US fighters with No. 100 Group RAF

[Col Bruggy]

Originally Posted by alieneyes1

No. 192 Squadron had several P38 "droopsnoots" on strength, flown by USAAF crews (pilot and special operator)

Serials are shown as, for example, "Lightning 516"

No.192 Squadron, in fact, operated 4 P-38 "Droop Snoots" between 01/09/1944 - 06/03/1945 - 43-28479, 44-23156, 44-23501 & 44-23515 (no "Lightning 516").

It is interesting to note that the P-38 44-23156 completed the first and last missions undertaken at Foulsham. Following the loss of Capt. Brink and Lt Kunze in 44-23515*, the aircraft was not replaced, and neither was 43-28479 pressed into service to fill the void, it having completed just one sortie during the entire period. The majority of missions , some eighty in total**, involved just two aircraft, 44-23501 and 44-23156. Lieutenant Frances I Kunze was also not replaced , the remainder of the missions being flown by (Observers/Special Operators), Lts. W.H. Zeidler, T.C. Holt and W.B. Stallcup. Captain Kasch, the Unit's Commanding Officer, completed just two of them. The Americans had enjoyed a successful and happy association with 192 Squadron and on 7th March, 1945, they quietly packed their bags and left Foulsham, without ceremony, to rejoin the 36th Bombardment Squadron (H) at Alconbury (.p.126).

*
26/10/1944 - 44-23515 - Pilot: Capt F.B. Brink, Observer: Lt F.I. Kunze - Patrol off Dutch coast south of Zeider Zee investigating 'Big Ben' traffic. Failed to return, aircraft ditched North Sea, crew lost (p.119 & 123).

**
Full mission list in book: Date/Aircraft/Pilot/Observer/Patrol Details.

See:
Esiponage In The Ether: The Wartime Story of 192 (Bomber Support) Squadron.
Rees,William j & John E Rees.
Warrington:Compaid Graphics,1999.
pp.117-126

Col.

[ATCCbengt]

Little Snoring ORB (AIR 28/490):Major T.L. Gates of the Special American Flight with 4 other American Officers and four American N.C.O's attached on temporary duty with two Mustang and two Lightning aircraft arrived on 21st February 1944. They left with two Mustangs and one Lightning on 27th April.


No. 100 Group ORB (AIR 25/777) has the following: Operation "Flower". The U.S.A.A.F. detachment at Little Snoring under command of Major Gates, has successfully carried out 9 intruder sorties against enemy airfields in the vicinity of the various bomber Command targets. Major Gates himself carried out the first sortie in a single-engined fighter over Berlin at night on the night of 24/25th March.


Both AIR 28/490 and AIR 25/777 from the National Archives, Kew, London.


Bengt

[ATCCbengt]

Further on in AIR 25/777: "Major Gates, the leader of the American contingent at Little Snoring, has made history by being the first single-engined fighter pilot to fly over Berlin during a night raid. He is extremly keen, and more than willing to take advantage of what little experience we can muster at this Headquarters. There seemed great possibility in this intruding in P.38's and P.51's and there is no doubt that full advantage will be taken by these officers of any operational opportunities that offers".


Bengt