Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

I am looking for info on a pilot named Jim Buck Kirksmith. it is said he flew a B-24 in Europe named Tuff Titty. Google searching doesn't have a B-24 of this named over Europe it does have two B-17s:

42-3347 94th BG 14 Oct 43 crashlanded after the Schweinfurt raid repaired used as a weather plane and transport flown back to the states in 1945. Any one know what might have damaged the plane? fighters , flak or both?

44-6374 2 nd BG in Italy 20 Apr 45 shot down by Flak Vipitero 3 bail out 7 KIA. Any info on the plane?

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Hi Jim. Kirksmith was in the 578BS / 392BG, 5 missions from 6 Sept. to 4 Oct.43. Flew a/c 480. No "Tuff Titty" known with 392nd.
Do you want some gen on the B-17s?
Regards
Nick

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

From Group records and plane rosters.
1. 42-3347 SG-C 385BG damaged by fighters over France, crash-landed UK; 11 returned. Named "Charlene the 'Bama Queen". Crew was from 96BG as they were experienced with radar, pilot was 2/Lt. Emory R. Chesmore. 385th mission 28.
2. 42-3346 TS-C then H, 94BG named "Carolee / Tuff Titty"; went to 8th WRS (H) at Watton for weather ops. Returned US 1945.
3. 44-6374 49BS / 2BG Amendola; named "Tuff Titty"; shot-down 20 April 45 by Flak & exploded, target was Vipitano marshalling-yards. 3 survived including pilot 1/Lt. Tommy N. Baer, 7 KIA.


There was a B-24J in the 308BG named "Tough Titty" but that was in China.
Nick

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

From B24 Nose Art Directory.
392BG 578 BS.42-7624
Close name " Turnip Termite"
No known photograph.

578 BS a/c 42-7480" My Diversion".possibly name changed if different crew ?

Also 42-78480 , but 576BS.

However I don't think that these aircraft were with the Group as early as 1943 ?

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...rksmith/photo#

392 BG database has the Crew details of Kirksmith's missions in 1943.


https://www.b24.net/index.html

Alex

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Alex. These are the dates taken on by 392nd. at Wendling........
42-7624 17 Nov. 43 (B-24H) formerly 67BS / 44BG still with their "Flying 8 Ball" insignia. 578BS.
42-7480 3 Aug. 43 (B-24H) "My Diversion" ( mission 6 Sept. was a DIVERSION not credited), their first mission was Abbeville 9 Sept. 578BS.
42-78480 7 july 44 (B-24J) "I'll get by". 576BS.


As Kirksmith is noted as flying a/c 480 ( Q-bar, codes EC not applied) this is most likely 42-7480 "My Diversion" with artwork. Crash-landed Wendling 9 Feb.44 after mission to Gotha was recalled, with another pilot (1/Lt. A. Lishka).


Nick

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Hi Nick,
Wonder if Kirksmith had completed his tour and returned to the USA or perhaps was injured and returned to the USA. It seems he died while only in his 60's so maybe War injuries?
Alex

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Error post.

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Kirksmith (O-394873) had bouts at various Stateside hospitals early 1944, among them at Clinton, Iowa en Staten Island, NY.

Leendert

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Thanks Lee. I couldn't find a mention of him in their records after his last mission on 4 Oct. 43. Actually only 3 were credited to him.
6 Sept. 43 diversion, no credit.
9 Sept. 43 Abbeville (co-pilot).
23 Sept. 43 diversion, no credit.
2 Oct. 43 Holland.
4 Oct.43 diversion with 44BG to N.Sea. but credited as mission (3 a/c lost).
All 5 were in a/c 480, I think 42-7480 assigned 3 Aug.43.


Sounds like he was returned to US with a health problem ?
Regards
Nick

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Thanks everyone for the info

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Follow-up to Leendert's post re. hospitalization, Kirksmith may have been one of the 6 wounded (+31 MIA) on his last mission 4 Oct.; 3 B-24s lost from 579BS., 15 damaged. Attacks by single & twin-engine fighters some with rockets.
Incidentally there were several B-24s from the 93BG also, with 44BG component both having returned from detachment to N.Africa.


Nick

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Any idea who which units attacked the B-24s on 4 Oct 43?

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Hi James. Seems they were Me109Gs from I./II./JG.11-- "Ciel de Gloire" lists 10 B-24s claimed on the 4th. by JG.11 from this diversion mission; 392nd. lost 3 (and 1 from 44th).
From 392BG... 42-7471 "Filthy Annie", 42-7474 "Satan's Flame", 42-7481 "Whiskers".
471 and 481 collided.


Nick

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Over the weekend I found the flashdrive I had that had Tonywoods Luftwaffe claims list:

one was by Heniz Khoke whose book "I flew for the Fueher" I have

I checked the JG 11 and USAAF chronology on wiki

JS Helgoland made a claim they were equipted with Me 109Ts And I have notes from the book
"The Sea Eagles" by Francis L Marshall on this aircraft

11 German claims US 4 shot down and 19 damaged

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

Hi James. The Jasta Helgoland B-24 was credited to Hptn. Hans-Heinrich Koenig (Me109T), his 5th. Heinz Knoke - 1 B-24 (5./JG11).
Other 9 B-24s to I./II./ JG11.
( from Ciel De Gloire and Kracker Archive).


Nick

Re: Jim Buck Kirksmith
 

For the record the B-24D from the 44BG was 42-40989 "Holiday Mess" which supposedly collided with a 109, both lost. MACR 940, 10 MIA.
This is the web-site for Knoke, with his account of the action ( described in his book "I flew for the Fuhrer") which fortunately list his missions by date.

http://franckruffino.chez.com/My-Site/Victory_16.htm


Note. The Kracker Archive says this was FW190A 410239 "White 13", not a 109; pilot was Oblt. Heinz Sahnwaldt Stk.1./JG11, killed; his only victory, (he was actually born in Poland). 44BG summary says 109 but I.Gruppe had FW190As, II.Gruppe had Me109Gs.

Nick