Neal Kearby Medal Of Honor Documentation?

[Squish]

This is just an open question.

Has anyone actually looked for the primary documentation for Neal Kearby's Medal Of Honor?

Presumably there would be some kind of paper trail of how his kill claims were verified, a narrative from his squad mates, sworn statements, etc.

More importantly what I am looking for is the gun camera footage that supposedly exists by some quotations.

The reason that I am asking is because I am working on a larger thesis about over-claiming during the war, and Kearby might be a really good case study for the hows and whys.

For instance we know that Japanese records show they only lost 2 fighters on Oct 11th while Kearby and his wingmen claim to have shot down 9.

Having the gun camera footage would allow us to establish some baseline facts about the mission in regards to the claims and how it was audited.

 

[zeamerseagerbeavers]

According to author Joe Bowman's chapter on Kearby in Bravest of the Brave, Vol. 1, sourcing primarily from Stanaway's Kearby's Thunderbolts: The 348th Fighter Group in World War II but also from Kenney's memoirs, Kearby claimed 6-7 for the day, only radioed in and did barrel rolls for five to avoid ridicule for "such a ridiculous claim," but the gun camera footage confirmed six but ran out before the seventh.

To run down the gun camera footage itself, or notes on it, yourself, maybe NARA's Fifth Air Force Historical Studies/Victory Credit Board files (RG 18), the Fifth Fighter Command's daily intelligence summaries, or the AFHRA at Maxwell (if you hadn't already thought of those yourself).

You can find Bowman's book here.

 

[Sabrejet]

It seems that there may be further detail in these two AFHRA documents:

IRIS NUM 84625/ IRIS REF B0302A: CONTAINS SUMMARY OF [348th] GROUP'S HISTORY WITH COL N. E. KEARBY'S CITATION FOR CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR AND OPERATIONAL STATISTICS.

IRIS NUM 58526/ IRIS REF A0777: [341st FS] STATIONED AT PORT MORESBY, NEW GUINEA. COL NEEL E. KEARBY DESTROYED 6 ENEMY FIGHTERS, 11 OCT 43; SUBSEQUENTLY AWARDED DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. MOVEMENT TO FINSHHAFEN, NEW GUINEA, DEC 43. CONTAINS COMBAT EVALUATION REPORTS, NARRATIVE MISSION AND COMBAT REPORTS, AND UNIT NARRATIVE COMBAT REPORT.

However, the AFHRA has imposed a restriction on 'not in person' enquiries to only US Military or Government entities. Thus an in-person or hired researcher 'in person' visit would be required, and may also be able to get an answer regarding gun camera film availability/whereabouts.

Obviously the 'Bowman' book is not a primary source and therefore outside of your remit. It might however be useful if it cites any primary sources used.

Incidentally, his first name seems to be "NEEL".

 

[zeamerseagerbeavers]

Obviously the 'Bowman' book is not a primary source and therefore outside of your remit. It might however be useful if it cites any primary sources used.

Right. I wasn't recommending it as a primary itself, only for what Bowman found from the sources he used, if those could be helpful in finding primary doc's. Looks like the AFHRA route could prove helpful.

As for researchers, I've had great experience with Geoff Gentilini at Golden Arrow Research.

 

[Squish]

According to author Joe Bowman's chapter on Kearby in Bravest of the Brave, Vol. 1, sourcing primarily from Stanaway's Kearby's Thunderbolts: The 348th Fighter Group in World War II but also from Kenney's memoirs, Kearby claimed 6-7 for the day, only radioed in and did barrel rolls for five to avoid ridicule for "such a ridiculous claim," but the gun camera footage confirmed six but ran out before the seventh.

To run down the gun camera footage itself, or notes on it, yourself, maybe NARA's Fifth Air Force Historical Studies/Victory Credit Board files (RG 18), the Fifth Fighter Command's daily intelligence summaries, or the AFHRA at Maxwell (if you hadn't already thought of those yourself).

You can find Bowman's book here.

Just ordered his book. Should be here sometime next week.

 

[pinehilljoe]

After reading Brunings' The Race of Aces, Kirby's loss was IMHO tragic. Kenney should have rotated him and other aces back home.

 

[taly01]

Overclaiming was common by all sides..... Its just a fact of air combat and something not to get to riled up about.

I am a P-47 fan and the Kearby story is really interesting. If....he had been allowed to fly more in late43-early44 he could have been US ace of aces IMHO.

 

[Geoffrey Sinclair]

Pagination is from the AFHRA Reel B0302 PDF, the original microfilm pagination is at the bottom of the page, at the start of the 348th records microfilm 1553 = PDF 1469.

Note the 10,233 feet average combat height to around end January 1944. Colonel Kirby, p1469-70, p1506, p1553-5, p1624-6

 

[Sabrejet]

And note too the confirmation of 'Neel', not 'Neal'.

 

[andrewgeorge]

Overclaiming was common by all sides..... Its just a fact of air combat and something not to get to riled up about.

I am a P-47 fan and the Kearby story is really interesting. If....he had been allowed to fly more in late43-early44 he could have been US ace of aces IMHO.

Super common. Certainly in the South Pacific it seems. Claringbould finds allied/japanese overclaims in 1942-1943 were typically like 4/5 claims for every actual enemy loss.

It's not worth getting worked up about, but it's interesting to look into. Especially now that the surviving veterans involved are deceased and there's less collateral harm involved (to careers and egos and reputations) in clearing up the record of actual events.