Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

Hi All,

is somebody in posession of the claim report of Lieutenant Futch, 50th Fighter Group who shot down a Bf 109 near Freiburg/Brsg. - Germany, at Oct. 8th, 16.55?
I'm searching for a Bf 109, belonged to NAGr 13 and most probably shot down by Lieutenant Futch that day.
I'm working on a documentary about the airfield Donaueschingen-North and hope somebody of you is willing to share the claim report with me.
Thanks a lot in advance

Rolf

P.S. Please see thread about Ofw. Riese in "Luftwaffe and Axis Air Force" in this forum

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

If anyone has it, it will be Frank Olynyk

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

The only reference I have to this claim is the Operational Report, found on Maxwell microfilm B0145, frames 174 and 175. Claim is noted as in the vicinity of Freiburg, at 1655 hours. There is no official USAF credit for this claim, and for much of the claims of the 50th FG from October 1944 onwards, because they were assigned to the 1st Tactical Air Force (Provisional) at this point, and the 1st did not have a Victory Confirmation Board.

1st Lt Sydney B Futch, 313th FS, serial O676775. Later Captain, and POW on Feb 22, 1945.

Enjoy!

Frank/

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

From the 50th Fighter Group mission report for October 8: One squadron of group took off on an Armed Recce mission at 1517 hours, 8 October 1944, Lt. Futch leading. 10 P-47's took off. Much air activity and aerial combats were observed at 15,000 feet in the vicinity of Freiburg at 1655 hours. 1 FW-190 and 1 ME-109 came out of the sun to attack. 1st Lt. Sidney B. Futch destroyed 1 FW-190. E/A crashed after pilot bailed out.

Combat reports for the 50th are almost impossible to find (I have a couple from the 81st Fighter Squadron) but as Chris G. mentioned, perhaps Frank Olynyk can help. He also shows Futch with a Me 109 destroyed which conflicts with the 50th's mission report of it being a FW 190; perhaps the Victory Credit Board upon review of the combat film changed the type destroyed..

Kent

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

I see Frank answered before I got my reply sent. Shoots down the Victory Credit Board possibility. The mission report, however, clearly shows it to be a FW 190 claimed.

Kent

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

I just pulled up the PDF file for B0145 to check. OpRep A No. 152. Time up 1517, time down 1728. It does indeed state that Futch claimed a FW-190, which crashed after the pilot bailed out. I have corrected my database accordingly.

Thanks for the correction.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

Gentleman,

no Fw 190 was lost on that day in the southwestern Corner of Germany. Bf 109 of JG 53 had Dogfights with P-47 of 358th Fighter Group and Bf 109 of JG 76 had Dogfights with Spitfires of GC 2/7 - Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres. The only hit who match is the Bf 109 of NAGr. 13. All other crashes don`t fit.

Best regards

Fred

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

Dear Frank,

1st TACAF (prov.) was established only in November 1944. In October 1944 the 50th Fighter Group belonged to the 9th USAAF. The same for 358th Fighter Group, 371st Fighter Group, 324th Fighter Group and later 27th Fighter Group and 86th Fighter Group.
In Addition some french Fighter Groups

Best Regards

Fred

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

As per the book 'First TACAF' by Victor Tannehill the date was October 20th 1944 (as per USSTAF published General order 81)

He also adds an interesting footnote saying:
The XII TAC units had fought in a short-lived provisional "First Tactical Air Force" some months before in Italy.

Unfortunately I can't find anything else regarding that. Perhaps someone else can enlighten me what that really was?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Searching for Claim Report Lt. Futch, 50th FG.
 

Good Morning Stig,

1st Tacaf (prov.) made his first Mission under this designation on 1st November 1944 against the Rhine-Bridge near Breisach - Germany. This attack also led to the first loss of the 1st TACAF - a P-47 of the 371st Fighter Group, Captain Edward J. Hayes, who was shot down by german Flak and killed.

I think Tannehill means the XII Tactical Air Command (27th F.G., 79th F.G., 57th F.G.) who was established in August 1944 to support Operation "Dragoon", the allied Landings in southern France.

Best regards

Fred