Tag: 2 Lt. John J. Carroll

A Missing Man: Major Milton Joel and Capt. Robert W. Wood, 38th Fighter Squadron – Memories Continue

Being that my blog’s “Comment” sidebar isn’t working (“aaargh”!), here’s a new post pertaining to Major Milton Joel, WW II 8th Air Force P-38 fighter pilot, based on a comments by Mr. Patrick Wood.  Patrick is the son of Robert W. Wood, the 38th Fighter Squadron’s Communications Officer and Executive Officer.  I corresponded with his father some decades ago, and his help – though I never anticipated so at the time! – proved to be instrumental in creating this series of blog posts.

And so, here’s Patrick’s comment:

“My Dad, Robert W. Wood, from Sioux Falls, SD, I believe, was Major Joel’s executive officer in England.  They became close friends and Major Joel’s death was very hard on Dad.  He kept in contact with Mrs. Joel for many years until finally there were no responses to his letters.

Dad was convinced that Major Joel’s death was avoidable but for the unwarranted – in his opinion – decision by another squadron commander to turn back to England sooner than he should have.  This left Major Joel and his squadron more vulnerable to Messerschmidts.

My sister has some of Dad’s papers; the next time I visit her I’ll see what else I can find.

One of Dad’s duties was to write letters to the parents and families of the pilots who did not return – “too many empty beds,” he said.”

My thoughts?

Patrick, I was more than happily startled to receive your entirely unexpected message.  I immediately recognized your father’s name, for we corresponded with one another in the late 1990s, and he provided information that was essential in unravelling the story of the 55th Fighter Group’s mission of November 29, 1943, let alone shedding light upon Major Joel, himself – simply as a “person”.  This information figures in the blog posts: “A Monday in November: Major Joel’s Last Mission [Updated Post! – January 14, 2021]”, and, “Fragments of Memory”. 

Your comments bring forth many thoughts and musings.  As far as the loss of contact between your father and Major Joel’s widow – she later remarried and became Elaine Friedlich – I think this might be explained by the fact that (as indicated by her obituary at FindAGrave) she passed away in 1981 at the young age of 60, after a long illness of an unspecified nature.

Your father’s relationship to Major Joel is well attested to by the beautiful letter – a form of tribute, really – he wrote to the Major’s parents in January of 1947, which is available and fully transcribed under “Fragments of Memory,”, and, your father’s preservation of diary entries made by the Major during the 55th’s crossing of the Atlantic Ocean to England, in 1943. 

Your mention of a contributing factor to Major Joel’s death (and relatedly the deaths of Lieutenants Albino and Garvin of the 38th, and Gilbride of the 343rd, plus the capture of Lt. Carroll of the 38th) having been the decision of a man who at that moment was leading the 343rd Fighter Squadron, is more than alluded to in my post about the November 29 mission.  Suffice to say that though I’ve refrained from specifically calling out the man’s name, if one reads the two above-mentioned blog posts thoroughly – from beginning pixel to final pixel – your father’s allusions to the man, and his name (like the names of all the 55th FG pilots on the mission), are present.

In the way of the world, though everyone involved in this story has since passed on, my analysis of the November 29 mission leads me to believe that your father was in essence correct. 

Without recapitulating the blog post in these comments (it’s been a couple of years since I wrote it, and like most of my blog posts, it’s really, really (really) long):

Repeated radio calls were made by Major Joel (and maybe others in the 38th) asking for help, which were definitely received by Captain Rufus Franklin of the 343rd.  But, the 343rd (I don’t know how far a point that squadron attained over the continent) was by then headed west, back to England.  The probability that Franklin was the only man to receive these radio calls would have been, I think, astronomically low.  During its return to Nuthampstead, the 343rd went into Lufbery circles twice.  Captain Franklin and his wingman, Lt. James Garvin, in an act that to me bespoke of tremendous courage and independence of thought, broke out of the Lufbery and headed back east to help the remnants of the 38th, which were under pursuit by Me 109s of III./JG I.    

Regarding the man in question, the historical records of the 38th Fighter Squadron reveal that he joined Major Joel’s Squadron on April 29, 1942, but for a reason left unexplained, transferred to the 343rd on February 2, 1943.  His rise through the 38th was in a word meteoric, for he reached the rank of Lt. Col. on April 29, 1945 and received the Silver Star in July of that year.  Postwar, his rise within the Air Force continued.  Suffice to say that even as early as the 1950s, the P-51s he flew had already gained a measure of attention.  I’ll leave it at that.    

This was quite unlike the experience of Captain Franklin, who also remained in the postwar Air Force, but only reached Colonel in 1955.  I think he more than merited the Silver Star for his actions on November 29, 1943, but as you can see from his obituary, he never received that award.  Well, I don’t adjudicate those things (!), and it’s in the past anyway.  (But is past is ever really past?)  Interestingly, he was transferred out of the 55th to the 20th Fighter Group on February 23, 1944 … three months after the November 29 mission.  Echoing Elaine Joel’s life, Capt. Franklin passed away in 1969 at the very young age of 48.

In closing, my review of Missing Air Crew Reports shows about 60 such documents were filed for 38th Fighter Squadron pilots.  So I can imagine the impact this would have…

Thank you, again, for your interest!

A Missing Man: Major Milton Joel, Fighter Pilot, 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force: III – On Course [Revised post! … December 18, 2023]

[Update: Created in November of 2020, this post has been updated to reflect information provided by Andrew Garcia, pertaining to the P-38 that serves as a backdrop for the image of Major Joel and Capt. Joseph Myers, Jr.  The picture can be seen towards the (very) bottom of the post.]

Part III: On Course

Now in command of the 38th Fighter Squadron, Milton’s promotion to Major was announced in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, on February 2, 1943. 

MAJOR AT 23 – Milton Joel (above) son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Joel, 5 Greenway Lane, is believed to be one of the army’s youngest majors.  He completed his civilian pilot’s course at the University of Richmond in 1939 after attending the University of Virginia.  He later trained at Tuscaloosa Field, Ala.  He was commissioned a second lieutenant in May, 1941, promoted to first lieutenant in February, 1942, and a captain in June.  He is now commanding officer of a fighter squadron at Pendleton Field, Ore.

Flying-battle-axe emblem of the 38th Fighter Squadron, digital…

…and physical, as a patch, available from EBay seller EZ.Collect.  (Not a “plug” – I simply found this image via duckduckgo!)

________________________________________

Three and a half months after taking command of the 38th Fighter Squadron, on February 19, 1943, Milton and several of his squadron’s pilots gathered for this group photograph, under what seems (?) to have been an overcast sky.

Interestingly, at least four pilots in the rear row (thus all perhaps in the rear row?) were members of the 27th Fighter Squadron (Milton’s former squadron) and attained aerial victories in the Mediterranean Theater.

Though this image is present in the squadron’s historical records (specifically, in AFHRA Microfilm Roll AO 136) inquiries to the National Archives revealed that it’s absent from the WW II U.S. Army Air Force Photo Collection.  Thus, it seems to have remained at squadron level, never having been bureaucratically passed “upwards” to any higher organizational level.

From a technical point of view, the photograph clearly illustrates the counter-rotating propellers used in all P-38 Lightnings commencing with the XP-38, with the exception of 22 of the 143 P-38s which had been ordered by the Royal Air Force as Lightning Mark 1s.  As such, viewed from the “front”, it can be seen that the propellers rotate outwards, away from the aircraft’s central gondola and toward the wings.  

Another point: It appears that the aircraft’s nose has been painted, perhaps as a form of squadron identification. 

The text on the photograph states…

“(G868A – 22M – 33AB) (2-19-43) FLYING OFFICERS, 38TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, PN FLD, WN. (RES)”

…while the back of the image bears the notation…

Restricted Photograph

Do not use without permission U.S. Army Air Force

Air Base

Photo Laboratory

…and includes the pilots’ surnames – and their surnames only.  However, this clue enables identification of most of these men.  They are:

Front row, left to right (All members of the 38th Fighter Squadron)

Wyche, Wilton E., 0-729407
Ayers, Jerry H., 0-659441
Leinweber, Gerald F., 0-659473
Joel, Milton, 0-416308  (KIA 11/29/43 – MACR 1429 – P-38H 42-67020; No Luftgaukommando Report)
Hancock, James H., 0-659122
“Meyer” (Myers?), Joseph, Jr., 0-659166
Leve, Morris, 0-791127 (KIA 1/31/44 – MACR 2110 – P-38J 42-67768; Luftgaukommando Report AV 641/44)

Rear row, left to right (The four identified men were members of the 27th Fighter Squadron)

Ellerbee
Conn, David M., 0-732171
Meikle, James B.
Connors
Dickie
Crane, Edwin R., 0-728980
McIntosh, Robert L., 0-802054
Harris
Smoot
Hammond
Purvis

Here’s another 38th Fighter Squadron photo, from Robert M. Littlefield’s Double Nickel, Double Trouble.  Taken on June 4, 1943 at McChord Field, Washington, these seven men comprise the original squadron commanders of the 38th Fighter Squadron, and, the four officers heading the 55th Fighter Group.  Akin to the preceding photograph, an inquiry to NARA revealed that this photograph is absent from the WW II U.S. Army Air Force Photo Collection.  Also paralleling the above photo, this P-38’s nose (the plane is a P-38G-15) has been painted – probably – in white or yellow, and bears a (plane-in-squadron?) identification number.  Unusually for a stateside warplane, this aircraft bears nose art.  This takes the form of Walt Disney’s “Thumper” holding a machine gun, and the appropos nickname “WABBIT”.  (Albeit no relation to Elmer Fudd…)

The men are…

…left to right:

Major Richard W. (“R. Dick”) Busching, 0-427516, Commanding Officer of the 338th Fighter Squadron
Major Milton Joel, 0-416308, Commanding Officer of the 38th Fighter Squadron
Wendell Kelly, Group Operations Officer
Colonel Frank A. James, Commanding Officer of the 55th Fighter Group
Lt. Colonel Jack S. Jenkins, 0-22606, Group Executive Officer
George Crowell, Group Operation Officer
Major Dallas W. (“Spider”) Webb, Commanding Officer of the 343rd Fighter Squadron

________________________________________

This third image, from the collection of 38th Fighter Squadron pilot (and only survivor among the four 38th Fighter Squadron pilots shot down on November 29, 1943 – but we’ll get to that in a subsequent post) John J. Carroll, was taken on July 20, 1943.  From The American Air Museum in Britain (image UPL 40377) the photo shows the original members of the 38th Fighter Squadron sent to England in late summer of 1943.  (This picture also appears in Double Nickel, Double Trouble.)

Paralleling the above pictures, this photograph is absent from the WW II U.S. Army Air Force Photo Collection.  The text on the image as published in Double Nickel, Double Trouble (but not visible on this web image) states:

“(G1067 – 22M – 33AB) (7-20-43) FLYING OFFICERS, 38TH FTR. SQDN. (RES)”

The men are:

Front, left to right

Shipman, Mark K., 0-431166
Wyche, Wilton E., 0-729407
Ayers, Jerry H., 0-659441
“Meyers” (Myers?), Joseph, Jr., 0-659166
Joel, Milton, 0-416308 (KIA 11/29/43 – MACR 1429 – P-38H 42-67020; No Luftgaukommando Report)
Meyer, Robert J.
Leinweber, Gerald F., 0-659473
Hancock, James H., 0-659122
Unknown

Rear, left to right

Albino, Albert A., 0-743330 (KIA 11/29/43 – MACR 1428 – P-38H 42-67051; Luftgaukommando Report J 307?)
Fisher, D., (“David D.”), (T-1046) (KIA 1/31/44 – MACR 2106 – P-38J 42-67757; Luftgaukommando Report Unknown)
Brown, Gerald, 0-740139
Unknown
Kreft, Willard L., 0-740219
Erickson, Wilton G., 0-748934 (KIA 12/1/43 – MACR 1430 – P-38H 42-67033; Luftgaukommando Report Unknown)
Erickson, Robert E., 0-743324
Gillette, Hugh E., 2 Lt., 0-740169 (KIA 10/18/43 – MACR 1040 – P-38H 42-66719; No Luftgaukommando Report)
Steiner, Delorn L., 0-740297 (KIA 1/31/44 – MACR 2105 – P-38J 42-67711; Luftgaukommando Report Unknown)
Fisher, (Paul, Jr.), (0-740149)
Peters, Edward F., 0-746168
Peters, Allen R., 0-743368
Carroll, John J., 0-743313 (POW 11/29/43 – MACR 1431 – P-38H 42-67090; Luftgaukommando Report Unknown)
Unknown
Garvin, James M., 0-740164 (KIA 11/29/43 – MACR 1427 – P-38H 42-67046; Luftgaukommando Reports J 338 and AV 513 / 44)
Forsblad, Richard W., 0-740153
Des Voignes, Clair W., 0-743425 (KIA 7/13/44 – MACR 6709, 6717 – P-38J 42-28279; Luftgaukommando Report J 1635)

________________________________________

The 55th Fighter Group departed McChord Field, Washington, for England on 23 August 1943.  The Group reached Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on August 27, remaining there until September 4, when the Group boarded the H.M.T. Orion (a 24,000 ton ocean liner launched in 1934) in New York Harbor, the burned-out wreck of the SS Normandie – renamed the USS Lafayette – visible nearby.  The Orion departed the next day, reaching its English base at Nuthampstead on September 14.  Milton’s diary verifies these dates and locations.

In this image (U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 2009.006.096) a Coast Guard J4F Widgeon flies near the wreckage of the Lafayette, with the Empire State Building faintly visible in the distance.  This area is probably the location of the Orion’s departure for England.  

________________________________________

During this hectic interval, Milton kept a diary covering the 18-day trans-Atlantic journey, in which he recorded observations and impressions of people, places, and events, noting the controlled chaos associated with the rapid movement of his squadron and group to a foreign shores.  Specifically mentioned (albeit not including first names!) are pilots Willard L. Kreft, Gerald F. Leinweber, Mark K. Shipman, Albert A. Albino, Colonel Frank A. James, and ground officers Octavian R. Tuckerman (Ordnance), and Arthur S. Weinberger (Personnel). 

The first two pages of Milton’s diary are shown below, followed by a transcript of all diary entries.  Milton’s penmanship was not (!) the best, so the text includes some “gaps” (thus [“_____”]).  But, enough of his writing is legible such that the sequence of events, his impressions of people (one observation of human behavior is quite frank by the standards of the 1940s) and sense of activity emerge from the document’s pages, as do his pride in his squadron. 

Aug 23-1943 En Route Paine Field to NY P of E

This first entry in the daily record of events and sidelights of my participation in the action toward victory is made with the hope that it will not suffer the ignominity of becoming merely another bit of evidence of slovenly performance & tasks undertaken.  At 08:30 AM left Mukilteo Washington in command of the 38th Fighter Squadron.  Everyone eager and straining at the bit just as I am.  Feel sure we can do a good job of it since I know we are better in a hundred ways than any outfit that has previously left the cont. for foreign duty both in efficiency and spirit.  Wish Elaine could have been there to see us off but that would have been an anticlimax.  Then too make it a first not to see her after the men were placed incommunicado.  What’s good enough for them is good enough for me. 

Aug 24 ’43

Trip so far completely uneventful, train shakes so cannot write. 

Aug 25th ’43 No change.  All serene. 

All the men really on the ball – violent bridge game constantly in progress involving _____ _____ [Willard L.] Kreft & [Gerald F.] Leinweber.  They have screamed themselves hoarse.  Particularly Leinweber now sounds like a fog horn.  Sporadic poker games continue on.  [Mark K.] Shipman is like a kid just bubbles over with enthusiasm.  He wrangled a ride on the engine & stayed there some four or five hours.

Aug 26th Everyone thoroughly encrusted in soot. 

We look like miners not soldiers.  [Albert A.] Albino & his _____ _____ _____ _____.  Shipman worried about poker games _____ as though we should see that pilots learn to take care of their money.  Losses haven’t been heavy.  _____ (_____) & I talk him out of it.  Is indignant when we try to explain that paternalism should not be carried that far.  Am proud as pink over the conduct & appearance of the outfit at exercise time at stop by the wayside.  Even though they are grimy they are sharp.  Leinweber spends waking hour looking for a spoon from his mess kit – 200 pounds of almost _____ _____. 

Aug 27th Camp Kilmer, N.J.

– arrived here at 08:05 from then on it was nit & tuck – nip a breath & tuck it away to last for an hour or two when you may or may not be able to catch another.  Was met at the station with everything but the brass band. 
I.F. a billeting officer, a supply officer, a medical man, a rail transportation man & truck transport man and two or three others for good measure.  We whisked the men off the train & marched them off to their barracks.  I stayed behind with _____ (Exec. Off) & went through the train with a rail officer & train Rep. & a Pullman Rep. to check for damage.  There was none.  Dashed madly to new quarters while the rain started to pour.  Have a piece of paper shoved at me telling me that I and the whole staff report at 9:00 AM for instruction –  Do not have time to even wash off the weeks soot & grime or change clothes. 

We report, Larry (_____) S-2, _____ S-1, Shipman S-3 & _____ S-4 & I _____ _____ officer _____ who gives us 2 hours instruction & a thousand sheets of paper (S.O.P. – Standard Operating Procedures). 

We receive a schedule for the day which is a killer.  Return to barracks Four & officers are just settling down.  Tuckerman & Weinberger have just returned with the baggage detail & the baggage and it is all stowed away in our building –  Rush away to lunch.  Return & going to quit as too tired to continue. 

Sept 1 Have decided that war is hell. 

If the battling will be as rough as the getting to it.  We’ve had at least 6 countermanding orders on our load list, we pack them then unpack.  Then pack.  Then unpack.  That’s the way it goes.  Everyone is beginning to get thoroughly disgusted but that’s the way they said it would be. 

This camp is tremendous place thousands & 10’s of thousands of men pour through here each week.  They are practically re-equipped.  It’s amazing really.  We had a meeting today and there were at least 300 unit commanders and adjutants.  This is going to be a tremendous deal, but big rumors are rampant.  Morale however is getting very low.  Pilots like a bunch of race horses.  They’re tense & at each others throats practically.  Mainly due to hanging around with nothing to do & hangovers, everyone having gone to New York last night & night before.  I went in.  Had a big lobster dinner & a fried chicken but was too tired to stay late. 

Sept 14 Haven’t had a moment to do more than write a few words to Elaine. 

Left Camp Kilmer on the 4th in the morning for Embarkation.  Our B-4 bags & packs were so damned heavy don’t know how we made it.  Rode the train to ferry & thence off the harbor to the pier and boarded H.M.T. Orion.  Saw the Normandie still lying serenely on her side like some tired old man refusing to get up & go to work.  As soon as all the men were aboard I managed to drag my raincoat, briefcase, blanket roll, mussette bag, gas mask, pistol, web belt and canteen aboard half carrying & half falling over my B-4 bag to my stateroom.   This was pleasantly surprised by a Staff Sergeant Symanoff who brought me four letters from Elaine.  She had a hunch – the _____ _____ _____ that I would come to New York and had contacted Gene Symanoff who worked in the port.  That was to prove the greatest treat to date aboard this tub. 

No sooner did I get on board ship then was I summoned to Col. James’ [Frank James] room – where I found a great stir & dither.  I was informed that I was to be Deck Commander of “E” Deck, which at this time didn’t seem so bad.  Was soon to find out just what a rough deal it really turned out to be.  Col. James was the senior line officer slated to come aboard and was then made troop commander.  We were informed that there had never previously been American troops board ship and in addition there were 2000 more of them than the British had ever conceived of placing aboard.  I.E. We had 7000 troops placed helter skelter on the ship and no one with us had ever had any experience of either handling troops aboard ship or _____ _____ any permanent _____.  Men had been loaded helter skelter like sardines thrown into the can and then lid forced down.  There were not even any set instructions orders or the like.  This looks like the goddamnedest mess the brass hats could dream up & was.  Went below & found my deck was “double loaded” I.E. 1500 men eat & sleep below deck & 1500 sleep & two above on another deck for 24 hours.  All eat below in double shifts of 2 sittings each man shifting the _____ _____ for each of the 2 meals and again in the middle of the day.  At night there wasn’t room either below or above to move an inch without stepping on someone’s face 1/2 _____ staying below slept on mattresses on the floor and tables the other half in hammocks.  Those above decks slept on blankets on hard decks rain or shine – oh rough –  To add to it all compartments on all decks had to pass through my deck to go to & from the galley also the twice daily canteen details also went through all the latrines for EMs aboard ship were also located _____.  At meal times shift it looked like 42nd & Broadway on New Year’s Eve.  How we ever got any organization is still a mystery to me.

To add to it all men consisted of the raunchiest crew I had ever seen.  A larger proportion was criminals most of whom had 2 to 3 court martials against them some of whom even brought on board by armed guard.  It was utter chaos.  For first 3 days there was utter chaos and it took some days to eliminate the confusion.  Many groups had one unexperienced 2nd Lt. in command who had just picked them up the day before.  There was a group of 80 officers all _____ aboard who much like the men here were as motley as Joseph’s Coat and had an equivalent record.  We found the total officers straight aboard to be 700 including eighty very recently commissioned and very eager nurses.  These turned out to be as big a problem the 2nd Lts went after them like hound-dogs after a bitch in heat.  I believe most of these girls were actually in heat because it seemed they were very cooperative.  Ended up by picking a staff from the staff of the squadron & assigning each squadron officer a job with the men.  Had about 150 officers assigned me and to other deck commander and took them down into Compartment Commanders and watch officers so that officer would be with the men 24 hours a day. 

Morale for the first four days was the lowest I’ve ever seen it.  The confusion was unimaginable.  At meal time the corridor looked like 42nd & Broadway on New Year Eve.  Only thing that made it satisfactory were boat drills weren’t always went over in first order.

There is a Moving Picture version of a British Colonel aboard as permanent Liaison Officer.  Had been troop C.O. for two years aboard same ship.  Knows every knook and cranny.  Knows every argument that comes up with ships company before it comes up.  Without his help this tub would have sunk in this chaos.  He is one of the shrewdest men I have ever met & just as humorous.  Whenever an argument in Staff Meeting is going the wrong way he can draw a red herring through the conversation so fast that it makes your head swim or tell some fantastic typical statement.  “Ships officers are dead from 2 PM til’ four.  If you attempted to wake one up the ruddy funnel will fall off.” 

Took about seven days to get things afoot so that trip became very pleasant U.S.O. shows helped immensely.  Billy Gilbert the Hollywood _____ artist is aboard with a troop and his shows have done wonders for morale.  After the first three days the men’s spirits raised and remained amazingly high considering the hardships of sleeping in stinking holds & open but cold decks.

No excitement yet other than an incident the seventh night out.  A Swedish ship blasted through the entire convoy at perpendicular courses & all ships had to make a sweeping torn to avoid her she was completely lighted & must have completely silhouetted us also made sub contact at the same time & depth charges were dropped well over the place which sit up a “ruddy din”.

About 1/3 of the men were thoroughly sick the second & third day out when it got fairly rough out water has been like a mild pond ever since.

Units were so spilt up _____ Lord knows how we will debark them.  Tuckerman has been made garbage disposal officer and has taken a hell of a beating.  Trash & garbage has to be disposed of only at a _____ _____ prior to black out to prevent causing a trail so it’s a hell of a job.  Carroll is official announcer on P.A. system and as _____ that an official ____ for everyone aboard when he announces _____ time.  Typical crack “Dumping time tonight will be at _ _ o’clock.  Stick out your cans for the scrounger man.  Tuckerman the garbage man.” 

Cards & crap games fill every deck & latrine.  Officers and men at it 24 hours a day.  One EM cleared $ 1300 one day.  Some even have set up boards with numbers on them carnival fashion & have this game in the canteen. 

________________________________________

The 55th Fighter Group, the first P-38 equipped 8th Air Force Fighter Group to enter combat with the Luftwaffe, moved to Wormingford, England, on April 16, 1944.

________________________________________

During the 55th’s movement to England Milton managed to send a single V-Mail letter to his parents in Richmond, in which he commented on the hectic nature of the Group’s inter-continental journey, a sea-food dinner in Manhattan, and expressed pride in his wife, Elaine. 

In light of Milton’s then as-yet-unknown future, the letter closes with the unintentionally (or not?…) prophetic statement, “It will probably be some time until you hear from me again so don’t worry.  This is my real opportunity.  Think of it in that light.  I’m really on my way home in a way that this is what I had to get under my belt before I could do that.” 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Joel
1119 Hull Street
Richmond, 21, Va.

Milton Joel, Major AC
38 Fighter Sq 55th Fighter Group
APO #4833 c/o Postmaster New York
Sept. 3, 1943

Dear Folks,

Have been here “somewhere” in New Jersey.  Have never had such an exasperating or busy few days in my life.  It’s just like recruit camp all over again.  Quite an experience.  We’ve been held incommunicado so didn’t have time to call anyone in N.Y.  Managed to get in one evening long enough for a lobster and a drink.  Wonderful to eat Eastern sea food again.

Elaine is in L.A.  Got a letter from her yesterday.  She’s done a swell job of taking care of our affairs and getting home.  Her attitude about this whole thing, I tried to give you a hint about two weeks ago but you couldn’t catch on evidently.

Did Elaine send you some pictures that we took?  I’m proud of them particularly the ones taken in the house.  Got a swell letter from Elaine’s father.  Our two weeks of living together you know showed Elaine to be every thing that I thought her to be plus a great deal.

It will probably be some time until you hear from me again so don’t worry.  This is my real opportunity.  Think of it in that light.  I’m really on my way home in a way that this is what I had to get under my belt before I could do that.  Don’t send any thing until I ask for it.  Use “V” mail.

Love to all
Milton

________________________________________

This Oogle map below shows the location of Nuthampstead (indicated by Oogle’s emblematic red pointer) in relation to London. 

This British Government Royal Ordnance Survey aerial photo shows Nuthampstead Airfield as it appeared on July 9, 1946.  Annotations on the photo are from Roger Freeman’s 1978 Airfields Of The Eighth, Then And Now.  The original image has been photoshopifically “rotated” from its original orientation such that the north arrow points “up”.  As such, the orientation of the airfield is congruent with the area as seen in the contemporary Oogle Earth photo, below.

Here’s a contemporary Oogle air photo view of the area of Nuthampstead airfield and its surrounding terrain.  Practically all the land upon which the air base was situated has been turned over to agricultural use.

________________________________________

Newly arrived at Nuthampstead, the 55th Fighter Group’s Commanders are visited by Major General William E. Kepner (far left), then head of the Eighth Fighter Command. 

To General Kepner’s own left in the photo (left to right) are:

Col. Frank B. James
Lt. Col. Jack S. Jenkins, 0-22606
Major Dallas W. Webb
Major Milton Joel, 0-416308
Major Richard W. (Dick) Busching, 0-427516

Though I don’t recall the specific source of this image as used “here” in this post, this picture can also be viewed at the 55th Fighter Group website.  It also appeared in print in the October, 1997, issue of Wings magazine (V 7, N 5, p. 13), where it’s noted as having been part of Jack Jenkins’ photo collection, from which the names above are taken.  There, Milton’s name is incorrectly listed as “Walton”.  Wings mentions that General Kepner, then in his 50s “…flew his personal P-47D everywhere, including an occasional sortie into combat.  Kepner was a strong and successful commander.” 

________________________________________

The following Army Air Force photographs, taken some time between the 55th Fighter Group’s arrival at Nuthampstead in September of 1943, and November 29, 1943 (that sad day will be covered in detail in subsequent posts…) may be well known to those with an interest in the history of Eighth Air Force fighter operations, and, the P-38 Lightning.  But, for those newly acquainted with this story: 

First, image A1 79829 AC / A14144 1A.  The photo caption states:

“Flight leaders of the 38th Fighter Squadron, based at Nuthampstead, England, gather for an informal briefing by Major Milton Joel of Richmond, Virginia just before a mission over enemy territory.  They are, left to right: 1st Lt. James Hancock of Sebring, Fla., 1st Lt. Gerald Leinweber of Houston, Texas, 1st Lt. Joseph Myers of Canton, Ohio, and 1st Lt. Jerry Ayers of Shelbyville, Tenn.” 

Obviously posed (Lt. Ayers and Major Joel have wry smiles) it’s still a great photo.   Notice that Lt. Hancock and Major Joel are – gadzooks! – smoking!  (In the world of 2020, how … er … uh … um … ironically, dare I say “refreshing ”… as it were?)

Second, image: B1 79830AC / A14145 1A. 

The caption?

“Lt. Albert A. Albino of Aberdeen, Wash., and Lt. John J. Carroll of Detroit, Mich., both members of the 38th Fighter Squadron stationed at Nuthampstead, England, discuss the map of a future target in the squadron pilot room.”

Like the above image, this photo is almost certainly posed, but it’s still an excellent study.  While Lt. Albino wears a classic leather flight jacket, it looks as if Lt. Carroll sports a home-made (?) sweater.   

By day’s end on November 29, 1943, Lt. Albino would no longer be among the living, and Lt. Carroll would be a prisoner of war. 

________________________________________

After Major Joel failed to return from the mission of November 29, Captain Mark K. Shipman of Fresno, California, took command of the 38th, until replaced in that role by Capt. Joseph Myers. 

The below portrait of Major Shipman (long before he became a Major!) is from the United States National Archives’ collection “Photographic Prints of Air Cadets and Officers, Air Crew, and Notables in the History of Aviation”, in NARA Records Group 18-PU, which also includes (see prior post) a Flying Cadet portrait of Major Joel.  Major Shipman’s photo is from Box 84 of the collection.  You can read about the collection at The Past Presented.

This image, from The American Air Museum in Britain, shows Captain Shipman in front of his personal P-38, 42-67080, “Skylark IV”, “CG * S”.  This photograph appears on page 93 of Roger Freeman’s The Mighty Eighth, albeit in cropped form, and transposed (a mirror-image) from the actual print.  Major Shipman was officially credited with 2.5 aerial victories:  One in North Africa, and two in Europe.

This image of the aircraft and ground crew was photographed by Sgt. Robert T. Sand, who not-so-coincidentally completed Skylark IV’s nose art.  Note that the 20mm cannon has been removed from the plane’s nose.

The below article about Major Shipman appeared in the Pittsburgh Press on February 6, 1943, and pertains to his experience on January 23, 1943, while he was serving as a lieutenant in the 48th Fighter Squadron of the 14th Fighter Group.  Accounts of this mission, in which the 48th lost six pilots – of whom Lt. Shipman turned out to be the sole survivor – can be found at emedals.com  and Rob Brown’s RAF 112 Squadron.org.

U.S. Flier Walks 2 Days Through Italian Positions

Pilot’s Clothes Stolen, So He Wraps Feet in Rags; Brings Back Valuable Information

By the United Press

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North Africa.  Feb. 6 – For two days Lt. Mark K. Shipman, 22, Fresno, Cal., wandered over desert and mountains, his feet bound with shreds of his uniform, but when he finally reached an American outpost he brought with him valuable reconnaissance information.

The lieutenant told about his experience today.

His Lightning fighter plane was shot down on the morning of Jan 23 when he left formation to help a comrade fighting a cluster of Messerschmitts.  Lieut. Shipman said he made a belly landing.

“The ship was practically undamaged,” he said.  “I ran about 40 yards away because I knew the Messerschmitts would strafe me.  Three of them riddled the plane with three dives.  Then I went back to it and took out a helmet, canteen and pistol and started hiking for the mountains.”

Clothes Stolen

Lieut. Shipman said all his clothes except his trousers and undershirt were stolen from him, although he managed to retain a wedding ring and Crucifix which were presents from his wife.  (The dispatch did not say who did the looting.)

“I found I couldn’t walk in my bare feet,” Lieut. Shipman continued.  “So I cut off my trousers below the knees and wrapped the cloth around my feet.  I walked over a mountain knowing by the sun I was traveling toward the American lines.  I found a narrow dirt road and started making better time but my feet were getting sore.

Fixes Crude Bed

“So I took off mv trousers and managed to cut off more cloth above the knees, which I added to the strips I already had tied about, my feet.  I turned off the trail and went over to a creek bed and fixed a crude bed in a hole. I got kind of warm and rested.

“After a while the moon came up and I got out and started down the creek bed.  About 10 o’clock I passed what I believed were some Italian tents and snaked along silently, finally getting into the open.

“I ran along a dirt road for a while and was hiding in a ditch when a motorcyclist came along.  He was Italian.  I decided it was safer to keep off the road.  My feet were so sore I could scarcely stand so I made a sort of fox hole about a hundred yards from the road.

Crosses Road

“When daylight came I positively identified other passing vehicles as Italian.  I crossed the road and crept along, finally reaching three Italian road blocks.  I took off my white cotton undershirt so I wouldn’t be conspicuous.

“By that time I was getting desperate and I decided on a break.  I got into ravines and at times I saw Italian sentries on both sides.  After I sneaked along for about five miles I didn’t see any more Italians.   About 5 p.m. I approached an American outpost.  They recognized me.”

________________________________________

Capt. Joseph Myers, Jr. and Major Joel stand before a P-38.  The date and location of the image are unknown.  Thanks to information from Andrew Garcia in November of 2023, I’ve been able to correlate the four-digit Lockheed Aircraft Company factory production number “1526” on the fighter’s nose to its Army Air Force serial: The aircraft is P-38H 42-67015.  Being that this aircraft isn’t listed at the Aviation Archeology database and there is no Missing Air Crew Report for it, it seems that it survived the war, I assume to be turned into aluminum siding or pots & pans after 1945.  (Photo c/o Harold Winston)  

Another image of Capt. Myers, this time in front of his personal aircraft, P-38J 42-67685 “Journey’s End’ / “CG * O”, with ground crew members Sergeants K.P. Bartozeck and J. D. “Dee Dee” Durnin.  The image presumably dates from very late 1943, as “Journey’s End” was destroyed during a single-engine crash-landing on January 4, 1944. 

This image, from The American Air Museum in Britain, can also be found on page 93 of Roger Freeman’s The Mighty Eighth.

This image shows Lt. Col. Joseph Myers, seated in a P-51D Mustang, to which the 55th Fighter Group began converting in July, 1944.  He commanded the 38th Fighter Squadron between February 10 and April 22 of that year.  This image is from the collection of Dave Jewell.

________________________________________

Another pilot whose P-38 sports distinctive nose art: Capt. Jerry H. Ayers and ground crew in front of his personal aircraft, P-38J 42-67077, “Mountain Ayers” / “CG * Q”.  Like many examples of 55th Fighter Group nose art, this painting was completed by Sergeant Robert T. Sand. 

Just One Reference!

Maloney, Edwatd T., Lockheed P-38 “Lightning”, Aero Publishers, Inc., Fallbrook, Ca., 1968 (The book includes a table correlating Lockheed Aircraft Company serials to Army Air Force serials.)

Next: Part IV (1) – Autumn Over Europe

11/13/20 – 1,634

A Missing Man: Major Milton Joel, Fighter Pilot, 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force: V – A Monday in November: Major Joel’s Last Mission [Updated Post! – January 14, 2021]

[This post, created on November 20, 2020, has been updated.  The post now includes: 1) An area map and formation diagrams that provide a more accurate and clearer representation of the nature of the 55th Fighter Group’s encounter with the Luftwaffe on November 29, 1943, and 2) An additional photograph of Lieutenant John S. Hascall.  Where necessary, other parts of the account have been corrected.  Scroll on down for a look…!]

A Monday in November: Major Joel’s Last Mission

On the 29th of November, 1943, the VIII Fighter Command was tasked with escorting heavy bombers to Bremen, Germany. 

As described by Roger Freeman in The Mighty Eighth, “…the 55th Group again set forth to Bremen, with elements of the 20th Group bringing up the rear.  Just after crossing the Dutch coast at 31,000 ft, Me109s of III J.G.1 pounced on the Lightnings in a surprise attack evidently designed to entice the Americans into releasing their drop tanks prematurely.  Another seven P-38s failed to return to base although three of the enemy were definitely shot down.”

By day’s end, the 8th Air Force lost 16 fighters (7 P-38Hs and 9 P-47Ds), and 13 B-17s (7 Fs and 8 Gs). 

Losses of aircraft by Groups were:

Bombers

94th Bomb Group: 1
95th Bomb Group: 1
96th Bomb Group: 4
303rd Bomb Group: 2
379th Bomb Group: 2
385th Bomb Group: 2
388th Bomb Group: 1

Of the 130 men aboard these 13 aircraft, there would be 54 survivors. 

Fighters

20th Fighter Group: 1
55th Fighter Group: 6
56th Fighter Group: 1
355th Fighter Group: 3
356th Fighter Group: 5

Of the 7 P-38 losses, two men – both members of the 55th Fighter Group – survived.  They were:

2 Lt. John J. Carroll
and
2 Lt. Fleming W. Suiter

Of the 9 P-47D losses, 5 men survived…

2 Lt. Charles K. Hecht, Jr., 355th Fighter Group, 358th Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-8631, YF * U (MACR 1284)
2 Lt. Richard Peery, 355th Fighter Group, 358th Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-22484, YF * L (MACR 1285)
1 Lt. Warren H. Beach, 356th Fighter Group, 359th Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-8601 (MACR 1451)
2 Lt. John D. Hull, 356th Fighter Group, 359th Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-8598 (MACR 1452)
and
2 Lt. Julius B. Ashbridge, 356th Fighter Group, 360th Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-8502, PI * W, “Hell’s Angel” (MACR 1436)

…and 4 were killed in action:

2 Lt. Alfred J. Del Negro, 355th Fighter Group, 354th Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-7996, WR * D (MACR 1286)
2 Lt. Johnnie F. Martin, 356th Fighter Group, 361st Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-8692, QI * Q (MACR 1543)
1 Lt. Allan M. Metzger, 356th Fighter Group, 361st Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-8509, QI * O (MACR 1453)
2 Lt. Frederick C. Windmayer, 56th Fighter Group, 63rd Fighter Squadron, Aircraft 42-7893, UN * F (MACR 1278)

Balanced against these fighter losses were VII Fighter Command claims of 13.5 German aircraft destroyed, with P-47s achieving 11.5 victories, and P-38s 2. 

Aerial victories were confirmed as follows:

P-38s

55th Fighter Group

38th Fighter Squadron: 1 Victory
338th Fighter Squadron: 1 Victory

P-47s

56th Fighter Group

61st Fighter Squadron: 3 Victories
62nd Fighter Squadron: 1.5 Victories
63rd Fighter Squadron: 1 Victory

355th Fighter Group

358th Fighter Squadron: 1 Victory

356th Fighter Group

359th Fighter Squadron: 3 Victories
360th Fighter Squadron: 1 Victory
361st Fighter Squadron: 1 Victory

And so…

…akin to the prior post – covering Major Joel’s previous combat missions – this post includes:

1) 38th Fighter Squadron Pilot’s Personal Encounter Reports for pilots who engaged in combat with German fighters on this mission
2) Mission Reports filed by the 38th and 388th Fighter Squadrons (…is there one for the 343rd? – I don’t know…)
3) Names of all 55th Fighter Group pilots assigned to the mission (derived from the 38th’s and 338th’s Mission Reports, and for the 343rd, the Squadron History Summary.  This is supplemented by information from the 55th Fighter Group website
4) Missing Air Crew Reports covering the 20th and 55th Fighter Group pilots lost that day.  This includes the “first” page for every such MACR, and an Oogle map showing the area where their aircraft are known (or assumed) to have crashed, based on a variety of references. 

________________________________________

Given the great length (gadzooks…) and complexity (double gadzooks…) of this series of posts, perhaps it’s best to start with an illustration visually summarizing Eighth Fighter Command P-38 losses on the mission, in the form of a diagram superimposed on an Oogle map – below – of northwestern Europe.  This map will appear in subsequent posts.

[Updates to this map from its initial version include the following: 1) The crash locations of three Me-109G-6s of the Seventh Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 1, lost (directly or indirectly) as a result of III./JG 1’s engagement with the 55th Fighter Group’s Lightnings, 2) An adjustment to the easternmost “leg” of the 55th Fighter Group’s intended course into Germany (ironically, the 55th never actually reached Germany!), 3) The crash locations, as much as they can be pinpointed on an ultra-small-scale digital map, of 38th Fighter Squadron pilots Lieutenants Carroll and Gilbride, 4) The serial numbers of the lost P-38s and the three above-mentioned Me-109G-6s.  Information about the three 7./JG 1 losses, and the crash locations of Lieutenants Carroll and Gilbride comes from Part 2 of Teunis Schuurman’s WW II – Research by PATS blog.]

Maps symbols and colors indicate the following:

Bright blue line extending west to east across the Netherlands to a point near the Dutch-German border indicates the approximate or intended course of the 55th Fighter Group for a rendezvous with 8th Air Force bombers.

Black triangle shows the approximate area where the Luftwaffe initially assumed it would intercept the 55th Fighter Group’s P-38s, as explained in the book Jagdgeschwader 1 und 11: Einsatz in der Reichsverteidigung von 1939 bis 1945 (Jagdgeschwader 1 and 11: Used in the Defense of the Reich from 1939 to 1945).

Blue ovals with names adjacent indicate the last reported or assumed location of P-38 losses, based on information in Missing Air Crew Reports.

Red ovals with names adjacent indicate the actual locations where the P-38s were lost.  Notice that there’s no blue oval for Lt. Hascall, because his P-38 was last sighted over the North Sea, at a point “west” of (to the left of) this map view, and Lieutenant Garvin, Major Joel’s wingman, because he definitely crashed at Hondschoote, France (again, well “off the map”).  More information will be presented about Lt. Garvin’s fate in subsequent posts.    

The location of Major Joel’s loss remains unknown.  Some sources suggest the crash location was Marken Island in the Markermeer, indicated by a yellow oval. 

In subsequent posts, I’ll discuss why I believe this location is incorrect. 

Black ovals with names adjacent indicate the loss locations of three Me-109G-6s of 7/JG 1.

[And…  Here’s the “original” map”….]

We begin with the 38th Fighter Squadron’s Mission Report.

November 29, 1943

Mission Report – 38th Fighter Squadron


Extract from Mission Report

Changes in scheduled flights occurred as follows:

There were seven early returns: Maloney landed at 1344 at Torp [sic] Abbots.  Lt. Fisher landed at 1_15 [not legible in microfilm] at home, escort, Lt. Leve landed at home at 1 _15 [not legible in microfilm], blew an inner cooler.  Capt. Hancock landed at 1___ [not legible in microfilm] at home due to engine trouble.  Lt. Birch landed at 1535 at Earlscombe due to engine trouble.  Lt. Peters landed at 1549 at home, engine trouble.  Lt. Marcy landed at 1625 at home due to engine trouble. 

Mission: Over base at 1309.  Proceeded on planned course with landfall in North of  _____ergen [not legible in microfilm], 1350.  Group proceeded along line of Lemmer, Noordwolde, and Grolloo.  Prior to reaching vicinity of Aschendorf, 7 P-38’s had aborted.  Flight plan attached).

Action:  At 1410 group bounced by 40 plus ME 109’s attacking from head-on and above.  At the same time an additional 40 plus E/A were seen below our formation at 27,000.  Several flights of E/A passed through our formation before a majority of our aircraft dropped their belly tanks.  These E/A continued their attacks, very aggressively in elements of 2 and flights of 4 for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.  It was during the early part of this engagement that Lts. Carroll and Albino were lost. 

Action Contd: At approximately 1439 an element led by Capt. Ayers of the 38th being free of E/A attempted to join an element led by Major Joel a considerable distance ahead.  Before this was accomplished additional E/A attacked Capt. Ayers and he was forced to engage.  This is the last time at which Major Joel was seen.  E/A attacks were made all the way to the Dutch coast, but were not pressed home.

Squadron Formation – 38th Fighter Squadron

The “first” version of this post presented diagrams of what I assumed (?!) was the 38th Fighter Squadron’s formation during the November 29 mission.  These were based on a document from the history of the 38th’s brother squadron – the 338th – showing a plan view of the organization of the 338th, by Flights, during the Bremen mission.   But, on reflection and intuition, I began to wonder about this:  Could the “layout” of the 338th’s formation in its squadron history have simply reflected nothing more than (* ahem *) the size and format of the original 8 1/2″ x 10″ document itself, rather than the actual formation used in combat?

So, I took another “look”.  I discovered “8th Air Force Tactical Development, August, 1942 – May, 1945”, at Archive.org.  And within, I discovered the diagram below, which presents the structure of 8th Air Force Fighter Group formations during late 1943 through early 1944:]

So…  Using the upper and central diagrams as references, here are two (brand new) diagrams showing: 1) the formation of the 38th Fighter Squadron at the start of the November 29 mission, and, 2) immediately before the squadron was intercepted by III/JG 1.  The diagrams are purely diagrammatic, and as such are intended to represent the composition of each of the squadron’s four flights and the location of its planes relative to one another, rather than (obviously!) the scale of the actual distances between each plane; between each of its fours flight; between its two sections.    

And (of course!) the direction of flight (this day, east-northeast) is towards the top of your screen or tablet.       

In both diagrams, the name of each pilot is correlated to his position within the formation. 

This “first” diagram shows the formation as planned; as it would – in theory – have been arranged before its interception by III./JG 1.  Those seven planes that returned to Nuthampstead early are indicated by relevant text (i.e. “Engine Trouble”), while the four pilots lost that day – Major Joel, and Lieutenants Albino, Carroll, and Garvin – are denoted in red, with the serials of their P-38s adjacent.   

This “second” diagram shows … well … what was left of the 38th by the time it came under attack by enemy planes: There are nine aircraft remaining.  Note that: 1) The outermost flights of both the Lead and High Sections are gone, 2) The innermost flights of the High Section remain intact, 3) The relative locations of the remaining two Elements from both Flights in the Lead Section suggest a spur-of-the-moment creation of two “improvised” Flights.  Which, as we will see, is what Major Joel was attempting to do at the moment his squadron came under attack.

Unfortunately, the names of the Dutch towns or cities which served as landmarks for the route of the 38th (and its brother squadrons?) towards Bremen are not fully legible in the microfilm copy of the 38th’s Mission Report, but I believe these locations were – as one moves from west to east – Lemmer, Noordwolde, and Grolloo.  Doubly unfortunately, the 38th’s Flight Plan for the mission is absent from the microfilmed squadron history. 

By comparing the 38th Fighter Squadron’s Mission Report with that of the 338th (below), it seems (?) that the 38th – having departed Nuthampstead at 1230 hours, was the 55th Fighter Group’s lead squadron, for the 338th departed later at 1259 hours, with that squadron’s mission report specifically stating that it was the “center” squadron of the 55th formation.  As for the 343rd?  I don’t know, but it was thus probably the rear-most squadron.

The most striking aspects of the mission are:

1) The squadron was depleted to a little over half its strength – from sixteen to nine aircraft – by the time it was intercepted by Me-109s.  The 338th experienced a parallel decrease in its fighting power.
2) The sheer number of enemy fighters – certainly over forty – attacking head-on, from a higher altitude: a ratio of over four to one;
3) The intensity and duration of the squadron’s combat with German fighters, interception having commenced at 1410, with Major Joel presumably being shot down at @ 1440.  Thus, the Squadron was engaged in combat for at least a half-hour by the time Major Joel was shot down – and this was before the loss of the Group’s other P-38s;
4) There is no evidence – at least, nothing recorded – that the 38th was actually able to rendezvous with the B-17s that the 55th Fighter Group had been assigned to escort;
5) (This will come in later…) There was an overcast at 27,000 feet, corroborated in Missing Air Crew Reports for the Group’s losses. 

Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – Captain Jerry H. Ayers

Transcript of Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – Captain Jerry H. Ayers

Two ME 109’s were attacking two P-38’s from three o’clock in front of me.  My wingman and I started to close in and knock them off but they did not press home their attack.  Instead they flew straight through behind those airplanes and in front of us. 

I turned left with them and picked a four radii lead on the lead ME 109.  I held this lead and fired from 90 degrees deflection to 45 degrees.  The range was about 250 yards. 

I was forced to break off my attack and was unable to observe any results because of four ME 109’s coming down on us from behind.  We continued our turn to the left and we turned into this attack which was broken off before we were in firing range. 

Lt. Erickson, my wingman later stated that he saw the airplane going down in a slight spin in flames and trailing thick black smoke, so I concluded that this aircraft was destroyed by my attack. 

The ME 109’s were painted with a mottled brown camouflage and had what appeared to be a large red ball painted at the rear of the fuselage where the Luftwaffe cross usually appears.

Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – Captain Thomas E. Beaird, Jr.

Transcript of Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – Captain Thomas E. Beaird, Jr.

On the second bounce going into the target, I lost the rest of my flight and tacked onto the nearest semblance of a flight I could find.  We ended up with five ships and made three bounces on ME 109’s attacking two P-38’s below us, then we were bounced by five ME 109’s from above.  When we got out of that skirmish, in which I did not get to fire nor did not see anyone go down, I found myself way behind the rest of the P-38’s.  I pushed everything to the fire wall and after about ten minutes caught four P-38’s flying very loosely.  I joined them and had just throttled back when somebody started telling the bunch, who were very high in the back, that there were a number of enemy fighters catching from 6 o’clock.  We poured everything to our ships (were at 34,000) and somebody told us they were still gaining. 

At this time I saw five ME 109’s about our same level over my right shoulder.  I looked over my left shoulder and saw one ME 109 right on the tail of the P-38 to my left and behind.  I called for Major Joel’s wingman [Lt. Garvin] to break (I thought I had joined Major Joel’s flight).  I broke left to meet the ME 109 head on.  The P-38 ahead of me to my left also broke left.  The ME 109 dove for the clouds.  I continued in a left turn to take up my original heading and came out almost directly behind a ME 109 with one P-38 off to my right.  I started closing on the ME 109 that seemed to be in a very steep climb for that altitude.  I fired one fair burst; saw a flash on his canopy and observed him pull his nose straight up hang on his prop and then spin under my left wing.  I turned to the left to clear my tail, looked back and saw him spin into the overcast.  I believe this plane was destroyed by my strikes on the canopy.

Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – 2 Lt. Robert E. Erickson (1)

Transcript of Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – 2 Lt. Robert E. Erickson (1)

I was flying wing man to Captain Ayers, who was leading Swindle Red Flight.  After engaging with enemy aircraft and completing three 360 degree orbits, we started for home.  Captain Ayers and myself were two of five P-38’s at the rear of the group.  We observed three enemy aircraft catching us from the rear.  At this time I was at 33,000 feet.  Captain Ayers called for help and Captain Franklin and Lt. Gilbride of the 343rd came back.  At this time one enemy aircraft came behind Captain Franklin and two behind me.  We broke left, I completed my turn and came down on the second ME 109 and fired observing hits on wings and near canopy.  These two immediately rolled and dove for the clouds.  Captain Franklin had to feather his engine in the middle of his break and Lt. Gilbride presumably was shot down.  I then broke off my attack as the ME 109’s dove and flew back to cover Captain Franklin who was then on one engine.  At this time four more enemy aircraft were tailing me so Captain Franklin unfeathered his engine and got as much power as he could out of it and we came home together.  The enemy aircraft dropped off either because of fuel shortage or we outran them.  This action took place between 31,000 and 35,000 feet. 

Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – 2 Lt. Robert E. Erickson (2)

Transcript of Pilot’s Personal Encounter Report – 2 Lt. Robert E. Erickson (2)

I was flying wing man to Captain Ayers on escort mission over Bremen on November 29.  We were engaged with several enemy aircraft, when Captain Ayers observed two ME 109’s attacking two P-38’s from the rear.  We dived at them from the sun from above and slightly to the starboard of enemy aircraft.  Captain Ayers fired at the leading enemy aircraft from about 350 yards closing to 200 yards from about 50 to 75 degrees deflection.  We then broke off and climbed slightly to the left as we broke.  I noticed enemy aircraft burning with heavy black smoke and going down in a big spiral apparently out of control.  In my opinion this airplane was destroyed.  These aircraft were painted with a brown camouflage.

Here’s the 338th Fighter Squadron’s Mission Report.  Note that the third page lists the names of pilots on the mission, while the fourth page is a diagram of the squadron formation.

Mission Report – 338th Fighter Squadron

English Coast out 5 miles No. of Southwold, 1322 at 20,000 ft.  In enemy coast 1347 at 31,500.  Flew at 31,500 to Hude where interception was made on squadron by 30+ ME 109’s from about 32,000 ft. at 12 o’clock.  Turned to engage E/A and flew weaving course to Dutch Coast.  Landfall out Ijmuiden 28,000 ft.  Landfall in English Coast 31,000 at South End located selves by Thames Estuary and flew direct to base.

30+ ME 109’S from above at 12 o’clock on squadron which was flying as center of group and slightly in front.  At enemy attack dropped belly tanks and broke into them.  At this time squadron had been reduced to two four ship flights by abortions.  Made two 90   turns while taking evasive action to combat E/A.  White flight was being followed by 3 / 4 E/A who broke up flight.  Leader descending into overcast.  No. 2 man was not seen after this point – No. 3 and 4 broke No. 3 with E/A on his tail No. 4 with engine trouble.  No. 1 man of second flight Capt. Patterson, dove on E/A and shot it down and off tail of White 3/.  Red flight and No. 3 man of White flight flew together to Dutch Coast where were joined by No. 4 man of white flight, Lt. Turner, Colonel James, White leader flew through overcast to coast and across channel alone.  These five aircraft were under constant but inaggressive attacks by E/A to the coast.  Initial enemy attack occurred in vicinity of Heede and E/A was shot down about four N. of Emmen.  Lost contact with other squadron of group during action with E/A.  Never contacted bombers.  Enemy attack seemed definitely intended as interception of out squadron and other E/A were observed in distance to each side an above.  One P-38 observed by several members of squadron going into overcast shortly after initial engagement apparently out of control. 

Some observations…

1) The 338th, comprised of 14 aircraft, departed Nuthampstead at 1259 hours, after the 38th;
2) Like the 38th, the squadron of fourteen planes was depleted by six by the time it was intercepted, thus substantially reducing its strength;
3) Akin to the 38th, the squadron was intercepted by a much larger number of German fighters (in this case, over 30).  Again paralleling the 38th’s experience, the enemy planes attacked the squadron – at 31,500 feet – head-on from a slightly higher altitude (32,000 feet);
4) The 338th lost contact with the other “squadron” (squadrons?) of the 55th during combat with German fighters;
5) The squadron was unable to make contact with the B-17s it was assigned to escort;
6) A significant observation:  “Enemy attack seemed definitely intended as interception of our squadron and other E/A were observed in distance to each side and above.  One P-38 observed by several members of squadron going into overcast shortly after initial engagement apparently out of control.”;
7) Weather conditions ranged from half to nearly complete cloud cover over the English Channel, to complete overcast over the continent. 

–

Transcript of Squadron Formation – 338th Fighter Squadron

White Flight

James, Frank B., Col. (Group Commanding Officer)
Suiter, Fleming W., 2 Lt.
Marsiglia, Joseph P., Capt.              
Turner, William G., 2 Lt.

Red Flight

Busching, Richard W., Major
Turner, Lloyd, 2 Lt.
Patterson, Chet A., 2 Lt.
Garlock, Karl H., 2 Lt.

Yellow Flight

Jones, Charles O., Capt.
Anderson, Newell, F/O
Tibbetts, Wesley M., 1 Lt.
Burns, William H, 2 Lt.

Spares

Brown, Robert W, 2 Lt.
Dempsey, Peter, 2 Lt.

Squadron History – 343rd Fighter Squadron

Regarding the 343rd Fighter Squadron, information presently available to me – presented below – is limited to the brief account in the squadron’s historical record, rather than an actual Mission Report.
1) This squadron was unable to rendezvous with the 8th Air Force B-17s;
2) The squadron was outnumbered by enemy planes. 


Transcript of Squadron History – 343rd Fighter Squadron

On Nov. 29th, Capt. Malmstedt led the Squadron, the mission again being bomber escort to Bremen.  R/V was not made with the big ships, but engagement with E/A was pressed as the squadron reached the scheduled point.  Superiority of numbers was again in favor of the enemy and while our pilots distinguished themselves, the show was exceedingly rough.  During the prolonged engagement, 2nd Lt. James Gilbride was lost to enemy action and none of our pilots observed his disappearance.  Beside Capt. Malmstedt, pilots on the mission were: Capts. Franklin, Giller, Ryan, 1st Lts. Hoeper, Barnett, 2nd Lts. Bauer, Birtciel, De Young, Fluty, Gilbride, Stanton, Stephenson and Brown.

The pilot’s names of the 343rd’s fourteen pilots on this mission are listed below, following the sequence of names as listed in the squadron history.  This is apparently based on rank, and would almost certainly not represent the organization of the squadron’s four flights.  (For example, 2 Lt. James W. Gilbride was wingman to Capt. Rufus C. Franklin, but these mens’ names aren’t adjacent in the list.)

Pilots Participating in Mission – 343rd Fighter Squadron

(Full names Derived from Biographical Profiles at 55th Fighter Group)

Malmstedt, Roland M., Capt. (Led Squadron) (Killed in flying accident in P-38H 42-67076 on 12/2/43)
Franklin, Rufus C., Jr., Capt.
Giller, Edward B., Capt. (To Lt. Col. 4/29/45)
Ryan, Eugene E., Capt. (To Major)
Hoeper, Paul E., 1 Lt. (To Major)
Barnett, John, 1 Lt. (KIA 1/5/44)
Bauer, Harold M., 2 Lt. (To 1 Lt.)
Birtciel, Frank E., 2 Lt. (To Capt. 12/44)
De Young, Arthur A., 2 Lt. (To Capt.)
Fluty, Joseph M., 2 Lt. (To 1 Lt.) (Killed 3/8/44 in P-38J 42-67751)
Gilbride, James W., 2 Lt. (To 1 Lt.) (KIA on this mission … see below)
Stanton, Richard C., 2 Lt. (To Capt.)
Stephenson, Franklin A., 2 Lt. (To Capt.)
Brown, Robert D., 2 Lt. (To Capt.)

And, ten “spares” from the 77th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Group

The IDPF (Individual Deceased Personnel File) for 2 Lt. Lieutenant Albert A. Albino includes correspondence by Gerrie J. Zwanenburg (of the Royal Netherlands Air Force) from March of 1978, pertaining to the discovery and identification of Lt. Albino’s remains.  This communication notes that ten pilots of the 77th Fighter Squadron accompanied the 55th Fighter Group on this mission, “to gain operational experience.”  Though the mens’ names are not listed in Zwanenburg’s communication, the identities of two are definitely known, because one of these pilots – John Hascall; see below – was missing that day, and thus his loss was recorded in a MACR.

Frakes, Robert D., 2 Lt., 0-746075
Hascall, John S., 2 Lt., 0-746103

Those Who Did Not Return

20th Fighter Group, 77th Fighter Squadron

2 Lt. John Sherman Hascall, P-38H 42-67016, “LC * O“, MACR 1424

55th Fighter Group, 38th Fighter Squadron

2 Lt. Albert Anthony Albino, P-38H 42-67051, “Spirit of Aberdeen“, MACR 1428
2 Lt. James Michael Garvin, P-38H 42-67046, MACR 1427
Major Milton Joel, P-38H 42-67020, “CG * A“, “flying wolf”, MACR 1429

55th Fighter Group, 343rd Fighter Squadron

2 Lt. James William Gilbride (Bailed out – did not survive), P-38H 42-67097, MACR 1272

Those Who (Eventually) Returned

55th Fighter Group, 38th Fighter Squadron

2 Lt. John Joseph Carroll (Prisoner of War), P-38H 42-67090, “FOB Detroit“, MACR 1431

55th Fighter Group, 338th Fighter Squadron

2 Lt. Fleming William Suiter (Prisoner of War), P-38H 42-67069, MACR 1273

This section presents images from Missing Air Crew Reports for the 20th and 55th Fighter Group pilots lost on this mission.  The MACRs are presented by Group and squadron, and then alphabetically by pilot’s surnames. 

Detailed information about the fates of Lieutenats Albino, Carroll, Gilbride, Suiter, incomplete information about Lieutenant Garvin, and finally, speculation about what may have happened to Major Joel can be found in the post A Postwar Search: The Missing of November.

Note that the first page of every MACR for a 38th Fighter Squadron pilots bears the signature of Captain Robert W. Wood – at first the squadron’s Communications Officer and later its Executive Officer – from whom more will be heard in the upcoming post Fragments of Memory.

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2 Lt. John S. Hascall (77th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group), MACR 1424
(“Spare”, with 2 Lt. Robert D. Frakes)

Here’s a picture of Lieutenant Hascall, from the Michigan Technological University Website. 

Update to this post: As you can see, the above image is actually cropped from this photo, below, found at the Pilot’s Gallery of the 20th Fighter Group website.  This photo was evidently taken for publicity or group history purposes, as the Pilot’s Gallery includes an image of at least one other pilot (also garbed in flight suit and helmet; also wearing a Mae West and parachute) posed on the same P-38.   

Transcript of Certificate – 2 Lt. Robert D. Frakes

On November 29, 1943, I took off for a mission as a spare with Lt. Hascall on my wing, also a spare.  We had instructions to join any squadron needing a spare.  After many abortions we were the last spare in the group and I fell in on the wing of the second element in the 343rd Squaron.  We were about midway over the channel with a solid overcast below at 25,000 feet.  I did not see the opening in the 343rd Squadron when Lt. Hascall waved me over.  I do not remember whose flight he joined, if any because I did not see any other abortions.  My position then was on the front starboard flight and he was flying to the rear port flight.  At that time his plane was functioning perfectly.

Transcript of Certificate – 1 Lt. Francis W. Barkley, Intelligence Officer (Detached)

On 29 November 1943 due to the number of planes lost on mission none could be positively identified as Lt. Hascall.  However, in compilation of interrogations by Group Intelligence it is though that Lt. Hascall may have gone down in the vicinity East of Aschendorf, Germany where the group was first bounced.  Several ships were seen spinning down in this area.  No definite knowledge as to identity of these but it is thought that Lt. Hascall got that far along the route as nothing points to his being lost before this.

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2 Lt. Albert Anthony Albino (38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group), MACR 1428

This photo, taken by Sergeant Robert T. Sand, appears in Double Nickel, Double Trouble, and shows 38th Fighter Squadron ground crew members conversing with Lt. Albino (wearing Mae West and sunglasses) in front of his personal P-38 (“Spirit of Aberdeen”) as he describes a just-completed combat mission. 

The map below shows what was believed to have been the location where Lieutenants Albino, Carroll, Garvin, and Major Joel were last seen: Over Germany, west of Oldenburg, and specifically west of the intersection of the Leda and Kusten Canals, at the location designated by the blue X.  Scanned at the National Archives from MACR 1429, this map is included in the Missing Air Crew Report for each of these four pilots.  Note that cartographic reference features primarily comprise canals and rivers, rather than cities. 

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – Capt. Thomas E. Beaird, Jr.

Our flight was slightly trailing the other three flights going to the rendezvous.  Our flight leader had to fall out and called to me to take over.  I acknowledged and called the flight to step up the mercury as I was going to catch up.  At this time Lt. Albino was 2nd in the flight, approximately 3 ship lengths behind me and approximately 4 ship lengths in front of Lt. Peters.  We were in the same relative position but had closed considerably on the leading flights, when someone called, “Bogies coming down at three o’clock, get rid of your tanks”.  I turned to the right dropped my tanks and looked to see if Lt. Albino and Peters had gotten rid of theirs.  This was the last time I was able to locate Lt. Peters or Albino as almost immediately we were bounced from approximately 8 o’clock and the lead flights from, I think, about 1 o’clock.

After we tangled there seemed to be nothing but individual ships that joined up to make flights as best they could.

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – 2 Lt. Edward F. Peters

I was flying #2 position in a flight lead by Capt. Hancock.  Capt. Hancock started a turn to the right, leaving because of engine trouble, and as we were deep in enemy territory I started with him, however, he called and said I should turn back to accompany group.  I started to return but by this time I had fallen way back, out of formation and as I increased manifold pressure my left engine cut out at 24” HG.  I continued trying to catch up and ahead of me about ½ a mile was Lt. Albino and ahead of him was Capt. Beaird.  He, Lt. Albino, was quite a distance behind Capt. Beaird and I followed for about 4 or 5 minutes.  At this time the group was bounced and the order given to drop “babies”.  [i.e., “jettison drop tanks”]  I looked behind and directly below saw six E/A which I called in.  I looked above and behind and saw one E/A diving at me from about 7 O’clock.  I broke into him and he fired at me as he passed over top.  I looked for the group but as I could only see their contrails, and due to the one faulty engine, I turned and came back alone.

It is possible that the E/A which attacked me or the six below could have continued on their way and caught Lt. Albino as he was straggling.

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2 Lt. James M. Garvin – Major Joel’s wingman – (38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group), MACR 1427

Photo of James Garvin from Double Nickel, Double Trouble

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – Capt. Rufus C. Franklin

On 29 November 1943, my wingman, Lt. J.W. Gilbride, and myself participated in an engagement in which Major Joel, C.O. of the 38th Fighter Squadron, and his wingman, Lt. Garvin, were lost and possibly this statement may shed some light on their disappearance.

The main body of the group was proceeding toward home when Major Joel was heard calling for help from far behind us.  Lt. Gilbride and I turned back to help but it took several minutes for us to reach the fight.  As we drew near we could see five P-38’s engaged and each had from one to three ME 109’s on its tail.  Just before we went into the fight one P-38 rolled over and went down with its left engine leaving a very long and very heavy trail of black smoke and with a 109 directly behind.  As my wingman and I flew into the middle of the engagement the E/A were surprised into rolling away from the ships they were attacking and we were all able to take a heading for home.  At this time there were four P-38’s left besides my wingman and myself.  As we started home we were followed by E/A and we tried to outrun them.  One of the four P-38’s ran away from the rest and disappeared.  The five of us remaining were eventually caught by the E/A and engaged again. 

After we saw the one P-38 go down smoking I did not again recognize Major Joel’s voice on the radio.  The five of us that were later engaged by the pursuing E/A were, Capt. Ayers, Capt. Beaird, Lt. Erickson, Lt. Gilbride, and myself.  On this attack I lost one engine that had been going bad and when I recovered the only other P-38 visible in the area was piloted by Lt. Erickson.  We came out together.

In view of the circumstances it is my personal opinion that the P-83 we saw shot down was piloted by Major Joel and the one that ran away from us was piloted by Lt. Garvin, who did not return.

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – Capt. Jerry H. Ayers

We were on a B-17 escort mission to Bremen, Germany, when at 14:10, just prior to our R.V. point, we were jumped by Hot Bandits.

Major Joel was leading the first section of the squadron composed of eight ships.  Lt. Wyche was leading the other Flight in the lead section.

Capt. Hancock was leading the second section and I had the other flight.  Due to abortive aircraft Major Joel had lost his second element also Lt. Wyche had lost his.  Capt. Hancock and his wingman returned.  My second element had returned and we were trying to rejoin into two four ship flights.  When we were successively bounced by units from a group of about 40 enemy aircraft from one or two o’clock out of the sun.  We turned right into the attack and were engaged for some time.  At the time of the first break was the last time that I saw Major Joel and his wingman, Lt. Garvin, that I could recognize them.

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2 Lt. John J. Carroll (38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group), MACR 1431

Portrait of John J. Carroll, from Double Nickel, Double Trouble

John Carroll’s POW identification photograph, from Double Nickel, Double Trouble.  He spent the remainder of the war in Stalag Luft I (North Compound), at Barth, Germany.

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – 1 Lt. Wilton E. Wyche

At 14:15 we were attacked by E/A out of the sun at 3 o’clock.  Major Joel, leading, with Lieut. Garvin as wingman and my position with Lt. Carroll as my wingman was about 300 yards to the right.  A right turn of about 90_ was made and through this I crossed under Major Joel’s element and stopped turning on the left side of the Major’s element.

About six E/A were turning into us from 7 o’clock, and after calling Major Joel to break left, I started a left turn.  After turning about 90 (degrees), I tightened my turn too much and my airplane snapped and started to spin.  This was the last I saw of Lieut. Carroll or Major Joel and his wingman. 

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Major Milton Joel (38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group), MACR 1429

The eyewitness accounts pertaining to Major Joel’s loss are signed by Captains Jerry H. Ayers and Rufus C. Franklin, Jr., the latter of the 343rd Fighter Squadron.

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – Capt. Rufus C. Franklin
(Identical to account concerning 2 Lt. James M. Garvin)

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This is the file card bearing Major Joel’s name, from the master name index for Missing Air Crew Reports in National Archives Records Group 92. 

Major Joel’s file card is entirely typical of such cards in the MACR master name index, bearing no information other than his name, serial number, and pertinent MACR number.   For those men for whom MACRs were never actually filed – and there are cards for many, many such men in the master name index – the data field in the upper right corner is entirely blank or simply says “No MACR”.  

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On 29 November 1943, my wingman, Lt. J.W. Gilbride, and myself participated in an engagement in which Major Joel, C.O. of the 38th Fighter Squadron, and his wingman, Lt. Garvin, were lost and possibly this statement may shed some light on their disappearance.

The main body of the group was proceeding toward home when Major Joel was heard calling for help from far behind us.  Lt. Gilbride and I turned back to help but it took several minutes for us to reach the fight.  As we drew near we could see five P-38’s engaged and each had from one to three ME 109’s on its tail.  Just before we went into the fight one P-38 rolled over and went down with its left engine leaving a very long and very heavy trail of black smoke and with a 109 directly behind.  As my wingman and I flew into the middle of the engagement the E/A were surprised into rolling away from the ships they were attacking and we were all able to take a heading for home.  At this time there were four P-38’s left besides my wingman and myself.  As we started home we were followed by E/A and we tried to outrun them.  One of the four P-38’s ran away from the rest and disappeared.  The five of us remaining were eventually caught by the E/A and engaged again.

After we saw the one P-38 go down smoking I did not again recognize Major Joel’s voice on the radio.  The five of us that were later engaged by the pursuing E/A were, Capt. Ayers, Capt. Beaird, Lt. Erickson, Lt. Gilbride, and myself.  On this attack I lost one engine that had been going bad and when I recovered the only other P-38 visible in the area was piloted by Lt. Erickson.  We came out together.

In view of the circumstances it is my personal opinion that the P-83 we saw shot down was piloted by Major Joel and the one that ran away from us was piloted by Lt. Garvin, who did not return.

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – Capt. Jerry H. Ayers
(Identical to account concerning 2 Lt. James M. Garvin)

We were on a B-17 escort mission to Bremen, Germany, when at 14:10, just prior to our R.V. point we were jumped by Hot Bandits.

Major Joel was leading the first section of the Squadron composed of eight ships.  Lt. Wyche was leading the other Flight in the lead section.

Capt. Hancock was leading the second section and I had the other flight.  Due to abortive Aircraft Major Joel had lost his second element also Lt. Wyche had lost his.  Capt. Hancock and his wing man returned.  My second element had returned and we were trying to rejoin into two four ship flights.  When we were successively bounced by units from a group of about 40 enemy aircraft from one or two o’clock, out of the sun.  We turned right into the attack and were engaged for some time.  At the time of the first break was the last time that I saw Major Joel and his wingman, Lt. Garvin, that I could recognize them.

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2 Lt. James W. Gilbride (338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group), MACR 1272

Photo of James Gilbride from Double Nickel, Double Trouble

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – Capt. Rufus C. Franklin

On the mission of November 29, 1943, target – Bremen, I was leading Whiteman Yellow Flight composed of Lieutenants James W. Gilbride, Harold Bauer and an unidentified spare, flying numbers 2, 3 and 4 respectively.

At approximately 1210 hours, I reported many bandits approaching from below at 3 o’clock; this was about in the target area.  Colonel James had started a right turn to meet the enemy aircraft when we met about 16 enemy aircraft head-on at about 29 to 30,000 feet.  The main body of the Group went into a right Lufberry Circle for approximately two complete turns.  Colonel James was [not] leading the Group at or from this time, as he was having engine trouble and was below us.  My second element disappeared about this time as Lieutenant Bauer was having trouble losing his belly tanks.  Lieutenant Gilbride stayed with me in an excellent manner, calling in enemy aircraft calmly and doing a good job of covering.  The main Group stayed in their Lufberry but I would break out momentarily from time to time to get my wing out of the sun so that I could see if another attack was imminent.

About this time, after two complete turns, the main Group started home and I, thinking that the Group Commander had resumed the lead, followed along.  As we left the area there were several people calling for help from far behind.  The main Group continued on away until we were at least seven miles from this fight.

Just as I had almost decided to go back and help the boys calling repeatedly, the Group started a turn and appeared to be going back but instead made a tight 360 degree turn and went away from the fight again.  I could see the fight behind us as the Group made the turn and I broke out – Lt. Gilbride and I went back to help.

As we drew near we saw one P-38 go down smoking very heavily and probably on fire.  We could see 4 other P-38s in a dog-fight in a small area, each with 1 to 3 ME 109s on his tail.  Lt. Gilbride and I drove right into the middle of the fight and the enemy aircraft were so surprised that they pulled away from the ships they were chasing and began to climb again.  The 4 P-38s we had helped started for home while Lt. Gilbride and I were making a 180 degree turn to try to go with them.  One P-38 ran away from us, 2 were well in front and 1 was straggling.  Five ME 109s out to one side and about a mile back were chasing us.  The straggling P-38 was caught by Gilbride and I and we joined line abreast about 175 yards apart.  The straggler was Lt. Erickson of the 38th Fighter Squadron.

At this point my left turbo went bad and the engine began to lose all of its oil.  We tried to outrun the pursuing 109s but the other 2 38s weren’t fast enough and mine was only putting out 30 inches manifold pressure on the left engine.  The enemy aircraft closed down slowly to about 800 yards behind, 700 yards to the side and 1000 feet above.  Suddenly one of 109s slid away from his flight and with his superior altitude closed down to 400 yards behind me, I was middle ship of the three.  Lt. Gilbride started to break back into him but I told him to sit tight as that was just what the Jerries wanted.  The enemy aircraft sat within range for about a minute, not firing, and then moved over on Gilbride’s tail.  I edged over toward Gilbride and the enemy aircraft changed back to my tail.  The enemy aircraft made the change 4 times.  I was determined not to fall for their bait and forced myself and the other two to continue straight ahead. 

Finally the other 4 enemy aircraft moved up abreast of Lt. Erickson, on my left, and started into us.  I called “break”, and the three of us turned into them.  At this point my left engine quit, I feathered, continued my break about 100 degrees and then turned back toward home.  Lt. Gilbride was behind as my engine quit but when I regained control and looked he was not there.  I continued and 1 P-38 appeared behind me with 4 109s behind him.  They were all closing me very rapidly, so I unfeathered the left engine, intending to use it until it caught fire.  The P-38 pulled along side, pilot Erickson, and the enemy aircraft were approximately 500 yards back. 

Erickson and I stayed abreast for about 2 minutes with the enemy aircraft following.  I took a look around the area and when I looked back the enemy aircraft were no longer following.  I eased off the left engine and Erickson and I came home.  The enemy aircraft had followed us just past the Dutch coast.

Lt. Gilbride disappeared at approximately 1240 hours about 12 miles east of Keppel.  The one ME 109 that had been trying to bait us had half rolled when the three of us broke into the four and it is possible that Gilbride followed him and got into trouble.  The other four followed the two of us so it is impossible to say how many Lt. Gilbride became engaged with later, if such be the case.  Neither Erickson nor I heard Gilbride say anything over the radio about trouble and we had maintained good radio contact until that time.

We later identified three of the four P-38 pilots who had helped us as Captain Ayers, Captain Beaird and Lieutenant Erickson, all of the 38th Fighter Squadron.  The fourth man’s name has not been ascertained, nor has the name of the man who was shot down.

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2 Lt. Fleming W. Suiter (343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group), MACR 1273

Transcript of Eyewitness Account – Capt. Chet A. Patterson

I was flying lead position in second flight at the time we were approximately 10 miles north of Emmen, Holland, when we met 4 head on attack of 30 plus Enemy Aircraft.  I turned right to engage the enemy, and then saw four friendly aircraft behind and below, being attacked.  The friendly aircraft which I identified as flown by 2nd Lt. Fleming W. Suiter, 0-713363, appeared to be shot down as he went down through the overcast.  This was the last I saw of Lt. Suiter.

Next: Part VI – The Missing Years