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Old 14th December 2006, 04:48
kaki3152 kaki3152 is offline
Alter Hase
 
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Tuskegee Record Article in the New York Times

There was a recent article in the NYT on the Tuskegee Airmen record which finally admited that the 332nd FG HAD lost bombers it was escorting, thus anulling the oft repeated claim that the Tuskegee Airmen never lost an escorted bomber to enemy aircraft.
See http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/12/wa.../12airmen.html

The 332nd FG was the BEST escort group for Heavy Bombers in the 15th AF but undoubtedly lost a few HBs to enemy aircraft.

"One mission report states that, on July 26, 1944: “One B-24 seen spiraling out of formation in T/A after attack by E/A. No chutes seen to open.”
“T/A” stands for target area, “E/A” for enemy aircraft.
A second report, dated Aug. 31, 1944, praised the group commander, Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr., saying he “so skillfully disposed his squadrons that in spite of the large number of enemy fighters, the bomber formation suffered only a few losses.”
A third report said that on Sept. 12, 1944, “10 Me-109s attacked the rear of the bomber formation from below and left one B-17 burning, with 6 chutes seen to open.”

Any thoughts on this somewhat controversial topic?
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