Lockheed P-38 Lightning - successful over five continents

[Frank Olynyk]

None of the 11th Air Force's victories were scored over "Alaska". All were scored over the Aleutian Islands, which are part of the (then territory, now state) of Alaska.
Laven's victories were scored in the P-38E. He actually has three in the Aleutians: a biplane over Kiska on September 14, 1942; and two Zeros on Feb 13, 1943, also over Kiska. However the credits given by the USAF are for half a victory on Oct 3, 1942 (this is actually a Mavis that was caught on the water in harbor and strafed, and thus should not be counted); 1.5 victories on Feb 13, 1943 (and I don't know how they arrived at the half credit). All these in the Aleutians with the 54th FS. He has an additional credit with the 49th FG on April 26, 1945 off Formosa, of an Emily. I have a problem with the latter, because when he sent me copies of his Form 5s it showed a silhouette of a Pete, which is rather different and smaller than an Emily. In particular, he is not an ace.

Rice's claims were made while flying a P-39D.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[knusel]

Good morning Frank & Alex,

Alex's list indicates only one kill for Laven in February 1943 (plus a half-share on 3Oct42 and one on 26Apr45).

It seems to me like the P-39 scored on at least four continents:

• Europe: Grigorii Rechkalov (Ukraine)
• Africa: Hugh Dow (Tunisia)
• Asia: The US P-39's are supposed to have scored five kills in the CBI, is this true ?
• Australia & Oceania: William McDonough (Papua New Guinea)
• America: Arthur Rice (Aleutians)

Cheers,

Michael

[knusel]

I've included this breakdown in my P-39 thread.
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...763#post264763

Michael

[knusel]

Good evening Gentlemen,

is it justified to say that Richard Bong scored his first 24 kills over what is now the country of Papua New Guinea, then one kill over Indonesia, then 6 kills without known location and then 9 kills over the Philipines ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bong

Michael

[Graham Boak]

Calling the Phillipines part of Asia rather than Oceania seems special pleading.

The P-38 however did score kills in Burma and (I believe) in China.

[knusel]

The P-38 scored 157 CBI kills.
The top P-38 ace in the CBI was Walter Duke, 10 kills.
Can you tell me the locations of Richard Bong's kills 26-31 ?

[Frank Olynyk]

Michael,

They are in my book, Stars and Bars, as are the claims for all other American aces after WW1. You should get a copy, from the used book market, since it is long out of print, but readily available.

Enjoy!

Frank.