9TH FS "FLYING KNIGHTS"

[dvas16]

Hello friends
im looking to contact with Steve Ferguson or William Hess both of them wrote books about 49th FG.
In their books they refered to certain aircraft numbers for certain pilots. im intersted for 9/1943 to 11/1943 period in Dobodura.
Because im from Greece i hired a proffesional researcher to searvh in National Archives and AFHRA but i didnt find any file which reffered to load list, tower logs etc, in order to understand who flew which aircraft during that period.
Anyone who could help or have some expertise to this subject please contact me.

Dimitris

p.s. That problem is a common one which i cant overcome. For examle in 23rd FG some authors also have infos from official documents about aircraft assingments to pilots but i cannot find them although i searched for.

[Frank Olynyk]

The association of pilots and aircraft serial numbers frequently comes from a study of photographs. But it can also come from the actual combat reports. Many 8th Fighter Command combat reports give the aircraft serial (and the amount of ammunition fired). This seems to depend on each squadron. Some squadrons supplied the information, some did not. And it is not consistent within a group.

For 5th Air Force, the combat reports do not give the aircraft serial. There is however a source for many serial numbers for much of 1943. If my memory is correct it is microfilm reel A7501. This has sheets for each squadron, listing the claims for each month. With one exception these sheets give the aircraft serial number flown by the pilot. The one exception is of course, 9th FS. In this case the clerk preparing the form supplied the pilot's serial number instead of the aircraft serial number. *sigh*

Enjoy!

Frank.

[dvas16]

Thank you Mr Olynk

I guess thats the Murphys Law. The one thing im looking for is not in the archives. I ll give it a try. Do i dare to ask if such a reel is available for 14th AF?

Again thanks for help
Dimitris

[Frank Olynyk]

I have only seen this form for the 5th Air Force. For all I know, it may be unique to 5th Air Force. I don't remember what the form number was. If I can find the relevant microfilm, I will check.

Enjoy!

Frank.