[HGabor]

Thanks Nick, yes, I know that pic.

Some additional info on 94th FS P-38J-15-LO, S/N: 42-104042, #77 (on nose yellow "Bucky 'N' Suzy B" / on port engine yellow "LINDA"), which was initially Herschel W. Baird’s plane, who passed it on to a new pilot. The plane was shot down with Samuel "Rusty" Barnes in the morning of June 16, 1944 South of Lake Balaton by Hungarian Bf 109 fighters.

21 years ago in December, 2002 we discussed this plane with Hersch, who sent me some full figure photos of it. He wrote:

“In June of 1944, I flew missions on June 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th according to my flight log book. All in a P-38J which I assume was No. 77 but I cannot be sure because we didn't show the aircraft number in the log. I flew a P-38J on a training flight on June 26th, which was my last flight before returning to the USA, but it was more likely an airplane other than No.77 because we seldom used combat ready aircraft for our training flights. My No. 77 could have been lost on June 16th because I knew it was shot down and I must have learned this before leaving the squadron. I don't remember F/O Samuel Barnes. I suspect he was one of the new pilots that came into the squadron just prior to my leaving and I very well could have helped with his training. I just looked in a book written by John Mullins of the 94th, the book is "An Escort of P-38's" and it's very good. I discovered, written in the book, that 3 P-38s were lost on June 16th, 1944, over Lake Balaton... they were George Loughmiller, Samuel "Rusty" Barnes and Thomas Vitale. There is no information about the identifying number on each aircraft lost but Loughmiller and Barnes we both flying in the number 2 slots off the wing of their flight leaders, spots reserved for new pilots, which indicates it was perhaps the first or second mission for each of them. My middle name is William. My wife's name is Suzanne Baird, thus the Suzy B. Linda is named for the Armament Chief's wife or girl friend.

Herschel W. Baird”

Preserved history.
Gabor