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332nd FG P-51 lost on July 12,1944
Nick,
Love the stuff on JGr-200. I still have some 15 year old correspondence from you on this subject.
The 332nd FG did lose a P-51 on July 12,1944 but it was not in combat.
The "July 1944 Overseas Accident Losses" has P-51C-7, s/n 42-103946, flown by Lt. George M. Rhodes as BOEF (Bailed out Engine Failure) 50 miles ENE Rome.
This is in line with the account in "The Tuskegee Airmen" by C. Francis who reports "During the takeoff several memebers of the 100th Squadron got lost in the overcast and not being able to locate their flights returned to base. One member of the 100th,Lt. George Rhodes, developed engine trouble and was forced to bail out in the vicinity of Rhodes. He was picked up by friendly natives..."
I believe the account in the latest book on the 332nd FG "332n Fighter Group - Tuskegee Airmen" by Bucholtz is incorrect. "Lt. George Rhodes was shot down during the battle,bailing out near Viterbo, but he was returned and brought back to squadron"
Carlos
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