50th Fighter Group (10th, 81st, 313th FS)

[Frank Olynyk]

The 50th Fighter Group has always been trouble for me, because it was transferred into 1st Tactical Air Force (Provisional), and the documentation becomes thin at that point. I have a small number of claims for the group for which I do not know the pilots involved. I thought I would list them, and see if anyone has further information.

July 30, 1944, 1515-1530 hours, FW-190 dam, La Haye Pesnel, T-2530, 81st FS; source: OpFlash: (USAF HRA microfilm) A0759/ (frame) 1793. 2nd Lt Charles R Marks is credited with a FW-190 dest in this combat; the damaged claim does not appear in the 9th TAC VCB report.

April 8, 1945, 1640 hours, Me-262 dest, Crailsheim; source: 64FW OpSum (NARA II).

April 8, 1945, 1710 hours, Me-262 dam, Crailsheim; source: 64FW OpSum (NARA II)

April 9, 1945, 1900 hours, 3 FW-190 dest + 2 FW-190 dam, Crailsheim area, 81st FS; source: SqnHis: A0760/0159; 64FW OpSum. LtCol Robert D Johnston is credited with two additional FW-190s in this same combat.

April 14, 1945, 1520 hours, 1 Me-109 dest, near W-8585, 313th FS; source: MR (mission report): MMFB (now at NARA II).

April 17, 1945, 1030 hours, 1 Me-109 dest, S-7828, 313th FS; source: MR: MMFB; 64FW OpSum. Stated to be by White Leader, but I do not know who was leading White Flight.

April 27, 1945, 1715 hours, 1 FW-190 dest + 1 FW-190 dam, Y-3535, 313th FS; source: MR: MMFB.

Does anyone have any further information on these claims? Or know of group or squadron associations, or historians.

Frank Olynyk.