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

My Dad was a pilot with the 50th fighter group. He was a replacement pilot and flew his first mission 11 oct.44. I know that because I have his service record. Dad died in 09 and he never talked much about the war, I think he was traumatized from his experience. The last couple of years he told me some things. One is that he spent a month in the field with a tank platoon calling in air strikes. He had a squad of enlisted men and a weapons carrier for the radio gear. Apparently the pilots rotated through this duty. This needs to be documented. I would loke any information I can get.

[KM1957]

Frank,

On April 27, 1945, Lt. J.M. Wiley of the 313th was credited with the FW 190 destroyed according to the book written by Gilbert C. Burns. Quote, "After strafing we were at 8,000 feet looking for targets of opportunity when two FW 190s were sighted below. Capt. Hudson's flight dived on them but because of their high speed they overshot. It was finally Lt. Wiley of Johnson's flight who finally got on the tail of an FW 190 and shot him down."

Kent

[kaki3152]

For what it's worth, I would give a mixed review on the book "1st Tactical AF" by V. Tannehill.
[Boomerang Publishers,1998]

It does a fairly good job of describing the birth of 1st TACAF, has a fairly large amount of photographs, but lacks the day to day detail of the 1st TAC Groups in action.
No index. Poor binding, my copy started falling apart soon after I received it.

Its has some interesting narratives. Overall, a C+ rating.

[rpeck350]

Kent,
I didn't know Gilbert C. Burns had a book out. Will do a search for it.
Thanks
Rick Peck
Albuquerque,NM

[Alex Smart]

hello Bertrand,

Also found this for the -
10th Jan, 1945.
42-27211 - 50thFG, 313th, FS - Nancy(54) - Robert G. Hamilton.
and for the
13th Jan 1945.
42-29135 - 50th FG 10th FS - Ochey/A-96(54) - Robert A. Olson.
and for the
14th Jan 1945.
42-25765 - 50th FG, 81st, FS - A96 - Eugene H. Foxx.

Details from the P-47 Database that can be found at

http://p-47.database.pagesperso-orange.fr/

All the best
Alex

[Bertrand H]

Yes thanks for this and also note that it is a french man who did this fabulous data base for a US a/c ....

Bertrand

[arsenalrob]

Mr. Olynyk, are your claims lists still available? If so, how may I obtain copies?

Thanks,

Rob Cooper

[Frank Olynyk]

Rob Cooper,
Unfortunately, none of my Victory Lists are currently in print. I intend to get them back in print, with some improvements. But I have no time at present to work on them except intermittently. The first production step will require a complete rewrite of the software to generate the books. I do not know when I will be able to start work on that.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Frank Olynyk]

I have received a copy of the book by Gilbert C Burns, referenced above. It is titled Lord Have Mercy, is 138 pages, 8.5 by 11 inches, soft cover. ISBN 1-4251-1504-7. Published by Trafford Publishing, Victoria, BC, Canada. It covers the period 1942 to 1945, training to the end of the war. Mostly about his life, and experiences in the 313th FS.
The picture (painting) on page 66 is in error however. It shows him shooting down an Me-110 on October 3, 1944, in W3-O Ginny 44-20074. According to the book he did not receive this aircraft until January 14, 1945.

Enjoy!

Frank.