362nd Fighter Group
 

I have a question about the 379th Fighter Squadron and also a few pilot serial number gaps from all three squadrons. C.A. Peterson was CO of the 379th until his death on January 22, 1945; who became commander after this until C.P. Patton took command in April (or early May) of 1945? One possibility is Wilfred B. Crutchfield, who transferred from the 378 Fighter Squadron to the 379th in January. I have been unable to find this on the squadron microfilm (although many pages are very tough to read), nor does Mogins Maulers explain who took over from Peterson.

The serials would be for the following:
Paul F. Danforth (377th)
Earl Hathaway (377th)
John F. Leamon (377th)
McKendree Long (377th)
James P. Bird (378th)
Warren S. Dronen (378th)
William R. Israel (378th)
Lon T. Jackson (378th)
Henry N. Bourquin (379th)
Robert L. Butterworth (379th)
Sherell E. Isdale (379th)
Nichols J. Marchetti (379th)
Vernon C. Pfantz (379th)

Thank you for any information, or leads, anyone may be able to supply.

Kent

Re: 362nd Fighter Group
 

Kent,


Online there's a 379th FS publication called "Flat Spins and Milk Runs".


It says at a certain point:


"Seeing Peterson go down, Lt. Ron Hamby assumed command of the squadron. About five minutes later, while hunting for more targets, Lt. Louis A. Bauer in P-47D 42-28941 was hit in the engine. “He headed for the lines and I advised him to bail out because the area was very mountainous and there was a 500-foot ceiling over the front lines, but he chose to ride it down,” said Hamby. Bauer was killed when his Thunderbolt crashed. At about the same time, Lt. Howard Sloan led Red Section down to strafe and, “as we pulled off the target, I heard Red Three (Lt. Chester B. Kusi) say that he was on fire and was going to bail out,” Sloan said. Kusi escaped the cockpit but he was killed during his attempt to jump from P-47D-28 42-29240. Shortly, flak smashed into Lt. John K. McMahon’s P-47D 44-27177 and it too crashed, killing the pilot"

Unfortunately not clear if Hamby only took command of the mission only or squadron from that day on.


Regards,


Leendert

Re: 362nd Fighter Group
 

Warren S. Dronen: O-802265

Re: 362nd Fighter Group
 

Leendert and Didier, thank you for the help. I am familiar with the Flat Spins website and am almost positive Lt. Hamby only took control of the mission on January 22 after Peterson was downed. But, I will also make a note in the event further details turn up. Thanks again to you both.

Kent

Re: 362nd Fighter Group
 

Can someone please point me where to find this one on line??

Cheers
Stig