Hitchhikers

[MIflyer]

There have been a few noteworthy examples of pilots landing in enemy territory to pick up downed airmen. Maj Bernie Fisher got the MOH for landing on the AShau airstrip to pick up that other A-1 pilot. In his book "Full Circle" J.E. Johnson related a story where a USAAF P-51 landed due to damage and then another of his unit landed to pick him up, only to have the wheels sink into the dirt so deeply that they could not take off. Another P-51 pilot was preparing to land also but could not get the attention of the two downed pilots (THREE in a Mustang???).

In the book "Coffin Corner" it is described how the pilot of a B-17, George Starks, bailed out in March 1944 and landed in occupied France. A P-47 came by with its gear and flaps down, clearly looking for a place to land. But it was a hilly area with no suitable landing areas and so the P-47 pilot waved goodby to him and left.

I do not recall reading of any other cases where a pilot was downed and a pilot from another unit tried to pick him up. Other crewmen from the same bomber reported P-47's and P-51's buzzing around down low, clearly looking for them after they bailed out.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Excerpts:

As the fighters swept in to attack, their target of opportunity turned into an ambush. The sides of a rail car fell away exposing a German anti-aircraft battery hidden within. 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft rounds ripped through the formation. Maj. Marshall's plane took the worst of it and pulled away smoking badly and fatally crippled. Lt. Priest, flying beside him, saw the whole thing and reported the damage to Marshall. While Marshall looked for a place to belly land his plane Priest pointed out a field nearby and suggested that he would land and pick up Marshall. Marshall was adamant that he take the rest of the flight and get out of there.

[...]

Disobeying those orders, Lt. Priest spotted a wheat field nearby that would do nicely as an improvised landing strip. Just before landing, he spotted Marshall tossing a thermite grenade into his plane and then heading toward the field he was landing in.

Once Priest had landed and positioned his plane for a quick take-off he surveyed the area looking for his commander. Instead, he saw a truckload of German infantry approaching. He immediately called the remaining two airborne pilots. They responded that they were inbound and made quick work of the truck and its occupants with the Mustang's four .50 caliber machine guns but also alerted Priest that more Germans were heading his way. He was running out of time and there was still no sign of his commander.

As he started to consider his options, he saw Marshall come into the field, visibly angry that Priest was even there. Marshall refused to get into the airplane and told Priest to get out of there. Not knowing what else to do, Priest exited the airplane and took off his chute and dinghy signaling that he was not leaving without his commander. Marshall climbed in first followed by Priest. There was barely enough room to close the canopy but the cramped couple managed to take off just in time to avoid the second German patrol.

Full story:

This WWII fighter pilot 'piggy-backed' his wingman home after he was shot down

Sometimes, it's hard to decide whether to punish someone or reward them. After this pilot's daring actions, which should it have been?

www.wearethemighty.com

 

[fubar57]

I've know of a few photos that show re-creations of a P-51 and a P-47 pilot picking up stranded pilots. I'll have a look-see in a bit

EDIT: one of the pics shows the above pilots in the cockpit of Lt. Priests Mustang