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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.
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