1st Fighter Group WW2 History

1943

Originally compiled by SSgt John DesHetler, 1st Fighter Wing History Office, Langley AFB, VA
edited by Pete Bartos, using Mullins' "An Escort of P-38's," Gray diary, Richard diary, Hoffman diary, and Graham 1st FG MACR compilation

1 Jan 43 Lts Sauer and Meldrum Sears from the 71st claimed victory over two Ju. 52s.
2 Jan 43 Capt Joe Glenn, 27th commander, sustained wounds while destroying an Me. 109. Lts Mendenall and Weil each claimed an Me. 109, however Lt. Henry Smith was shot down and taken prisoner. Capt Runyon of the 27th received credit for a victory. German Ju-88s raid Biskra at night but miss the field.
4 Jan 43 Just before dark, anti-aircraft guns opened fire on five JU88’s that were bombing the Biskra airfield. The Ju-88s damaged some B-26s, but one was hit and made a forced landing.
7 Jan 43 Italian aircraft shot down Lt J.C. Harrison (Bugs) Lentz of the 94th who was subsequently captured and escaped from a sinking submarine.
A P-38 (from a different Group) reportedly had a runaway prop during takeoff, went into a spin, crashed and burned up, killing the pilot and three Arabs who were working in a garden.
10 Jan 43 A flight of four to seven JU-88s bombed the airfield at Biskra at 7:30 pm. They dropped incendaries, started a fire, then dropped their bombs, destroying three aircraft (a C-47, a P-38, and a B-17), damaging another, and wounding three enlisted men.
11 Jan 43 During an escort mission to Bizerte, Lt William A. Lovell and Lt William H. Wilson of the 94th were killed. Capt Owen of the 27th brought in a crippled aircraft on one engine after being hit by flak and catching on fire during his strafing mission.
12 Jan 43 On a fighter sweep in the Gulf of Gabes, Lt Joseph Smith of the 71st bailed out after the Germans shot down his aircraft. He reportedly died by machine guns firing at his parachute.
14 Jan 43

Lt Louis Meyer, 71st, listed as MIA and Lt Ivan Salts, 71st, as killed in action. The 71st lost Lts Dalts(Salts?) and Meyer in combined attack with the 27th against airfields at Sousse and Sfax. Lt Theodore H. Runyon of the 27th bailed out while wounded west of Gabes, Tunisia, and captured.

Major Rudell of the 71st credited with a victory.

Ju-88s bomb Biskra airfield again.

15 Jan 43 Lt Richard W. McWherter, 94th, died during a taxiing-take off accident, caused by the zero visibility brought upon by the blowing dust of Biskra.
18 Jan 43

During an escort mission with B-17s to Castel Benito the group sent 38 P-38s. Lt Burton Weil, 27th, went down to become a POW. Lts Stevens and Sullivan each claimed a Macchi 202.

The following received official credits for victories on this date: Capt. Stevens, Lt. Sullivan and Capt. Darrell Welch all of the 27th, each credited one.
19 Jan 43 Lt Herbert Gordon, 27th, missing in action.
20 Jan 43 The group participated in a fighter sweep over the Tripoli area, strafing truck traffic on the Gabes-Ben Gardane road. Benton Miller of the 94th directly encountered a telephone pole and had somehow managed to nurse his aircraft safely back to Biskra.
21 Jan 43 Captain John Eiland Jr. of the 71st credited a victory
22 Jan 43 The 71st lost two pilots, Lt Alden Landers (KIA) and Lt William Dunn (MIA) during a strafing mission on vehicles on the Ben Gardane road.
23 Jan 43 The 71st moved to Ain M'Lilla. This would prove to be a fairly brief excursion and the last time one of the squadrons would be located separately.
31 Jan 43 Capt. Joel Owens Jr. credited with victory while flying for the 27th
4 Feb 43

The Group made a double effort with ten P-38s and 18 B-17s, followed by ten additional P-38s escorting a flight of 24 B-17s. Another flight of P-38s hit an airfield west of Gabes. Captain Rimke claimed an Me. 109.

Captain Rimke of the 94th and Lt Lee Wiseman from the 71st each receive a single victory credit
6 Feb 43 Lt Willis Mathews of the 94th receives one victory credit
8 Feb 43 The 27th and 94th begin a 125 mile move north of Biskra to Chateau d'un du Rhumel in the Atlas mountains.
14 Feb 43 15 Pilots flew 15 P-38s from the Lockheed installation in Belfast to Algiers.
17 Feb 43 The Group departed Biskra for Chateau d'un du Rhumel under command of the North African Strategic Air Force.
22 Feb 43 Capt Clarence R. Rimke, 94th, killed in action. Lt Thomas E. Chambers, 94th, missing in action (became a POW). Pilots who were part of the Bolero operation are given Air Medals. Lt Shahan received Silver Star for victory over Iceland.
23 Feb 43 Two days after a hard drive by the Germans through Kasserine pass, the weather cleared enough for the 27th and 94th to strafe through the pass, encountering heavy anti-aircraft fire, from both friendly and enemy forces below, level with, and even above the P-38's low flight path. Of the 12 aircraft sent eight came back. Rimke and Chambers went down in the Pass and two more crash landed behind Allied lines north of Kasserine. Nearly every plane was hit.
24 Feb 43 The group mustered all the P-38s it could for a second day of strafing runs on Kasserine Pass.
25 Feb 43 Lt David E. WIlson, 71st, Killed in action in north Africa.
28 Feb 43 The 71st joined the 27th and 94th at Chateau D'um du Rhumel.
3 Mar 43

Five pilots in the 71st reach the 150 hours 50 combat sorties required for reassignment.

While on an escort mission to El Aouina, Lt Harry Dowd, 27th was killed in action. Lt William Martin (Martyn?), 27th, was also listed as killed in action.

8 Mar 43 All three squadrons escorted B-17s on an anti-shipping mission east of Bizerte After dogfighting Me. 109s and FW 190s the group destroyed five 109s and two Focke Wulfs; probable kills on five additional Me. 109s and damaged two 190s with no losses by the group. (Lt Newbury, 27 FS credited with one victory, one probable)
10 Mar 43 Lt Benton Miller, 94th, missing in action (eventually returned to complete his missions).
23 Mar 43 Lt Leslie Slater, 27th, shot down and bailed out over the water. Listed as MIA.
25 Mar 43 A P-38 captured and flown by an Axis pilot shot down Lt J. C.Harrison "Harold" Lentz of the 94th. Lentz crash landed in a desert canyon in North Africa. After struggling to get out of the cockpit, constantly forgetting what had been attached between him and his aircraft, parachute, throat mic etc., friendly Arabs rescued him. Lt Alden Freng, 27th, was killed in action. Lt Jack Hall, 27th, was listed as MIA.
3 Apr 43 Lt. George Means, 71st, didn't return from a weather scouting mission. His body was found with the wreckage of his aircraft the next day and he was buried.
4 Apr 43 "Dive bombing mission a success = 4 with a 500 lb and 4 escorting. Made direct hits on convoy ships. 105 B-17's bombed Naples flying field and docks."
5 Apr 43 While the 71st provided top cover and engaged enemy escort fighters, the 27th, along with the 82nd group jumped an enemy force of 50-75 Ju. 52s, six Ju-87 Stukas, 20 Me. 109s and four FW-190s. The combined Lightning unit destroyed 11 JU. 52s, two 109s and two Stukas. In the melee two 27th pilots were lost, Lt Donald Field (MIA) and Lt Donald Hilgert (KIA). (Lt Newbury, 27 FS, credited with three downing 3 Ju-52s).
10 Apr 43 "Spy gave word of JU-52's from Sicily to Tunis."
The group launched 25 P-38s at 0620 on a fighter sweep of the Sicilian Staights with 4 returning early (2 spares, 2 mechanical troubles). Route: Base to Galito Island, to 20 miles ENE of Cape Ben Sekka and return to base. The 1st Fighter Group jumped a formation of 40-50 Ju-52s and an escort of 15 Macchi-200s (Mc-200) and FW-190s heading towards Tunis. The cover (provided by the 27th FS) engaged the enemy escort, while the remainder (71st FS) attacked the enemy transports carrying replacements for Rommel's Afrika Corps. Combat area was 15 miles east of Cape Bon to 10 miles off shore. Colonel Garman and Capt Eiland led the 71st and engaged most of the transports. Combat altitude was 200 to 500 feet. The Ju-52s, when attacked, spread out and went low on deck. 1st Fighter Group has no losses (2 P-38s damaged - Lt Moutier had an engine shot out but recovered to Duzerville, and Lt Jones, 20mm hit to the nose). Enemy aircraft losses: 20 Ju-52s destroyed and 3 damaged, 7 Machi-200s destroyed and 2 damaged, One FW-190 destroyed.

(Note: An uncomfirmed account has SM-75 and SM-82 transports and Macchi 202s in the action)

Claims:
1Lt Joe Miles, Rhinelander, WS, (71st FS) 2 Ju-52s destroyed
1Lt Meldrum Sears, Paris, IL, (71st FS) 4 Ju-52s destroyed
2Lt George Brittin, Mankate, MN, (71st FS) 1 FW-190 destroyed, 1 Ju-52s destroyed
2Lt Walter Rivers, Paducah, KY, (71st FS) 2 Ju-52s destroyed, 2 Macchi-200s destroyed, 1 Ju-52 damaged
2Lt Lee Wiseman, Grand Rapids, MI, (71st FS) 2 Ju-52s destroyed, 1 Macchi-200 destroyed
2Lt Richard Ariano, Los Angeles, CA, (71st FS) 2 Ju-52s destroyed
2Lt Samual Sweet, St Paul, MN, (27th FS) 1 Macchi-200 destroyed
1Lt Joe Ross, Ft Thomas, KY, (27th FS) 1 Macchi-200 destroyed
1Lt George Rush, Kansas City, MO, (27th FS) 1 Macchi-200 destroyed
2Lt William Royer, Jr., Miami, FL, (71st FS) 2 Ju-52s destroyed
1Lt John Moutier, Jr., Peoria, IL, (71st FS) 2 Ju-52s destroyed, 1 Macchi-200 destroyed, 1 Macchi-200 damaged
2Lt Leslie Garrett, El Dorado, AR, (71st FS) 1 Ju-52s destroyed, 2 Ju-52s damaged
2Lt Raymond Jones, Salt Lake City, UT, (71st FS) 1 Ju-52s destroyed
2Lt Arthur Franke, Cay, IL, (71st FS) 1 Ju-52s destroyed
Lt Col Ralph Garman, Mt Clemens, MI, (1st FG commander) 1 Macchi-200 damaged

12 Apr 43 All three squadrons escorted a wave of B-17s on a mission against shipping assets at the Tunis docks. A running dogfight resulted in two Me. 109s and two FW 190s destroyed.
13 Apr 43

During a bombing mission in the harbor at Porto Torres a P38 scored a hit on two freighters moored side by side the delivered munition ripped straight through the first and didn't detonate until it struck the second putting both out of commission.

The Group escorted B-17s to Cagliari harbor in Sardegna, Italia.
17 Apr 43 While escorting B-17s Captain James Harman, the 94th Commanding O downed a Ju.88 but in turn hit and forced to parachute. His parachute had been strafed and Cpt Harmon subsequently killed along with Lt Robert Anderson with the 27th. Lts. Matthews and Lowe both claimed a Ju. 88 and Harold Lentz claimed a probable on both an Me. 109 and an Me. 210.
2 May 43 Lt Verne Clarke, 27th FS, killed in action.
(early) May 1943 Eddie Rickenbacker again visited the group. Enlisted members stood in line for hours only to be told Rickenbacker would only speak to pilots.
6 May 43 Lt James Burke (MIA) and Lt Louis Bryson (KIA) of the 27th lost while escorting B-17s to Trapani, Sicily.
10 May 43 While strafing a Sicilian airfield Lt George Burger of the 94th was reported missing (KIA). "Blew up a big airfield near Palermo today with 100 B-17's + 50 P-38's."
13 May 43 The last German forces in Africa surrendered ending the campaign known as Operation TORCH. The P-38s stayed until June flying dangerous weather recon missions over Sardinia, Sicily and other parts of Italy.
14 May On a dive-bomb/strafing mission in the Cagliari area of Southern Sardinia. Lt Augustus F. Reese of the 94th ended up caught up in a bomb blast and killed. A Shallowater Texas native, Reese AFB in Lubbock Texas was named in his honor
19 May 43 27th Ace John Wolford was killed in action. "Bombed and strafed Sardinia today."
22 May 43

Lt Donald C. Lowe of the 94th was hit by anti-aircraft fire on a mission to Boca di Falco airfield near Palermo, Sicily. He ended up lost after being forced to bail out over the water (KIA).

27th pilot J Robert Brits missing in action near Sardinia.
25 May 43

3 missions by the 1st FG today. Five pilots ended up missing after another Bocca di Falco dive bombing attack including XO Capt. Stentz. Lt Stuart Bennet and Lt Alden Freng, 27th, were both killed in action. Lt Jack Hall, 27th, listed as missing. Lt Max Rayburn, 94th, went missing on a separate mission from the others and was wounded in action . Lt Rayburn received serious wounds to the right arm and landed near a hospital in Tunis where he received medical treatment and some helpful advice.

"Planes on mission over Sicily got jumped on by twice number. Frankie got 2 + probable. Fisher went into drink out of gas may be lost. 27th pilot from Arlington Mass bailed out + shot in his chute. German was cut in half by 2 P-38's."
28 May 43 "At 3:30 planes went dive bombing over Sicily. Caught a lot of planes on ground."
31 May 43 Lt George Elkin, and Lt Eldrid Loder, both of the 27th, were killed in action.
1 Jun 43 Six P-38s of the 27th FS escort Churchill and Gen Marshall (and Roosevelt?).
Early June

Captain John Eiland relieved as 71st C.O. by Captain Joe Miles.

After escorting a York transport en route to Tripoli the group discovered the identity of its passenger, the King of England.
5 Jun 43 Lt Ed "Bo" Shaw of the 27th shot down and taken prisoner
18 Jun 43 Robert C. Britz, 27th FS, missing in action in the Gulf of Orosei on the east coast of Sardinia, Italy (MACR#19)
20 Jun 43 While the Group escorted B-26 Marauders to Castelvetrano in Sicily, Lts James Cronin (MACR# 312) and Edward O. Esser (MACR# 311), both of the 94th were reported missing after heavy resistance. They ended up as prisoners of war, with Esser reported to have eventually returned to duty.
Lt. Leon Thompson went down (MACR#310) and Herbert McQown was wounded, both were from the 27th. The group accounted for a total of eight 109s in two separate engagements.. Harold Lentz of the 94th alone claimed three in 45 seconds.
24 Jun 43 While dive bombing in Sardinia 94th pilot John A. Hay, Lt David N. Conn (27th) and Lt Thurman R. Nielson (27th) went down. Nielson (MACR #105) became a prisoner of war and Hay (MACR #53) and Conn (MACR #56) were reported missing in action.
On the same mission Gilbert Butler found himself stranded from his flight with four Me 109s after him. He remained ahead of the 109s on a run for home even with a left engine shot out. Knowing they would hit him while landing Butler made a 180 and faced his enemies. By "beautiful shooting, accident, luck, or all three" he hit the lead 109 and splashed it. When he turned again for home with three 109s remaining and firing at him Butler rammed rudder and skidded the plane. He turned again and downed a second 109 after which the remaining two "bugged out."
Late Jun The Group moved to Mauter #3 a dry lake bed south of Ferryville, Tunisia and a mile north of Mateur.
1 Jul 1943 Major Otto Wellensiek took over the 94th from Maj George Sutcliffe.
10 Jul 43 OPERATION HUSKEY began with eight separate strafing and dive bombing missions to eastern, southeastern and central Sicily. Two pilots ended up missing and two pilots killed, Lt. Robert Kuba, a 27th pilot seen to crash into an enemy tank (MACR# 73), and Howard Gilliam from the 94th was listed as MIA (MACR# 111).
11 Jul 43 Dive bombing and strafing continued. Four more pilots ended up missing. Lt Ernest Chapman (71st) and Lt David M. Diamond (71st) collided in mid air over Sicily. Chapman bailed out (MACR# 101) and returned to his unit on the 16th after evasion, but Diamond was listed as MIA (MACR# 109).
On the second pass late in the afternoon anti aircraft fire from tanks hit Lt Dee A. Johnson from the 94th. Johnson managed to keep his plane flying for awhile until he plunged into the sea and was listed as MIA (MACR# 110). Lt Charlie W. Brown, a 27th pilot, bailed out over the target area when he was hit by anti-aircraft fire, resulting in a bizarre encounter with Italian troops, and eventually returned to his unit on 25 August 1943 (MACR# 112).
15 Jul 43 After being ordered to bombard a bridge in Catania, Sicily, Jack Hanton (94th FS) noticed Lt. Robert J. Holcomb flying erratically. Suddenly Holcomb struck Robert W. Boggess, Jr., cutting the two both tail booms and both drove straight into the ground. Holcomb was listed as MIA (MACR# 338) and Boggess was killed (MACR# 337).
16 Jul 43 The 94th commander, Otto Wellensiek, and Archie Jackson were directed to deliver what turned out to be a set of invasion maps to Sicily.
17 Jul 43 This day consisted of massive bombing raids on the Naples area a major hub of transportation for assets from Germany to Sicily.
19 Jul 43 For the first time in the war, Rome is marked as a bombing target.
22 Jul 43 Group escorted B-26s toward the railroad yards at Rome. Also, Robert Viall escorted PBY on a air-sea rescue mission
5 Aug 43 Lt Harold A. Herr, victim of a malfunctioning compass, strayed far off course and bailed out off the coast of Sardinia (MACR# 347). After three weeks in a dinghy a passing freighter finally picked him up.
6 Aug 43 LMQ, Lt Butler's ship from the 71st, blew up the right engine after full throttle, and came in on fire. He made a dive for the field and dropped his wheels, came in about 180 M.P.H., tore off his wheels, and slid along far and fast, and the aircraft burned up.
9 Aug 43 All three squadrons escorted B-26s to Angitola on two separate missions. After the raid three enemy fighters challenged the 71st but were driven away. The 27th incurred more damage as two of the planes were hit so badly the aircraft needed to make emergency landings in Sicily.
10 Aug 43 The 94th suffered losses during a bombing/strafing mission near Bova, Italy with the 71st. Lt Glenn E. Terry, 94th, crashed and exploded on railroad tracks (KIA, MACR# 352), Lt William W. Grieshaber, 94th, caught fire from being hit and crashed (MIA, MACR# 350), Lt Garvin A. Peters, 71st, crashed into the Meditterranean Sea and became a POW (MACR# 348), and Lt. John H. Wilson, 94th, went down in the sea, but eventually returned (MACR# 370). Lt Roger D. Miller, 71st, went down near Ischia island, and eventually returned to his unit (MACR# 372).
12 Aug 43 After attacking Grazzianise Airdrome in Italy, Lt Roger Miller (POW) and Lt Gavin Peters (POW) of the 71st Squadron were forced to bail out over the sea (and were captured) when they encountered and tangled with an estimated 25 aircraft.
13 Aug 43 The group worked with the 82nd group in an escort of over 100 B-26s on a massive raid against railroad yards, industrial areas and airfield in and around Rome. Donald Kienholz scored a victory over an Me. 109.
14 Aug 43

General Spaatz visited the airfield accompanied by Generals Doolittle, and Webster. Departing Colonel Garman and the squadron commanders all received decorations.

The allies concluded Operation HUSKEY, the securing of Sicily.
17 Aug 43 Lt Charles Simpson, 71 FS, MIA (returned to complete missions).
20 Aug 43 On a return to the Naples area five of the group's P-38s escorting the B-26s to Caserta were lost. Robert Allan, Philip Sager, Jr. and Roane Sias of the 94th went Down Sias bailed out and after being captured, escaped, He returned to the squadron in 1944. Sager recovered in a German hospital and left behind to advancing American forces when the Germans evacuated. From the 27th Lts Adolphus Webb and Harold Post went down.
23 Aug 43 P-38s aircrews of the 82nd Fighter Group combined with the 1st to practice for the raids at Foggia
25 Aug 43 Major Gorge Rush led the mission to Foggia resulting in over 47 German planes destroyed with only two planes lost from the 1st group alone. Marcel Williams of the 27th bailed out after being hit by flak, Robert Viall of the 71st could not release his belly tanks, forced to leave the formation and never heard from again. For this mission the group received its first Presidential Unit Citation.
26-27 Aug 43 The group returned to escorting B-26 to Italy, Grazzianise airfield, to Caserta, and to Naples.
28 Aug 43

The group escorted B-26s to Aversa and encountered 25-30 enemy aircraft. The group destroyed three but Lt Basil Rudnick (71 FS - KIA), Lt Russell Winegar (71 FS - POW), Lt Richard Catledge (71 FS - POW, returned), Lt Matthew Warren (71 FS - POW) and Phillips were reported missing. Phillips turned up the next day however, the other three, with the exception of one, Catledge, never did. When Catledge did return in the spring of 1944 he told of his downing, imprisonment, double escape and evasion. He also explained one of the aircraft, piloted by Rudnick, went straight down into the ground. While imprisoned Catledge met David Deisenroth from the 1st.

MACR #
Date
A/C Type
Serial #
Group
Squadron
Note
493
430828
P-38G
42-12951
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 CATLEDGE, RICHARD E. (POW)
494
430828
P-38G
43-2554
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 RUDNICK, BASIL S. (KIA)
498
430828
P-38G
42-15014?
 1st Ftr Grp
71st
 WINEGAR, RUSSELL (POW)
501
430828
P-38G
43-2327
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 WARREN, MATHEW (POW)


30 Aug 43

An escort mission protecting B-26s to their target at Aversa marshalling yards. During this time two waves of German fighters challenged the bombers and P-38s in a battle which numbered 75 highly aggressive and persistent aircraft against 44 P-38s. The group ended up with 13 pilots not returning from the mission, and one wounded.

Five from the 94th were lost: Lts John G. Cram (MIA), Ralph E. Peck (MIA), Charles A. Woodward (MIA), David O. Parlett (POW) and Harold D. Rigney (POW). Hal Rigney and David Parlett were captured, escaped and returned to the squadron in the summer of 1944. Lt Jack Pettus was the only #4 man to return.

An interesting fact surrounds the downing of Hal Rigney. Rigney flew in a rear position and noticed a stray P-38 that flew in behind him. The P-38 fired and hit Rigney forcing him to bail out. A captured P-38 flown by a German was the culprit. Burned and bruised, Lt Parlett bailed out into the water where he was picked up and taken prisoner. He shared the same prison with Lt Catledge who was captured two days previously.

The 71st lost five: Lts John Willey (KIA), Clarence Southgard (eventually returned) and Walter Morrison (POW), Lt Ralph Turrentine (KIA- presumed killed in a mid-air collision with German fighters). The 27th lost Lts Harry Warmker (KIA), Clifford Randol (KIA), Jerome Weinberg (KIA) and F/O Donald Deisenroth (POW), and Lt John Husby was wounded in action. This was the greatest loss the Group suffered in a single day thus far (and second only to the 10 Jun 1944 mission) and earned it a second Presidential unit citation.

MACR #
Date
A/C Type
Serial #
Group
Squadron
Note
483
430829
P-38G
43-2477
1st Ftr Grp
27th
 GRAHAM, Hilliard (MIA -Italy)
495
430830
P-38G
42-12935
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 WARMKER, Harry D. (KIA -Med.)
496
430830
P-38G
43-2524
 1st Ftr Grp
71st
 RANDOL, Clifford E. (KIA -Med.)
497
430830
P-38G
42-12919
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 Deisenroth, Donald B.(POW-Med)
499
430830
P-38G
42-13465
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 MORRISON, Walter (POW -Italy)
500
430828
P-38G
42-13014
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 TURRENTINE, Ralph (KIA-Italy)
521
430830
P-38G
42-13412
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 PECK, Ralph (MIA -Italy)
522
430830
P-38G
43-2510
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 PARLETT, David O (MIA -Italy)
523
430830
P-38G
42-13258
 1st Ftr Grp
71st
 WOODARD, Chas. A (MIA -Italy)
524
430830
P-38G
42-13061
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 RIGNEY, Harold (POW -Italy)
528
430830
P-38G
43-2364
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 CRAM, John C. (MIA -Italy)
551
430830
P-38G
42-13003
 1st Ftr Grp
71st
 WILLEY, John S. (MIA -Italy)
552
430830
P-38G
42-13227
1st Ftr Grp
71st
 Weinberg, Jerome N. (KIA -Italy)


3 Sep 43 Italy surrendered to the allies.
4 Sep 43 The Group strafed German airfields around Naples.
9 Sep 43 Operation AVALANCHE, the landings at Salerno.

"Mission as air cover for landing parties. No action or enemy ships seen. Italy surrendered today."
 

A four ship flight from the 94th operating for a brief time out of Dittaino, Sicily, strafed German reinforcements in a valley. Heavy antiaircraft fire hit two of the aircraft heavy enough to bring them down. James Dibble, the flight lead ended up killed and Stan Wojcik bailed out with severe burns around his face and eyes.

Dittaino airfield was near Mount Etna (Sicily). Our missions started very early in the morning, so we were taking off while it was still dark. In a combat area there were no runway lights on the field and we were not permitted to use our landing lights. We used a flashing beacon at the end of the runway to help us maintain directional control. Since we could not use our navigation lights, the only way we could locate and join our flight leader was for him to flash his identification light located on the underside of the plane. Red Flight Leader used his red light, White Flight Leader used his white light, and Blue Flight Leader used his green light. When there were 12 airplanes taking off at very close intervals and trying to locate their leaders in the dark, it got very exciting. On a 9 September mission later that day, one of my good friends, Lt Frederick B. Messmore of the 71st Squadron, flew into the side of Mt. Etna during the early morning take-off and form-up. There was a red beacon on top of Mt. Etna and I believe my friend mistook the beacon for his flight leader. There was no official explanation for his accident. [from Charles Hoffman's Diary]

10 Sep 43 The group flew ten missions Lt Stanley Stuber of the 71st bailed out after being attacked. F/O Joseph Boyd also went down. Both pilots returned to the squadron.

"One pilot crash landed, another flew into ground at night trying to form a ground beacon, managed to survive. Two shot down over Italy, one bailed out but the other exploded in mid air [Stuber and Boyd].[NOTE- the night mishap likley is referring to 9 Sep events, in which the pilot was killed] "
11 Sep 43 Lt Marion Phillips, of the 71st was lost on an early morning mission over the ocean. The 71st flew in intense Salerno operations the first of the four missions started at 0455 for beach area patrol. In mid morning 11 P-38s from all three squadrons dive bombed and strafed in southern Italy. At 11:15 11 more P-38s went on patrol and 12 27th P-38s departed Dittaino at 1540 hours assigned to the Capri-Salerno. Some 12 to 15 aircraft were encountered and Lt Rodney Fisher of the 71st shot down an FW 190 and two Me. 109s bringing his total victories to five. The Lightnings returned at 1930 hours to complete the ninth mission of the day. A typical day at Dittaino for each of the squadrons.
12 Sep 43 The group kept busy with repeated dive-bombing and strafing attacks against elusive and dangerous ground attacks and help save the Allies from being driven into the sea.
15 Sep 43 The group dropped men and planes into a wheat field in Sicily overlaid with steel matting to support the Allied invasion at Salerno. "Dive bomb mission today over Avalino. No enemy aircraft seen."
18 Sep 43 After the successful invasion of Italy contributed by the group through a total of 87 missions, the squadrons regrouped at Mateur and enjoyed a well deserved break from operational flying to last two weeks.
19 Sep 43 Colonel Bob Richard' assumed command of the 1st Fighter Group. "There is plenty of hard work ahead. Morale is quite bad and things are generally run down."
20 Sep 43 "Generals Spaatz, Doolittle & Webster present today to decorate members of this group for gallantry in action, meritorious service & wounds in battle. 3-Silver Stars, 2-Purple Hearts, 14-D.F.C.s, 12-Air Medals."
22 Sep 43 The group provided escort for units of the Regia Aeronautica. Over 200 aircraft transferred to North Africa.
24 Sep 43 "Started construction on the Officer’s Club, also one for E.M. I can see the spirit and morale of this outfit go up each day as things such as this are started on their way."
26 Sep 43 "It has started to rain and some rain, & this is the 1st rain in many months. This adobe clay is turning into a sea of sticky slippery mud already."
27 Sep 43 "Cleaned house in the group today. Appointed all new sqd commanders including Hanes in the 71st which is the poorest outfit. Many other changes in jobs. Hope I have made the right choices."
1 Oct 43 Americans occupy Naples
3 Oct 43 The 71st lost three pilots in dive bombing missions. Lts Hobart Vincent and James Commer collided in mid-air. Lt Ralph Parrish was killed in action.
5 Oct 43 The group moved an air echelon of 60 men to Gambut #2 near Tobruk, Libya, in support of the evacuation of British troops caught on the German invaded island of Cos in the Dodecanese. The worst enemy faced while at Gambut came in the form of sandstorms.
7 Oct 43 "Started operations today with convoy patrols over the Islands of Kos and Leros (Dodecanese). Hanes flight had to land on the Isle of Cyprus. He missed a JU-88 and then when he got a good shot all guns jammed. "
9 Oct 43 "Mission to the Straits of Skarpnto [?] to give cover to a Naval convoy. Stayed there an extra hour hoping to see some action, but no luck. Soon after the Group left, Bill [Leverette] & his outfit ran into 20/25 Germans. They shot down 14 Ju-87s, damaged 2, and shot down 1 Ju-88. Bill got six himself (later given credit for seven) running into the last one. On the return home found our airdrome U.S. on account of a dust cloud that rose to 11,000 feet. They vectored us into Mersa Watruh [?] where we refueled."
14-15 Oct 1943 After fighting the sandstorms in Libya the air echelon returned to Mateur only to contend with the rainstorms turning what was a dry lake bed into a sea of mud. "Returned to Mateur #1. Flew from Alex[andria] down to Cairo and flew over Pyramids and the Sphinx. Landed at Benghazi for gas and then home. Field was so muddy we had to land at another strip & came home by jeep."
21 Oct 43 P-38s from all three squadrons escorted B-26s to targets in Italy when they were jumped by about fifteen enemy aircraft. The P-38s claimed five 109s an one FW 190 at the cost of three 71st pilots, Lts Junior Downing (MIA, evaded and returned) and John Lion (MIA, later returned) together with Lt Jesse Spaulding (MIA) failed to return
23 Oct 43 The 27th engaged 20 enemy aircraft and downed three of them plus several probables. Lt Dwight Terry was killed in action. Planes form the 71st and 94th flying ahead of the 27th heard a fight had engaged but couldn't locate it.
29 Oct 43 The Group begins to split up from Mateur, moving most to Cagliari, Sardinia, but leaving an air echelon for operations from Africa . "The ground echelon is moving out for Bizertte to load on an LST craft preparatory to movement to Sardinia. Air Echelon at Mateur #1."
31 Oct 43 The ground echelon of the group arrived at Cagliari, Sardinia, nearly a year after landing near Oran. The group conducted a month of dual operations with the air components still in Africa. "Ground echelon sailed today. We are left behind without any transportation."
1 Nov 43 "Ground echelon landed Sardinia. We had to move to Djedeida as our field [Mateur] is too muddy and they will not allow us to go inoperational. In addition, they required us to run a mission as we moved. Fortunately it was cancelled by weather. We are on a field with two bomb groups and it is a state of confusion no end."
6 Nov 43 The group's air echelon moved to Djedeida, about 60 miles from Tunis.
7 Nov 43

Lt Paul Binsley of the 71st disappeared without explanation. Although a test flight, the loss of his horizon over the sea seemed the most probable cause.

Conditions at Djedeida worsened with an unguarded environment absent of floors and stoves in the tents against a penetrating rainy cold.

The 27th flight surgeon, Archibold Adams rummaged through a Quartermaster installation, vacated by a fire due to the explosion of a nearby ammunition dump. He covertly loaded an ambulance with tow dozen large cans of boned chicken. He shared this delicacy only among the other 27th pilots who consumed it only after the hours of darkness and have sworn to secrecy.

The group flew one of its longest missions escorting B-24s to Athens with an outgoing fuel stop in Sicily. The mission log from one aircrew showed a duration of 9:05 hours.
 9 Nov 43  "We escorted the B-24s over Turin. They missed everything. We got 1 destroyed, 1 damaged."
 10 Nov 43  "More rain today. We are now in a sea of mud for sure. High altitude mission with the B-24’s. Weather and cold scattered 5 pilots all over. Two still missing & 1 missing from a test hop." Lt Paul Binsley, 71 FS, MIA (local).
 13 Nov 43  "More rain and cold wind today. First mission over France. Marseilles to bomb airdrome."
 15 Nov 43  "The group escorted the 24’s to Athens, staging twice, 1625 mile round trip. One pilot missing."
 20 Nov 43  "The last four days have flown at least three hours and then return to home after mission called off."
21 Nov 43 During an escort of B-26s to bomb railroad bridges in Italy, several enemy aircraft were engaged with damage to two of the group's planes.
28 Nov 43 "Mission to Marseilles today. 71st got 3-1-3."
29 Nov 43

"Group moved [Monserato, Sardinia]. The field was as I predicted unserviceable and one pilot Lt Williams was killed landing." Lt. Russell Williams blew a tire on a dirt strip and tipped up and over upside down. While delays to extricate were ordered with fear of a fire, Lt. Williams choked on his helmet strap and died.
1 Dec 43

"Mission over Spezia. Three pilots lost. 2 in mid air collisions and one to enemy action. He tried to become a hero and instead lost everything. One may be down in the sea where ASR will pick him up. Lt Parker & F/O Tanner collided." Lt Eldon Vondra, 27th FS, KIA.

MACR#
Date
A/C Type
Serial #
Group
Squadron
 1638  12/1/1943  P-38  42-13135  1st Ftr Grp  
 1640  12/1/1943  P-38  42-12989  1st Ftr Grp  
 1791  12/1/1943  P-38  42-13149  1st Ftr Grp  
9 Dec 43 The air echelon flew to Gioia del Colle, Italy. Major Hanes transferred to group as Operations Officer and Capt Lee Wiseman assumed command of the 71st.
5 Dec 43 "We had some genuine entertainment today. Frederick March and his troupe. They were Sammy Walsh, comedian, Jane Darnell singer, and Evelyn Hamilton accordionist. They had a very good show. The girls had dinner and were entertained at the Italian Officers Mess."
Dec 1943 While escorting B-26s two 71st pilots Lts George Parker and Edward Tanner collided in mid air and became prisoners of war. Lt Elson Bondra, a Petdog pilot was killed in a running 20 minute encounter with 15-20 enemy aircraft.
  Once established at Gioia, two escort mission to Greece were flown. The first to the Athens dock area Kalamki Airdrome 71st pilot James Ferguson turned back due to low oxygen and jumped on by three Mc. 202s. He turned into them and hit the lead aircraft.
19 Dec 43 Lt Joseph McGrath of the 27th KIA.
20 Dec 43

The balance of the group left Cagliari by boat en route to Naples.

 "Escorted the Forts to Athens where they really blasted the hell out of Eleusis Airdrome. Too bad there were not more fighters on the field. Coming home was not so good. The weather closed in on some and we have 15 unreported. Four ships were lost and three pilots. The fourth one is in the hospital in a very serious condition."

Returning from an escort mission to Greece, Lt. Harmer Lipowicz and F/P Charles Brown, all of the 94th crashed into the hills were after the weather had closed in on them. The 27th lost Francis Mackle in the same manner.

"The ceiling was very low and the visibility limited. Red Flight Leader had managed to get the squadron below the overcast and was being directed back to the base. They were flying very close to the ground because of the low ceiling. When Spacebar, the Group’s ground control, gave them a heading correction, the squadron had to make a turn. This turn brought them into an area where the slope of the terrain rose sharply. Lts Lipowicz and Harmer and F/O Charles H. Brown (all of the 94th) were flying lower than the others in the squadron and they struck the ground near Mottola almost simultaneously. Lt Francis E. Mackle of the 27th Squadron suffered the same fate in a separate, but similar, incident that day also. Harmer, Mackle, and Brown were killed instantly and Lipowicz died on the 23rd. Some Merry Christmas!"
21 Dec 43 The ground echelon departed Cagliari harbor destined for Naples.
22 Dec 43 The group arrived at Naples where everyone received tasks at the harbor to include loading, sorting mail and guard duty.
25 Dec 43 Members spent Christmas unloading their ship in Naples. A mission escorting B-17s into the Udine in poor visibility, the 27th fought four to eight FW 190s. After a round of confusing maneuvers on both the part of fighters and bombers, the P-38s ended up with the wrong wing of bombers bound for Bolzano Italy. Although the P-38s ran out of gas the aircraft all landed safely on allied fields.
29 Dec 43 The group arrived at Foggia Number 3, Italy, also know as Salsola.
30 Dec 43 Pilots flew on an interesting but unsuccessful rescue mission to keep any Germans from an area in Albania where a C-47, loaded with 12 nurses, overshot Italy and crash landed. The P-38s were eventually called back and the nurses escaped by boat.
31 Dec 43

Personnel status of the Group at the end of 1943 were as follows.

KIA:21

Missing: 76

Prisoner of War: 16

Accidental Deaths: 6

Wounded/Injured: 16

Escaped and returned: 7