drgondog
Major
June 5
VIII FC FO 369. Lieutenant Colonel Kinnard led a Type 16 Control Area Patrol to sweep along the Graville-Vire-Falaise axis from 0812 to 1103. No enemy aircraft were seen and the Group came out north of Bayeux at 17,000 feet.
The last couple of days were remarkable for the number of new pilots which emerged from Goxhill (and Stud Starr's tutelage) to become replacements for the Group. Included in this newest batch of pilots were several future 355th aces including Lieutenants Cullerton and Priest plus Captains Haviland and Marshall. Of all the new pilots assigned to the Group after mid June, 1944 only Chuck Hauver (July) and Gordon Graham (September) would score five or more aerial victories before the end of the war.
At 1900 hours Colonel Cummings tracked down the Group intelligence and operations officers, the three squadron CO's, and the weather officer. After locking the Group operations room, Cummings, Major Lewis, Captain Mason, Captain Schmucker, Captain Nicholson, Lieutenant Colonel Dix, Major Rosenblatt, Lieutenant Colonel Kinnard, Lieutenant Colonel Myers, and Captain Ramsdell worked to plan the routes, the squadron assignments, timing and armament for the following day's missions. At the same time, the line crews were busy painting the black and white invasion stripes around all the Mustang fuselages and wings.
According to the field orders, the 354 and 357FS's P-51s were topped off with fuel, the108 gallon long range tanks were loaded and all the guns were loaded with tracer and API. The 358FS would take off several hours later and their tanks would not be filled until 0400 on the 6th of June.
Cummings called the briefing for 2400 hours and broke the news of D-Day to an excited bunch of pilots. All routes for the following day for penetration and withdrawal were planned to avoid the shipping lanes. Additionally, Cummings instructed the pilots to be very cautious about shooting up possible civilian rail or road traffic. All pilots were also advised to saddle up in their Mustangs a little early to familiarize themselves with cockpit procedures and give their eyes time to adjust for the "O Dark Hundred" take off and flying.
June 6
The entire 8th AF Fighter Command would fly three separate missions to provide area patrol and fighter bomber support to the troops landing at Normandy
VIII FC FO 371-"FULLHOUSE". Lieutenant Colonel Dix led the 355th A Group comprised of the 354 and 357FS to the Alencon area southwest of Paris from 0251 to 0821 for an Area Patrol.
The two squadrons were separated during the climb out in heavy cloud cover. Only after first light did they re-connect. The weather was lousy, but except for a fair amount of flak the mission was uneventful. The entire mission was flown under Type 16 control.
VIII FC FO 371-"FULLHOUSE-Part B". Lieutenant McGinty led the 355th 'B Group' (358FS) on a Type 16 Control Area Patrol after Meyers aborted with engine trouble. The 358 had a good day strafing trucks, trains, and barges around Alencon and near Dreaux. They took off at 0601 and arrived in their assigned area at 0730.
Lieutenants Donovan, Covault. McNally and Humphrey shared in the destruction of two locomotives, four barges, and two tugs while McNally and Pardee shot up two locomotives and two trains at the Bleury railroad station. All returned safely although several had flak damage. Everybody was back by 1130.
VIII FC FO 371-"STUD-Part A". Colonel Cummings led the 357FS on its second mission of the day on a fighter bomber Sweep. Eight Mustangs were loaded with two 250 pound high explosive bombs to attack some targets near Dreaux that the 358th squadron had spotted earlier. The other eight, led by Major Rosenblatt, Group Operations Officer, provided 'escort' with the other eight P-51s of the squadron until the loads were dropped. Each bomb was fused for instantaneous detonation upon impact.
Off at 1106, then directed to an area southwest of Paris, the 357FS pounded bridges, armored vehicles, trucks, and horse drawn goods wagons heading toward the beaches. One FW 190 slipped out of the clouds and peppered Cummings with 20mm and then climbed back into the clouds before anybody could react. Cummings took some hits but was able to continue the mission.
Lieutenant Phillips of the 357FS was hit hard by flak near La Maileraye and was killed when he struck the stabilizer after bailing out, to become the first 355th FG casualty of the day.
All other P-51s were back by 1405.
VIII FC FO 371-"STUD-Part B". Lieutenant Colonel Kinnard led the 354FS on another fighter bomber Sweep to the Le Mans area from 1315 to 1420. During the briefing Kinnard remarked that everybody should look their intended target over pretty closely before dropping bombs to "make sure we do some good."
Like all earlier missions for the Group, the cloud cover was extensive and ranged from 1,000 feet to 15,000 feet – in layers. The squadron found a hole in the cloud cover and dropped below the clouds to look for targets of opportunity.
The 354 caught a load of ammo loaded rail cars and trucks near Le Mans heading for Normandy. The squadron bombed and strafed with spectacular results. The secondary explosions lasted the entire time the 354 made passes, many bringing home pieces of trucks and other debris imbedded in their ships.
VIII FC FO 371-"STUD-Part C. Lieutenant Colonel Myers led the 358FS on a combined fighter bomber Sweep/Ramrod to Mamers to escort 9th AF B-26s in the area. They patrolled from 1430 to 1543 at staggered altitudes ranging from 15,000 feet to the deck. Each of the 17 Mustangs carried 250 pound bombs and dropped them on marshalling yards at Evereaux on the way back to the beach. In one instance they caught several armored vehicles and troops under an overpass and a direct hit took the cars, troops, and bridge up with rippling secondary explosions.
VIII FC FO 372 "ROYAL FLUSH-Part A" Lieutenant Colonel Dix led the 354FS on an Area Patrol in the Châteaudun area. They dropped to the deck and shot up several trains near Chartres. Just before turning back for Steeple Morden, Colgate picked up an unidentified large formation of aircraft heading southwest toward the invasion beaches.
The 357FS spotted 12-15 Ju 87s near Janville at 2056 and radioed the info to the 354FS. They swept into the low flying Stuka formation – now only 100 feet above the ground. The 354FS closed shortly afterwards.
Dix got one in the air and shared one on the ground after several Ju 87s tried to save themselves by landing in nearby fields. Lieutenants Fortier and Perry each got one while Lieutenants Morris and (Floyd) Taylor shared another Ju 87. One of the new pilots, Captain Bert Marshall, got his first air victory in this short scrap, on his second combat mission. Several probables and damaged were also claimed.
All pilots returned by 2220 as Steeple Morden was being closed in by heavy rain and poor visibility.
VIII FC FO 372-"ROYAL FLUSH-Part B". Captain Wilson led the 357FS on an Area Patrol in the same general area as the 354FS from 1721 to 2230.
The squadron shot up several columns of German road traffic around 2030, claiming 200 goods wagons, ammo trucks, tracked vehicles, oil trucks plus four locomotives. They received the Type 16 vector just and spotted the squadron size formation of Ju 87s near Janville heading toward the beaches at 2056. The German formation was well camouflaged and flying very low.
Captain Kelley shot down two, while Lieutenants James, Bernoske, Fuller, and Cotter got one apiece. Fuller was also credited with one probable. James destroyed another one on the ground after it crash landed to escape him. Minchew, Fuller, James, and Wilson each damaged one more before some broke into the low clouds and escaped. By the time the 354FS arrived the remainder of the formation was scattering in all directions.
The unfortunate German aircraft were from the II./SG103 Stuka Training unit whose instructors were thrown into the breach.
On the way home Lieutenant Walter Douglass was hit by flak east of Calais and bailed out to become POW. Colson's ship developed a very rough engine over the Channel and he bellied it in at Manston.
After the two squadrons had come home with claims of 15 of the total day's bag of 26 for the Eighth AF, they were reminded that things didn't always go well when they received news of the 4th FG's bad luck.
The 4th suffered a huge loss when flights from their 334th and 335th Squadrons were caught on the deck near Evreux-Rouen area. In the ensuing fight they lost eight in the air plus two from flak. Losses included ace Major McPharlin (339th FG) who was flying with the 4th on that day, the 4th also lost aces Sobanski and McGrattan. Only August 18th would be worse for 4th FG. Lieutenant Thomas Fraser landed a nearly intact Mustang after the fight with a coolant leak. His P-51B was repaired and flown out the next day to Rechlin to live out the war as "T9 + HK" helping LW fighter pilots learn how to fight the Mustang.
Following review of claims the final award for the 355th was nine destroyed plus one probable and six damaged in the air and 3 destroyed on the ground. The German loss was worse than just the Ju 87s, as SG103 also lost 11 very experienced Stuka pilot instructors in this fight. This day marked one of the very last times Ju 87s would be deployed against the Invasion forces for the rest of the war. They simply could not survive.
The 355th Fighter Group crossed the milestone of 300 German aircraft destroyed on this day, but it would not be official until two weeks later. At this point and for the rest of the war the 355th would continue to remain in third place behind the 56th FG and the 4th FG for the duration and keep pace approximately 150 aircraft destroyed behind both groups.
Future chief test pilot for the B-70 program, Al White, joined the 354FS this day.
Final score 12 -1-2 for two losses – both to flak
VIII FC FO 369. Lieutenant Colonel Kinnard led a Type 16 Control Area Patrol to sweep along the Graville-Vire-Falaise axis from 0812 to 1103. No enemy aircraft were seen and the Group came out north of Bayeux at 17,000 feet.
The last couple of days were remarkable for the number of new pilots which emerged from Goxhill (and Stud Starr's tutelage) to become replacements for the Group. Included in this newest batch of pilots were several future 355th aces including Lieutenants Cullerton and Priest plus Captains Haviland and Marshall. Of all the new pilots assigned to the Group after mid June, 1944 only Chuck Hauver (July) and Gordon Graham (September) would score five or more aerial victories before the end of the war.
At 1900 hours Colonel Cummings tracked down the Group intelligence and operations officers, the three squadron CO's, and the weather officer. After locking the Group operations room, Cummings, Major Lewis, Captain Mason, Captain Schmucker, Captain Nicholson, Lieutenant Colonel Dix, Major Rosenblatt, Lieutenant Colonel Kinnard, Lieutenant Colonel Myers, and Captain Ramsdell worked to plan the routes, the squadron assignments, timing and armament for the following day's missions. At the same time, the line crews were busy painting the black and white invasion stripes around all the Mustang fuselages and wings.
According to the field orders, the 354 and 357FS's P-51s were topped off with fuel, the108 gallon long range tanks were loaded and all the guns were loaded with tracer and API. The 358FS would take off several hours later and their tanks would not be filled until 0400 on the 6th of June.
Cummings called the briefing for 2400 hours and broke the news of D-Day to an excited bunch of pilots. All routes for the following day for penetration and withdrawal were planned to avoid the shipping lanes. Additionally, Cummings instructed the pilots to be very cautious about shooting up possible civilian rail or road traffic. All pilots were also advised to saddle up in their Mustangs a little early to familiarize themselves with cockpit procedures and give their eyes time to adjust for the "O Dark Hundred" take off and flying.
June 6
The entire 8th AF Fighter Command would fly three separate missions to provide area patrol and fighter bomber support to the troops landing at Normandy
VIII FC FO 371-"FULLHOUSE". Lieutenant Colonel Dix led the 355th A Group comprised of the 354 and 357FS to the Alencon area southwest of Paris from 0251 to 0821 for an Area Patrol.
The two squadrons were separated during the climb out in heavy cloud cover. Only after first light did they re-connect. The weather was lousy, but except for a fair amount of flak the mission was uneventful. The entire mission was flown under Type 16 control.
VIII FC FO 371-"FULLHOUSE-Part B". Lieutenant McGinty led the 355th 'B Group' (358FS) on a Type 16 Control Area Patrol after Meyers aborted with engine trouble. The 358 had a good day strafing trucks, trains, and barges around Alencon and near Dreaux. They took off at 0601 and arrived in their assigned area at 0730.
Lieutenants Donovan, Covault. McNally and Humphrey shared in the destruction of two locomotives, four barges, and two tugs while McNally and Pardee shot up two locomotives and two trains at the Bleury railroad station. All returned safely although several had flak damage. Everybody was back by 1130.
VIII FC FO 371-"STUD-Part A". Colonel Cummings led the 357FS on its second mission of the day on a fighter bomber Sweep. Eight Mustangs were loaded with two 250 pound high explosive bombs to attack some targets near Dreaux that the 358th squadron had spotted earlier. The other eight, led by Major Rosenblatt, Group Operations Officer, provided 'escort' with the other eight P-51s of the squadron until the loads were dropped. Each bomb was fused for instantaneous detonation upon impact.
Off at 1106, then directed to an area southwest of Paris, the 357FS pounded bridges, armored vehicles, trucks, and horse drawn goods wagons heading toward the beaches. One FW 190 slipped out of the clouds and peppered Cummings with 20mm and then climbed back into the clouds before anybody could react. Cummings took some hits but was able to continue the mission.
Lieutenant Phillips of the 357FS was hit hard by flak near La Maileraye and was killed when he struck the stabilizer after bailing out, to become the first 355th FG casualty of the day.
All other P-51s were back by 1405.
VIII FC FO 371-"STUD-Part B". Lieutenant Colonel Kinnard led the 354FS on another fighter bomber Sweep to the Le Mans area from 1315 to 1420. During the briefing Kinnard remarked that everybody should look their intended target over pretty closely before dropping bombs to "make sure we do some good."
Like all earlier missions for the Group, the cloud cover was extensive and ranged from 1,000 feet to 15,000 feet – in layers. The squadron found a hole in the cloud cover and dropped below the clouds to look for targets of opportunity.
The 354 caught a load of ammo loaded rail cars and trucks near Le Mans heading for Normandy. The squadron bombed and strafed with spectacular results. The secondary explosions lasted the entire time the 354 made passes, many bringing home pieces of trucks and other debris imbedded in their ships.
VIII FC FO 371-"STUD-Part C. Lieutenant Colonel Myers led the 358FS on a combined fighter bomber Sweep/Ramrod to Mamers to escort 9th AF B-26s in the area. They patrolled from 1430 to 1543 at staggered altitudes ranging from 15,000 feet to the deck. Each of the 17 Mustangs carried 250 pound bombs and dropped them on marshalling yards at Evereaux on the way back to the beach. In one instance they caught several armored vehicles and troops under an overpass and a direct hit took the cars, troops, and bridge up with rippling secondary explosions.
VIII FC FO 372 "ROYAL FLUSH-Part A" Lieutenant Colonel Dix led the 354FS on an Area Patrol in the Châteaudun area. They dropped to the deck and shot up several trains near Chartres. Just before turning back for Steeple Morden, Colgate picked up an unidentified large formation of aircraft heading southwest toward the invasion beaches.
The 357FS spotted 12-15 Ju 87s near Janville at 2056 and radioed the info to the 354FS. They swept into the low flying Stuka formation – now only 100 feet above the ground. The 354FS closed shortly afterwards.
Dix got one in the air and shared one on the ground after several Ju 87s tried to save themselves by landing in nearby fields. Lieutenants Fortier and Perry each got one while Lieutenants Morris and (Floyd) Taylor shared another Ju 87. One of the new pilots, Captain Bert Marshall, got his first air victory in this short scrap, on his second combat mission. Several probables and damaged were also claimed.
All pilots returned by 2220 as Steeple Morden was being closed in by heavy rain and poor visibility.
VIII FC FO 372-"ROYAL FLUSH-Part B". Captain Wilson led the 357FS on an Area Patrol in the same general area as the 354FS from 1721 to 2230.
The squadron shot up several columns of German road traffic around 2030, claiming 200 goods wagons, ammo trucks, tracked vehicles, oil trucks plus four locomotives. They received the Type 16 vector just and spotted the squadron size formation of Ju 87s near Janville heading toward the beaches at 2056. The German formation was well camouflaged and flying very low.
Captain Kelley shot down two, while Lieutenants James, Bernoske, Fuller, and Cotter got one apiece. Fuller was also credited with one probable. James destroyed another one on the ground after it crash landed to escape him. Minchew, Fuller, James, and Wilson each damaged one more before some broke into the low clouds and escaped. By the time the 354FS arrived the remainder of the formation was scattering in all directions.
The unfortunate German aircraft were from the II./SG103 Stuka Training unit whose instructors were thrown into the breach.
On the way home Lieutenant Walter Douglass was hit by flak east of Calais and bailed out to become POW. Colson's ship developed a very rough engine over the Channel and he bellied it in at Manston.
After the two squadrons had come home with claims of 15 of the total day's bag of 26 for the Eighth AF, they were reminded that things didn't always go well when they received news of the 4th FG's bad luck.
The 4th suffered a huge loss when flights from their 334th and 335th Squadrons were caught on the deck near Evreux-Rouen area. In the ensuing fight they lost eight in the air plus two from flak. Losses included ace Major McPharlin (339th FG) who was flying with the 4th on that day, the 4th also lost aces Sobanski and McGrattan. Only August 18th would be worse for 4th FG. Lieutenant Thomas Fraser landed a nearly intact Mustang after the fight with a coolant leak. His P-51B was repaired and flown out the next day to Rechlin to live out the war as "T9 + HK" helping LW fighter pilots learn how to fight the Mustang.
Following review of claims the final award for the 355th was nine destroyed plus one probable and six damaged in the air and 3 destroyed on the ground. The German loss was worse than just the Ju 87s, as SG103 also lost 11 very experienced Stuka pilot instructors in this fight. This day marked one of the very last times Ju 87s would be deployed against the Invasion forces for the rest of the war. They simply could not survive.
The 355th Fighter Group crossed the milestone of 300 German aircraft destroyed on this day, but it would not be official until two weeks later. At this point and for the rest of the war the 355th would continue to remain in third place behind the 56th FG and the 4th FG for the duration and keep pace approximately 150 aircraft destroyed behind both groups.
Future chief test pilot for the B-70 program, Al White, joined the 354FS this day.
Final score 12 -1-2 for two losses – both to flak
