Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

Good evening Gentlemen,

The P-400's of the USAAF claimed 45 kills, all in the Pacific.
Who was the top-scorer of that subtype ?

Cheers,

Michael

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

Frank Olynyk, in his book Stars and Bar, a tribute to the American Ace 1920-73, notes that only one US fighter pilot, William Frederick Fiedler Jr, became an ace while flying the P-400/P-39, while serving with the 347 FG in the Solomons. A short bio is in the book by Frank Olynyk.

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

Yes, but did Fiedler score in a P-400 ?

Michael

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

Michael

If Olynyk's ace lists are correct (and I have no reason to believe anything else) Fiedler claimed all his victories in various P-39s and not in any P-400

Cheers
Stig

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

A quick check of the Squadron-Signal “Aces of the SW Pacific” and cross-reference with Frank Olynyk’s Stars & Bars, indicated the following aces with victories while flying P-400s.

Frank E. Adkins (35 F.S.) - (Total dest/prob/dam 5/0/0)
26.05.1942 1x Zero Mt Lawson, NG

Francis E. Dubisher (41 F.S.) – (Total 5/0/0)
6.02.1943 1x Zero NE of Wau
Also in P-39N
15.08.1943 3x Sally Tsili Tsili

Curran L. Jones (35 F.S.) – (Total 5/2/0)
9.06.1942 1x Zero Morobe, NG

Thomas J. Lynch (35 F.S.) – (Total 20/1/6)
20.05.1942 2x Zero Waigani
26.05.1942 Zero SW of Mt Lawson, NG

Jay T. Robbins (80 F.S.) – (Total 22/6/4)
17.01.1943 2x Sally (dam) nr. Fergerson Island

Daniel T. Roberts (80 F.S.) – (Total 14/1/1)
26.08.1942 2x Zero / 1x Zero (dam) Buna A/S

Richard C. Suehr (39 F.S.) – (Total 5/1/1)
9.06.1942 1x Zero Morobe, NG

Charles P. Sullivan (39 F.S.) – (Total 5/1/2)
17.06.1942 1x bomber NE of Pt Moresby

William L. Turner (41 F.S.) – (Total 8/0/2)
27.08.1942 1x Zero / 1x Zero (dam) Buna A/S

Eugene Wahl (35 F.S.) - (Total ???)*
26.05.1942 Zero SW of Mt Lawson, NG
(same flight as Lynch - above)

Regards,
...geoff

* additional data from P-39 Airacobra Aces of WW2

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

Good morning Geoff,

this is very helpful.
Thanks a lot !

Michael :-)

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

My pleasure. The old Cobra is a favourite of mine.

...geoff

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

As near as I can tell the top scorers in the P-400 are Tommy Lynch and 1st Lt Donald J Green of the 39th FS, with three victories.

Wahl has only one victory.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

Hi guys

I made a comparaison between the claims and the supposes losses adverse (1942).
Just to get an idea of the US overestimate.

26/05/42
Frank E.Adkins=1 Zeke
Thomas J.Lynch=1 Zeke
Eugene Wahl=1 Zeke
Against Tainan Kokutai:NO Losses

20/05/42
Thomas J.Lynch=2 Zeke
Against Tainan Kokutai:NO Losses

09/06/42
Curran L.Jones=1 Zeke
Richard C.Suehr=1 Zeke
Donald J.Green=1 Zeke
Robert McMahon=1 Zeke
John Price=1 Zeke
Against Tainan Kokutai:TWO Losses(WO Yoshino Satoshi,FPO1 Kikuchi Sakyo)

17/06/42
Charles P.Sullivan=1 Bomber(Betty)
Against Genzan Kokutai:NO Known Losses

26/08/42
Daniel T.Roberts=2 Zeke
George Helveston=2 Zeke
Gerald Rogers=1 Zeke
William Brown=1 Zeke
Gerald Roberts=1 Zeke
Against 2° Kokutai and Tainan Kokutai
2° Kokutai:Two Losses(FPO1 Iwase Ki'ichi,FPO3 Ihara Daizo) by W.Brown and D.Roberts.
Tainan Kokutai:THREE Losses(FPO3 Nakano Kiyoshi,WO Tsunoda Kazuo,FPO2 Yamazaki Ichorobei).

Five for Seven:Good ratio

27/08/42
William L.Turner=1 Zeke
Francis Riggin=1 Zeke
Jack Wilson=1 Zeke
Edwin Jackson=1 Zeke
Jean Jackson=1 Zeke
Against Tainan Kokutai:ONE Losse(FPO3 Matsuda Takeo)

Conclusion:EIGHT real for 23 claims

Michel

Re: Top USAAF P-400 pilot ?
 

Good morning Gentlemen,

thanks for the interesting additional info.
Is it justified to say that every P-39 had a 37-mm-cannon, whereas every P-400 had a 20-mm-cannon ?

Michael