9th Air Force Radio Call Signs

[KM1957]

Can anyone direct me to where the radio call signs for the following 9th Air Force fighter squadrons may be found? I have been through all the pertinent files at both NARA II and Maxwell Field (microfilm, CD and paper copies)covering the squadrons, parent groups, and miscellaneous fighter related subjects but still have a few holes.

22nd Fighter Squadron have found nothing
23rd Fighter Squadron (have Vibrate and possibly Sleepy, but not positive that is correct)
53rd Fighter Squadron (have Chilly, Hamlet, plus two "iffy's" of Showdown and Bonebreak. Not at all sure those last two are accurate)

494th Fighter Squadron, any others besides Richmond?
410th Fighter Squadron, any besides Gaysong?
430th Fighter Squadron, any besides Backdoor?

Thanks for any help provided.

Kent

[Larry]

405th FBG - Fish Hook

[KM1957]

Larry,

Thank you for the information on the 405th. I double checked my material and discovered I did not have this listed with the 405th. Had Trojan and Ashtray for Headquarters, but not Fish Hook. Thanks again.

Kent

[Larry]

Dear Kent,

I have a USAAF summaries for the 405th which gives Barbette as the call sign for 509th FBS, Amble and also Wainright for the 510th FBS and Seymour for the 511th FBS. I also have Messbill but I don't know which FBS this was for.

Confusingly in a report from 23rd April 1944, Fish Hook is directing Amble Leaderbogy, Messbill Blue and White Flights, Wainright Red, White, Blue and Yellow Flights, and Seymour Blue Flight over France. All are identifiable as fighter aircraft.

But why have four call signs when there were only three Squadrons in the Group? As far as I can tell from the summaries and reports I have, the Group was never in action with other FB Groups (only acting with other units as bomber escorts).

BTW - I wonder if Fish Hook was used as their airfield was very near the sea?


Interesting subject!

[KM1957]

Larry,

Headquarters (or Group Lead) plus the squadrons each had call signs, which accounts for four. But, there appears to be some confusion with the 405th. The signs would change during the course of the war with may units having three or four. I had HQ being Ashtray and later Trojan for the group until you mentioned Fish Hook. The 509th Squadron used Babette, Messbill, and Schooner, the 510th was Amble, Wainwright and Jampip, with the 511th using Blacknight, Seymour and Browning. Your note of April 23 is indeed confusing as the 510th should not have had two call signs at the same time. I will have to dig a bit deeper to try and figure that out. Thanks again for your help on this.

Kent

[Larry]

Kent

My radio comms report for 23rd April 1944 also includes the following "Hello Fish Hook, Black Knight.51 request homing. Fish Hook steer 227 (etc etc).

I ignored Black Knight as I thought that was for another flight requesting homing, so thanks for the clarification.

[KM1957]

Larry,

I am now wondering if Fish Hook was a Fighter Controller rather than a 405th Fighter Group call sign. If Blacknight was requesting a homing, that usually went to a controller. I will have to do some more digging.

Kent

[richard.k]

I have a number from the 6 Bomber Group RCAF. They changed the squadron R/T codes weekly. If the US forces operated the same way, there could be many.
Richard