Day to Day Life images

[Edward]

SNAFU!
Gabby Gabreski''s P-47 Thunderbolt 42-26418 HV-A after its last landing with Luftwaffe officers on the wing - Germany 20 July 1944. Gabreski was strafing targets over an enemy airfield when his low flying aircraft's propeller struck the ground causing damage to the engine and resulting in the forced landing.

 

[Officer Dibley]

A plane with that many kills landing after ground strafing, he was smart to hide. He might have been shot otherwise. At least if i was a ground pounder and i'd been shot at by a plane, i'm not sure i'd have the self control not to shoot the pilot in the immediate aftermath.

A truly brave man to fly knowing that.

 

[Greg Gale]

On the other hand, crashed pilots were better off in the hands of the Luftwaffe than the SS, or civilians, who were known to beat them to death, or shoot them. The LW treated all downed airmen with respect.

 

[Smithy]

On the other hand, crashed pilots were better off in the hands of the Luftwaffe than the SS, or civilians, who were known to beat them to death, or shoot them. The LW treated all downed airmen with respect.

That's very true. Already by autumn 1944 it was being informed to USAAF aircrew to avoid civilians due to the fact that there were instances of them severely beating and even killing downed men. Frank Speer of the 4th talks a lot about this in his book "Wingman" and how he was chased by a mob with pitchforks, axes, knives and clubs. The Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht tended to be very civil with captured airmen and espeically if they were still in uniform.

 

[Brettafett]

Great pics and a great pilot!

 

[Silver Surfer]

much obliged, gentlemen, much obliged.

 

[Edward]

After Kassel, Sept. 27, 1944: Lt. William Beyer (left), and Lt. Bocquin (right) prepare their reports. While Bocquin downed three enemy planes, Beyer got five-- becoming an "Ace in a Day." He would end his tour with a total of 9 air to air kills.

 

[Smithy]

What's really impressive with the ace in a day boys is the firing discipline and the spremely effective gunnery skills to achieve that with the limited amount of fire a fighter had. Seriously skilful.

 

[Edward]

interesting picture of crew in air in a B-26 Marauder (almost looked fake!) But sad story.... (and the bombardier is smoking?!? didn't think that was allowed inside the aircraft!)
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. This aircraft was written-off after crash-landing on 12th August 1944. It had received flak damage while over Flers, France and had its electrical system, generators and hydraulic systems shot out. The crew nursed it back to the base (Great Saling, Essex, USAAF St 485 [Renamed Andrews Field]) and got the gear cranked down after which the pilot ordered the enlisted men to bail out. While trying to land the plane skidded off the runway and into the control tower, killing both pilots. MACR 15747.

Crew:
2nd Lt. John R. Walker, Jr. - Pilot (O-814603) KIA
2nd Lt. Bruce Taylor - Co-Pilot (O-764829) KIA
S/Sgt. Ernest Pilot - Togglier (16108300) RTD on 8/25/44
Sgt. George E. Peterson - Engineer/Gunner (36650962) RTD on 8/25/44
Sgt. John B. Hill - Radio Operator/Gunner (16119103) EUS
Sgt. Marvin E. Vogt - Tail Gunner (37527425) RTD

 

[Brettafett]

I was watching the Youtube vid a few days ago!

 

[Edward]

Technical Sergeant Roy Jackson Hively, a flight engineer of the 303rd Bomb Group, enjoys a cup of tea. Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Public Affairs Ltd' [stamp], 'Passed for Publicatio 9 Apr 1943.' [stamp] and '257538.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '"As soon as we beat the hell out of these Nazis I'll be home" declares 20 year old T/Sergt. Roy Jackson Hively, of Columbia City, Indiana. He is serving as a gunner with the U.S. Army Air Force in Britain, has been on 16 raids, and holds the Air Medal with three Clusters. A former farmer at Sycamore, Ill. he has acquired a real liking for English tea.

 

[Brettafett]

Thats the life, back to the war and well into a good book. Funny how times have not changed much... I was doing exactly the same thing this morning!

 

[Flightengineer]

Thats the life, back to the war and well into a good book. Funny how times have not changed much... I was doing exactly the same thing this morning!

Hope you are wearing your A2 during tea and reading?

 

[Brettafett]

Ha, in fact I WAS!!!!

 

[Dover]

Great thread here with many outstanding pics! Well done Edward and thanks.

 

[Edward]

you're welcome good sir!

The latrine door of the 487th Bomb Group

 

[Edward]

Lieutenant Stanley Stedt, a bombardier of the 306th Bomb Group rides a bomb. Image via BL Davies Image stamped on reverse: 'Copyright Planet News.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: 'AMERICAN 8TH AIR FORCE IN BRITAIN DEMONSTRATES HUGE FIRING POWER OF FORTRESSES AND THUNDERBOLTS - REMARKABLE NEW GUNSIGHT HELPS GUNNERS. American 8th Air Force in Britain demonstrates the huge firing power of its Flying Fortresses and Thunderbolt fighters at an air station "somewhere" in England". The Flying Fortress, with its 12 cannon gun, carries about 6250 shells weighing 1875 lbs. (or nearly 17cwts) besides its bomb load of 2000 lb. "cookies" or Blockbusters. The fire power of each gun is up to .650 rounds per minute, in conjunction with the new Sperry Computing gun-sight, which works out the height, range. PHOTO SHOWS: Bombardier Lieut. Stanley Stedt, of Stockholm, Maine, astride one of a bomb by the Fortresses. G. July 1943.PN.'

 

[Edward]

I do believe he's checking out her can!

 

[Edward]

Technical Sergeant Edward Fee of the 91st Bomb Group enjoys a cup of coffee surrounded by his comrades at Bassingbourn after his final mission. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'A-27150 AC - HQ 8th AAF Photo Section, 20 Dec 1943. Ovation on Return. Congratulated on the completion of his tour of "Ops", T/Sgt. Edward Fee (holding cup), 30, of Charlestown, Mass., is surrounded by flying mates as he awaits interrogation. T/Sgt. Fee, holder of Air Medal and slated for the DFC, is aerial engineer of Fortress "Black Swan", and was a longshoreman in civilian life. His final operational mission on December 22nd took him over northwest Germany. Photo shows him enjoying coffee a few minutes after landing. U.S. Air Force Photo.'

 

[Stony]

P-47 Thunderbolt pilots of the 61st Fighter Squadron chat to one another after their latest mission, at Halesworth air base where the 56th Fighter Group were stationed. Left to right they are: Lieutenant-Colonel Francis S. Gabreski, Lieutenant Eugene E. Barnum and Lieutenant Frank W. Klibbe. Passed for publication 26 November 1943.

I met Gabreski and Klibbe years ago when I worked at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.