Yes, it's not a typo
As you'll probably know during March 1945 the P-47M's of the 56th were grounded and War Weary Mustangs were sent to Boxted for the pilots of all three squadrons to begin transition training.
From conversations with pilots who were there at the time the best I can acertain is that each squadron recieved approximately six aircraft.
I have only ever managed to track down one solitary photograph of a Mustang at Boxted being used for transition purposes.However the pilot has dated it Jan 45 which is too early for the 62nd FS to be transitioning, although there are other photos he has sent me which have incorrect dates so that can't be relied on to be correct.
Easily 'possible' as the 56th was under constant pressure to 'reform' and go the way of the rest of the 8th.
Naturally the pilot in the photo has managed to obscure the last 2 digits of the serial number and the individual squadron letter. WW is also not visible on the rudder. Was there a rule that pilots and crew members should obscure serial numbers just to make it more difficult for future researchers I wonder?
What I do know for certain is that the aircraft is a nmf 334th FS 4thFG
QP is clearly visible as are the first few numbers of the serial.
(4)4-145**
The partially visible 5th number is definately either a 3 or a 5, which narrows the possibilites to 20 aircraft, which can be further shortened by removing any which were lost pre Jan 45. (Any lost in Jan-45 I have added in italics, along with known identities of any I can trace.) Naturally this doesn't rule out an aircraft being transferred.
44-14524 YFM 2SF LAC5 4-08-45
44-145 30
44-145 31
44-145 32
B6-0 Ole Flak Joe 363rd FS 357thFG
44-145 33
VF-N 336th FS 4thFG
44-145 34
IV-B 369th FS 359th FG
44-145 35 Lost 20th Nov 1944 55th FG
44-145 36 Lost 9th Nov 1944 355th FG
WR-I Flak Woolard POW
44-145 37
QP-A 334th FS 4thFG. Lost 27th Feb 1945
44-145 38 Lost 5th Dec 1944 350th FS 353rd FG
44-145 39
E9-R 376th FS 361st FG Lost March 5th 1945
Out of these 10 we can definately rule out 3.
44-14537 QP-A is a possible match, although not for transition training in March 45.
Possibly MIA 2-27-45 Voyles
Maybe he got the date right after all?
44-14540 WD-? MIA 12-25-44 Poage
44-14541 CL 100% 1-16-45 YF-I Hovde
44-14548 VFD Dam 4-20-45
44-145 50
44-145 51 crash landed and written off. Duxford 23rd Sept 1944
44-145 52
VF-U/VF-Z 336th FS 4th FG 4-21-45
44-145 53
436th FS 479th FG
44-145 54 [i] 6N-1 505th FS 339th FG Lost March 28th 1945
44-145 55 C5-C 364th FS,357th FG Lost 2nd March 1945
44-145 56 E2-I 375th FS 361st FG. Lost in flying accident 23rd July 1945
44-145 57 335th FS 4th FG, coded WD-R/B/Z
44-145 58 YJ-K 351st FS 353rd FG Lost 25th Oct 1944
44-145 59 436th FS 479th FG Lost 25th Dec 1944
44-14560 QP-V TAC 1/6/45 (Possible trfr - not likely)
44-14563 WR-Q TOAcc 12/23/44, LAcc 1/28/45 (possible repair and trfr to 56th if accident other than Debden)
Another 3 we can definately rule out, as well as very likely not an aircraft lost in March 45 serving with a group other than the 4th.
So as you can see I've managed to narrow it down a fair bit, but I would LOVE to get a positive ID on this aircraft.
If anybody can throw any light on the subject I would love to hear from you.
Thanks in anticipation,
Nige
http://www.56thfightergroup.co.uk/