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Back to work Monday!
- Thread starter Grant
- Start date
What an excellent photo, and very well posed for the camera of this 4th FG mission briefing session of Thunderbolt pilots in their briefing room at Debden. The 4th Fighter Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts on missions between March 1943 and February 1944. In the centre of the image, looking straight at the camera is James A. Goodson. On the far right of the shot, wearing a garrison cap, is Lieutenant Paul S. Riley. The two men at the front of the shot, sitting on wicker chairs, are, left to right Lieutenant James A Clark and Lieutenant Spiros S Pisanos. The airman in the back row, with his hand on his chin is Second Lieutenant Kenneth D Peterson. Printed caption attached to print: 'P-47 Thunderbolt pilots listen intently as Intelligence Officers brief them before the start of a mission over France.'
Others in frame: 1st Lt's Jack L Raphael, Earle W Carlow, Vernon A Boehle, Douglas E Booth, Aubrey Stanhope, Pierce L Wiggin, Frank M Fink, Donald H Ross. Capt's Cecil E Manning, Richard G Braley, Nicholas 'Cowboy' Megura, Robert G 'Digger' Williams and Major's Howard W 'Deacon' Hively, Duane W Beeson.
Others in frame: 1st Lt's Jack L Raphael, Earle W Carlow, Vernon A Boehle, Douglas E Booth, Aubrey Stanhope, Pierce L Wiggin, Frank M Fink, Donald H Ross. Capt's Cecil E Manning, Richard G Braley, Nicholas 'Cowboy' Megura, Robert G 'Digger' Williams and Major's Howard W 'Deacon' Hively, Duane W Beeson.
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Grant
Well-Known Member
Yup, was feeling the same way this morning headed to work.
Maybe the caption that went along with the photo should've been included:
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force.
They flew their first combat mission under American colours on 2 October 1942, still flying British Spitfires. Upon receipt of an adequate number of P-47 Thunderbolts and crews skilled in their maintenance, the group converted to P-47s in March 1943. In February 1944 the group switched to P-51 Mustangs, which they continued to fly until the end of the war in Europe. They flew their last combat mission on 25 April 1945. They had become the top scoring Allied Fighter Group in the war, having destroyed 1016 enemy aircraft for a loss of 241 of their own planes.
It is of note that their losses were disproportionately high due to the fact that their combat was always over enemy territory and many of their losses were suffered as the result of flak (anti-aircraft fire).
Maybe the caption that went along with the photo should've been included:
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force.
They flew their first combat mission under American colours on 2 October 1942, still flying British Spitfires. Upon receipt of an adequate number of P-47 Thunderbolts and crews skilled in their maintenance, the group converted to P-47s in March 1943. In February 1944 the group switched to P-51 Mustangs, which they continued to fly until the end of the war in Europe. They flew their last combat mission on 25 April 1945. They had become the top scoring Allied Fighter Group in the war, having destroyed 1016 enemy aircraft for a loss of 241 of their own planes.
It is of note that their losses were disproportionately high due to the fact that their combat was always over enemy territory and many of their losses were suffered as the result of flak (anti-aircraft fire).
Thomas Koehle
Well-Known Member
excellent photo
Grant
Well-Known Member
B-Man,
Nothin to be impressed about!
It's just reading through cool websites and digging stuff up. One such site is the Imperial War Museum Roger Freeman collection of original photographs. Tons of treasures there!
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/
Here's my Tuesday morning commute pic of the day, once again the badasses of the 4th FG at Debden, taken October 1943.
Nothin to be impressed about!
It's just reading through cool websites and digging stuff up. One such site is the Imperial War Museum Roger Freeman collection of original photographs. Tons of treasures there!
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/
Here's my Tuesday morning commute pic of the day, once again the badasses of the 4th FG at Debden, taken October 1943.
Silver Surfer
Well-Known Member
what do ya figure the average age of these and the other guys in the other pic was? 18-21? send in the immortals.
Grant
Well-Known Member
Another back to work Tuesday photo: April 1943: Capt. Walter Hanna briefing his squadron of A-20 fliers for an attack on German tanks is Tunis, in his dugout called Hanna's Hovel at a desert base during the Allied campaign in North Africa. Photo by Margaret Bourke-White.
Check out the assortment of bitchin boots and A-2's.
Check out the assortment of bitchin boots and A-2's.
Silver Surfer
Well-Known Member
man, ya just gotta love this stuff. thanx for taking the time to post these pix, dr. g.
Thomas Koehle
Well-Known Member
was already wondering what kinda boots these are
Steve27752
Well-Known Member
Early ones with the canvas strap.
johnwayne
Well-Known Member
The Debden pic is quite common but a great atmospheric pic nonetheless. Here's a question, from what can see you've 8 crew in garrison caps and the rest wearing crushers - would that have been just personal choice do you reckon? Would all crew have both to choose from? Was a garrison cap due to its name only meant to be worn on base?
