Signal report of shot down P-38-Dec 18,1942
 

The uploaded is from the book "SIGNAL-The Years of Retreat 1943-1944"
edited by SL Mayer.
The scene is purportedly the downing of Lt. Norman Widen of the 94th Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group on December 18,1942 by Ofw Anton Hafner of the II/JG-51. The only fly in the ointment,so to speak, is that the burnt out P-38 is a 48th FS,14th FG (ES-J) aircraft,not a 94th FS,1st FG machine. Was Lt. Widen flying a "borrowed" P-38 from the 14th FG?
Or did the PK photographer just photoraph another burnt out P-38 instead of the correct one? This encounter between Anton Hafner and Lt. Widen led to Hafner's brother presenting then Major Widner with a memento of the event,which I believe was a large signed painting of Anton Hafner. He,of course, was dead having been killed in 1944

Re: Signal report of shot down P-38-Dec 18,1942
 

A little more to the story.

//http://books.google.com/books?id=9lEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=%22Norma n+Widen%22&source=bl&ots=iFsjJHYjc-&sig=VMDuwGM7Y-jySphUI-_gSw2CkRw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=EGb6TsW-HcvDgAfQ0b2hAg&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Norm an%20Widen%22&f=false

Re: Signal report of shot down P-38-Dec 18,1942
 

It's on Pages 51-52. Interesting about the serial number, I'lll try to see if I can transcribe it. Still wonder about the identity of the P-38

Re: Signal report of shot down P-38-Dec 18,1942
 

In answer to the question, "Was Lt Widen flying a "borrowed" P-38?" Yes, he was:

On December 18, 1942, Cy ( Lt. Norman L. Widen), climbed into his P-38 in North Africa to fly cover for a bombing mission against a nearby docking facility on the Tunisian coast. Cy's plane was clearly marked, the ground crew having painted 'Great Gut' in large letters on one boom and 'Chow Hound' on the other in affectionate recognition of his constant longing for food. Noting a malfunction as he ran up the engines, Cy opted for another plane. Unfortunately, it was not much better. Apprehensive from the start, he nonetheless took his place in the formation.

See:
Stalag Luft III:The Secret Story of the "Great Escape".
Durand,Arthur A.
New York:Touchstone,1988 (pbk.)
p.9. (Interview with Norman L. Widen, April 11, 1979).

Col.

Re: Signal report of shot down P-38-Dec 18,1942
 

Thanks for the info! It seems he borrowed a 14th FG,48th FS A/C.