FS was transitioned to the P-51.
1945, Spring   -   North American P-51D/K MUSTANG   -   Luzon, northern Philippines

 2  ''Josie''
P-51K-10-NT (44-12099)
Lt. Michael Dikovitsky (5 kills)
San Marcelino, Zambales, Luzon
January 1945
 44  ''Lil Lassie''
P-51K-10-NT (44-12076)
Lieutenant Howard Lorenz
Philippines 1945
-
 80  ''Lady Marion''
P-51D-23-NA (44-64113)
Lieutenant K.W. Greever
Philippines 1945
-
 105  ''Nadine''
 P-51K-10-NT (44-12101)
Capt. George Della** (5 kills)
Floridablanca, Pampanga, Luzon
May-June 1945
*) Among Dikovitsky`s victories was a double scored on 3 February 1944.
The formation of sixteen Jugs with which he was flying got into a scrap with some 40 enemy aircraft. In the action that ensued, he dove on a Tony that had made a pass at him and exploded the figher with one burst. Dikovitsky then attacked a Hamp which he also downed.
He rotated home in March 1945 having had little opportunity to use his later Mustang in combat.
**) George Della was the only ace out of the 460th Fighter Squadron.
The 460th FS had completed its transition to the Mustang by late March 1945 too late for air action over the Philippines,
but in time for the final assault on Japan itself. Delia missed the final blows dealt to the empire however, for he rotated home in June l945.
1945, July   -   North American P-51D/K MUSTANG   -   Iwo Jima
 - -
 67  ''Dirty Old Man''
P-51D-20-NA (44-64125)
M. G. Benz
July 1945		 -
1945, August   -   North American P-51D/K MUSTANG     -   Ie Shima

 0  ''Mrs. Bonnie''
 P-51K-10-NT (44-12017)
Deputy Group CO
Lt.Col. William D. 'Dinghy' Dunham
Yellow proofed by photo !		 - -
 100  ''SunshineVII''
 P-51K-10-NT (44-12073)
CO Lt.Col. William M. Banks
Ie Shima, July 1945
-
The 348th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for supporting the landings and ground troops
on New-Britain between 16 and 31 December 1943.

 

 

 

 

"In Proclio Gandete"

475th Fighter Group
"Satans Angels"

During World War II, the 475th Fighter Group was engaged in combat for approximately two years.
The group completed 3042 missions, (21,701 Sorties) and shot down 551 Japanese aircraft.
On the other hand, the Group lost only 56 Planes to the Japanese.
During the war, the Group took part in seven campaigns, and was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations for outstanding performance of duty in action. In addition to Majors Bong and McGuire, the unit boasted such "Aces" of the Pacific War as Col. Charles MacDonald (27),
Capt. Daniel T. Roberts (14), Lt. Francis J. Lent (11), Lt. Col. John S. Loisel (11), Capt. Elliot Summer (10), plus many more.
By the war's end, no fewer than 38 other pilots from the 475th FG had achieved ace status while flying exclusively P-38s.

431st Fighter Squadron

432nd Fighter Squadron

433rd Fighter Squadron
# 95 - 139 # 140 - 169

# 170 - 199
     
1943, November   -   Lockheed P-38H LIGHTNING   -   Dobodura, New Guinea

 95  ''-''
P-38H-1-LO (4.-....)
 1st Lieutenant Captain Marlon F. Kirby Dobodura, November 1943		 - -
1943, September-October   -   Lockheed P-38H LIGHTNING   -   Dobodura, New Guinea

 110  ''-''
P-38H-5-LO (42-66836)
CO 431st FS
Maj. Frank A. Nichols
Dobodura, Fall 1944 (1943?!)		 -
 153  ''Scarlet Scourge''
P-38H-5-LO (42-66841)
2nd Lieutenant Edward G. Dickey
Force landed by an unknown pilot on 14th September 1943. belly-landed on the Fieta emergency landing ground, in a vast Kunai grassed area near Brahmin, 40 miles inland from the coastal town of Madang, Morobe Province, PNG.
42-66841 is now displayed in Classic Jets Fighter Museum under restoration to non-flying status.
external LINK
 175  ''-''
P-38H-1-LO (4.-...)
 1st Lt. Charles Grice
Port Moresby & Dobodura, August 1943

 130  ''Piss For Pete''
P-38H-.-LO (4.-.....)
Don Bellows
Dobodura, September 1943
 159  ''Slightly Dangerous''
P-38H-5-LO (42-66750)
 2nd Lt. Arthur G. Peregoy
Dobodura, October 1943
 193  ''-''
P-38H-5-LO (42-66843)
 2Lt. Calvin C. Wire
Dobodura, September 1943
 
 162  ''Skidoo''
P-38H-1-LO (42-66504)
2nd Lt. Perry J. Dahl
(He finished the war with 7 victories)
Dobodura, late 1943
 197  ''-''
P-38H-5-LO (42-....)
CO 433rd FS
Captain D. Roberts
Dobodura, 1943
1943, mid October   -   Squadron colours on top of fins

 125  ''Maiden Head Hunter''
P-38H-5-LO (42-66827)
CO 431st FS
1st Lt. Marlon F. Kirby
Dobodura, New Guinea, October 1943		 - -
1943, November   -   Lockheed P-38H/J LIGHTNING   -   Dobodura, New Guinea

 131  ''Pudgy''
P-38H-1 (4?-???)
CO 431st FS
Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire (Jr.)
 2nd leading ace of WW2 (38)
 Dobodura, December 1943
 143  ''Blood & Guts III''
P-38H-1-LO (42-...)
1st Lt. Elliott Summer
Dobodura, December 1944 (1943 ?!)		 P-38H-1-LO
42-66556 (475th FG, 431st FS) crashed Sep 5, 1943
66558 (475th FG, 431st FS) crashlanded at base Dec 22, 1943.
66561 (475th FG, 433rd FS) shot down Oct 17, 1943, possibily by the famous ace Nishizawa.
66565 (475th FG, 432rd FS) MIA Nov 15, 1943
66572 (475th FG, 431st FS) MIA Aug 18, 1943
66577 (475th FG, 431st FS) MIA Feb 14, 1944
66580 (475th FG, 432rd FS) shot down Sep 24, 1943
66589 (475th FG, 431st FS) damaged by cannon fire Jan 18, 1944
66595 (475th FG, 432nd FS) MIA Oct 31, 1943
66593 (475th FG, 431st FS) MIA Nov 8, 1943
66596 (475th FG, 433rd FS) MIA Nov 9, 1943
 

 110  ''The ...''
P-38H-5-LO (42-66742) (1253)
 Capt. Verl E. Jett
Dobodura, November 1943
 144  ''Impossible Ince''
P-38H-1-LO (42-66568)
Lieutenant James C. Ince
Dobodura, November, 1943		 -

 113  ''Buffalo Blitz''
P-38J-10-LO (42-67597)
 1st Lt. Frederic F. Champlin
Dobodura, New Guinea, January 1944
 160  ''-'
P-38J-5-LO (42-67290)
1st Lt. Ferdinand E. Hanson
Dobodura, New Guinea, January 1944		  
-
 161  ''Screamin' Kid''
P-38H-1-LO (42-66682)
Capt. John S. Loisel
He later became CO of the entire 475th FG and
downed at least two (maybe 4) Zekes in this Aircraft - his backdrop.
Dobodura, January 1944		 -
1944, mid January   -   Squadron colours now on top and bottom of fins

 131  ''Pudgy''
P-38H-1-LO (4?-???)
CO 431st FS
Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire (Jr.)
 2nd leading ace of WW2 (38)
 Dobodura, December 1943
 143  ''Blood & Guts''
P-38H-1-LO (42-...)
Lieutenant Elliot Summer
-
-		 -

# ?
blank stock cfs2 skin
 161  ''Screamin' Kid''
P-38H-1-LO (42-66682)
Capt. John S. Loisel
He later became CO of the entire 475th FG and
downed at least two (maybe 4) Zekes in this Aircraft - his backdrop.
Dobodura, January 1944		 -

 134  ''T. Rigor Mortis"
P-38H-1-LO (42-66550)
2nd Lt. Francis J. Lent
Dobodura, New Guinea, November 1944 ??
 162  ''Skidoo''
P-38H-1-LO (42-66504)
Lieutenant Perry Dahl
He finished the war with 7 victories.
Dobodura, late 1943 - January 1944		 -
1943, December   -   Lockheed P-38J-5 LIGHTNING   -   Dobodura, New Guinea
 
 168  ''Black Market Babe''
P-38J-5-LO (42-......)
Lieutenant Billy Gresham
Dobodura, January 1944		 -
 131  ''Pudgy II''
P-38H-5-LO (42-66817)
 Major Thomas B. McGuire
# - ? -		 -
1944, Summer   -   Lockheed P-38L-1 LIGHTNING   -   Dobodura, New Guinea

 100  "Putt Putt Maru"
 P-38J-15-LO (42-104024)
CO 475th FG Colonel Charles H. MacDonald
5th leading ace of WW2 (27)
Biak, New Guinea, July 1944 (10 victory flags)
 131  ''Pudgy III''
 Major Thomas B. McGuire		 -
 170  "-"
P-38J-15-LO (42-104035)
 CO 433rd FS
Maj. Warren R. Lewis
Biak, New Guinea, June 1944
The tailstripes were first applied in January 1945 at other units and do not fit other 475 FG planes at all ??!!

 131  ''Pudgy IV''
 P-38J-?-LO (44-2...)
 CO 431st FS
Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire (Jr.)
2nd leading Ace of WW2 (38)
(25 victory flags)		 - -

 131  ''Pudgy V''
 P-38L-1-LO (44-24155)
 CO 431st FS
Major Thomas Buchanan McGuire (Jr.)
2nd leading Ace of WW2 (38)
Biak, New Guinea, July 1944
(30 victory flags)		 -  
1944, late   -   Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING   -   Biak, Northwest of New Guinea
- -
 194  ''Virginia Marie''
P-38L-?-LO (44-...)
Lt. C. Robert Anderson
Boroka Airstrip, Biak, late 1944
1944, December   -   Lockheed P-38L-5 LIGHTNING   -   Tacloban(?), Leyte, Philippines
- -
 174  ''Lizzie V''
P-38L-5-LO (4..)
Captain John Edgar Purdy
 Dulag, Philippines, December 1944
1945, January   -   Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING   -   Dulag, Leyte, Philippines

 100  "Putt Putt Maru"
 P-38L-5-LO (44-24843)
CO 475th FG Colonel Charles H. MacDonald
5th leading ace of WW2 (27)
Dulag, January 1945

 101  "?"
P-38L-5-LO (44-25443)
CO 475th FG Maj. John S. Loisel
Dulag, Philippines, January 1945
1945, June   -   Lockheed P-38L-5 LIGHTNING   -   Lingayen, Luzon, Philippines

 111  ''PeeWee V''
 P-38L-5-LO (44....)
 Captain Ken Hart
 140  ''?''
 P-38L-5-LO (44-25600)
 CO 432nd FS Major Elliot Summer
Lingayen, July 1945		 -

 114  ''Battle Axe''
 P-38L-5-LO (44-26177)
 1st Lt. Thomas E. Martin
Clark Field, Philippines, April 1945
 142  ''-''
 P-38L-.-LO (44-2..)
-?-
Winter 1943 (1944!)
 189  ''Strictly Laffs''
P-38L-1-LO (44-23987)
-?-
April 1945

 116  ''Bette Ann''
 P-38L-1-LO (44-2..)
1st Lt. John A. Tilley
Clark Field, Philippines, April 1945
 149  ''Florida Cracker''
 P-38L-5-LO (44-25432)
 1st Lt. Joseph M. Forster
Dulag, Philippines, December 1944		  

 122  ''Doots''
 P-38L-5-LO (44-25878)
 1st Lt. Thomas M. Oxford
Lingayen, Philippines, April 1945		    

 125  ''Madu''
 P-38L-5-LO (44-25638)
 1st Lt. Louis D. DuMontier
Lingayen, Philippines, April-May 1945		    

 133  ''Irish Angel''
 P-38L-5-LO (44-25482)
 1st Lt. Raymond H. Werth
Lingayen, Philippines, June 1945		    

 135  ''Pappy's Birr Die''
 CO 431st FS Bob Cline		   -

 139  ''Carolyn''
 P-38L-5-LO (44-25635)
 2nd Lt. R. Werner
Lingayen, Philippines, Middle of 1945		    
1945   -   Lockheed P-38J-15-LO LIGHTNING   -   Luzon, Philippines

 -  ''Marge''
 P-38J-15-LO (42-103993) (993/597)
 Richard Ira Bong
Leading American Ace of WW2 (40)
Second variant of nose painting,
when Richard Bong used the plane for his
propagandistic tour over USA. Thus the aircraft is a bit more colorful and less of tactical code.		 -  

 

 

 

 

547th Night Fighter Squadron
 Activated March 1944 with P-61. Served in New Guinea, Philippines, Ie Shima, Japan.

1944, March   -   Northrop P-61B-1 BLACK WIDOW   -   New Guinea
- -

1944   -   Northrop P-61B-1-NO BLACK WIDOW   -   Philippines
The B variant had 4 pylons, while the A could only carry two tanks.
The B also had a slightly longer nose and other propellers.

 ''Times a'wastin''
P-61B-1-NO (42-39403)
Maj. Carrol C. "Snuffy" Smith and his R/O, Lt. Philip Porter
Maj. Smith was the highest ranking American nocturnal ace in World War II with the total of 7 kills. Four of them were achieved in this plane during the course of one night, December 29, 1944, when he shot down two Irvings, one Rufe, and one Frank, expending only 382 rounds!
One of only two of the first 200 P-61B's to retain the dorsal four-gun turret,
this not being revived until Block 15 when buffering problems associated with the guns were cured.
A/C condemned inventory Jun 11,1945
'Swing Shift Skipper''
P-61B-1-NO (42-39440) '
Lt. Arthur Bourque
Lingayen Airstrip, Philippines
-
A/C condemned salvage obsolete Sep 28, 1945
-
-
-
-
-
-

1944   -   Northrop P-61B-2 BLACK WIDOW   -   Ie Shima
547FS claimed its first victory in the night of Christmas 1944.
- -

1945   -   Northrop P-61B-20 BLACK WIDOW   -   Japan
- -
At the end of the war it was based on Ie Shima and was credited with 6 success.
Inactivated February 1946

 

 

 

 

418th Night Fighter Squadron
1943, April 1   -   The 418th Night Fighter Squadron was declared operational

1943, April 1   -   Douglas P-70   -   New-Guinea
-

1944, September   -   Northrop P-61 BLACK WIDOW   -   New-Guinea
-
1944, October 7   -   418th FS claimed its first victory
The leading Black Widow crew in the Pacific was the pair
Major Carrol C. Smith (pilot) and Lt. Philip B. Porter (radar operator)
of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron, who destroyed five Japanese aircraft.

1944, September   -   Northrop P-61B-15 BLACK WIDOW   -   New Guinea

P-61B-15-NO (42-39576)
condemned salvage obsolete Jun 24, 1946

1945   -   Northrop P-61B-15 BLACK WIDOW   -   Philippines
P-61B-15-NO (42-39588)
(418th NFS) lost Aug 10, 1945, South Pacific. MACR 14875
P-61B-15-NO (42-39591)
(418th NFS) lost Aug 4, 1945, SW Pacific. MACR 14886

1945   -   Northrop P-61B-15 BLACK WIDOW   -   Okinawa

P-61B-15-NO (42-39757) ''The WANDATER''
418th NFS, Okinawa, July 1945
By the end of the war 418th FS was credited with 18 successes

 1947, February   -   Inactivated but reactivated August 1948 as 4th All Weather Squadron.

 

 

 

 

421st Night Fighter Squadron
The 421st Night Fighter Squadron was created on 1 May 1943 in New-Guinea.

It was first equipped with P-70 and P-38 and received the P-61 in June 1944. It claimed its first victory on 7 July 1944. At the end of the war it was based on Ie Shima and was credited with 13 success.

1944, June   -   Received BLACK WIDOW

1944, September   -   Northrop P-61 BLACK WIDOW   -   New Guinea
-

1944, September   -   Northrop P-61 BLACK WIDOW   -   Tacloban Strip, Leyte, Philippines

"Skippy" / "Nocturnal Nemesis"
P-61A-1-NO (42-5502)
Pilot 2Lt. David Corts + R/O Lt. Alexander Berg
Tacloban Strip, Leyte, late 1944
Credited with one confirmed (during night action) - It was a Japanese bomber that was not directly shot down by them, but by another Japanese aircraft that was firing at them, missing and hitting one of their own aircraft, knocking it down! BTW: P-61A-1s prior to 42-5523 had turrets, but left them in a forward position because of buffetting.

1945   -   Northrop P-61B-20-NO BLACK WIDOW   -   Philippines

P-61B-20-NO (43-8257) ''Monnie''
-
5AF, Philippines 1945
which unit exactly?

 1947, February   -   Inactivated but reactivated August 1948 as 68th All Weather Squadron

 

 

 

 

References
USAAF - Serial numbers collection by Joseph F. Baugher

 

 

 

 

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