325th FG - 318th FS

[mrfahrenheit]

Hello all.

I'm sorta new here, and hope that there is much that I can offer.

I came across this site because the folks on the Axis board here answered many questions regarding my grandfather. So now I'll switch sides and come to HIS side, asking you all if you have any documents, websites, insights, etc. regarding not only him, but his squadron and group.

He was Joseph W. Harper, 318th FS. He died in January of 1978, when I was still a baby, so I never got to ask him about his service. I only have his medals (which I cherish).

In the past week, I have learned more about him than my mother (his daughter) or anyone else (including his widow, my grandmother, who told me tons about him and his service, until she died in 1990) knew.

He was in the 318th.

He belly landed a P-47 on March 16, 1944, in Sicily (the same plane then had two further incidents later on somehow).

He had a probable kill claimed on April 25, 1944, over Turin, Italy. I have since, through my own research, and through the verification of the author of a book on the famed G.55 squadron ("Centaurs over Turin") learned that he did, indeed, shoot down Italian ace Tarantola that day.

He was shot down on an escort mission to Ploesti on June 24, 1944. I have since learned that Erich Hartmann was the pilot to receive credit for that kill. The Axis board also provided many invaluable files and whatnot.

So I guess what I'm hoping for here is any further information, ANYTHING (pictures, files, reports, cpntacts, ANYTHING) that has to do with the 318th during my grandfather's tenure with the squadron.

Thank you in advance. I truly appreciate it.