350th Fighter Group 1943-1944

[Devilhawk]

Keith and Frank, In 43 I have the following. I included short narratives for the Klass claims. And two of the Bf109s were indeed noted as Recons on Klass's encounter of 6/Aug/43.

Capt. Charles F. Hoover, 346th FS, in P-39, 15/Feb/43, Tunisia Thelepte #2, Destroyed 1-ME-109

2nd Lt. Hugh Dow, 346th FS, in P-39, 15/Feb/43, Tunisia Thelepte #2, Damaged 1-ME-109, Destroyed 1-ME-109 (Untr Off Karl Reinbacher, III JG 77 is captured)

Capt. Charles Fowles, 346th FS, in P-39, 13/Jun/43, Island of Pantelleri, Monastir, Tunisia, Destroyed 1-FW190

2nd Lt Richard E. Hunter, 346th FS, in P-39, 13/Jun/43, Island of Pantelleri, Monastir, Tunisia, Destroyed 1-FW190

1st Lt. Kitt R. McMaster, 347th FS, in P-38G, 19/Jun/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1-JU88

1st Lt. John A. Urban, 346th FS, in P-38G, 26/Jun/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1 JU-88

1st Lt. Charles H. Van Reed, 346th FS in P-38, 28/Jun/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1 JU88

1st Lt. John A. Urban, 346th FS, in P-38G, 8/Jul/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1 JU-88

2nd Lt Louis J. Klass, in P-38, 6/Aug/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Probably Destroyed 1 ME-109
Since this is one of your inquires Keith A : Scrambled on Bogies, Klass overtakes two Me-109 photo reckons flying out of Sardinia. Controller declares them "friendlies" at which point Klass closes to join them. ID ing them as 109s, he initiates tight turn to get into firing position, at which point the e/a also break. He scores a probable as one passes through his fire, before it split S.

F/O Kirby E. Smith, 346th FS, in P-39, 6/Aug/43, Algeria Reghaia, Destroys 1-Ju88

2nd LT. Benjamin W. Jones, 346th FS, in P-39, 8/Aug/43, Algeria Reghaia, Destroys 1-Ju88,

2nd Lt. Louis J. Klass, 347th FS, in P-38, 26/Aug/43, Med Sea Taher, Destroyed 2 Me109
Vectored on a plot of 4 bandits while on Dusk Patrol, he sees two Me109s in echelon. Pulls up under one and sends it down out of control in smoke. Turns and catches 2nd in cockpit, destroying same. Then spots a third 109 which he chases towards Sardinia until forced to break off of lack of fuel.

2nd Lt. George B. Jameson, 347th FS, in P-38, 28/Aug/43, Med Sea Tahir, Destroyed 1-Me109

Capt. Kitt R. McMaster, 347th, in P-38, 7/Sept/43, Med Sea Taher, Destroyed 2 Me-109

Capt. Charles F. Hoover, 345th FS, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia Damaged 1/2 Do217

1st Lt. Edward J Gabor, 345th FS, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia Damaged 1/2 Do217

Capt. Edgar A. Tharpe, 345th FS, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Probably Destroyed 1-He111

1st Lt. John S. Waterman, 345th, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia Damaged 1-He111

1st Lt. Clyde H. Wilson, 347th FS, in P-39, 26/Nov/43, Med Sea Taher, Damaged 1-He177

2nd Lt. Luis J. Klass, 347th, in P-39, 26/Nov/43, Med Sea Taher, Probably Destroyed 1-Ju88
Klass landed at Taher, bringing mail to the rear echelon from Reghaia. Told of the attack in progress, he accompanied Wilson to the combat area. probably destroying a Ju88. Attacks were few, and the standard procedure was to hit a convoy within the last hour of daylight and only when e/a could escape from day fighters into clouds.



Capt. Ivan L. Behel, 346th FS, in P-39, 2/Dec/43, Med Sea Taher, Sardinia Elmas, Sighted an ME-210 or Me-410. No Claim, but I thought I would mention this because this would be the first sighting for the 350th group of a ME-210 or maybe 410.

1st Lt. Marland O. Marshall, 345th FS, in P-39, 6/Dec/43, So. France Alghero, Destroyed 1-Ar196

1st Lt. Leonard L. Nelson, 345th FS, in P-39, 12/Dec/43, So. France Alghero, Destroyed 1-Ar196

1st Lt. Vernon E. Koenig, 346th FS, in P-39, 17/Dec/43, Sardinia Elmas, probably Destroyed 1 Ju88