Leon McFaddin Blanding, August 8th 1944

[wwrsimon]

Hi all

On August 8th 1944, 'Chump' Blanding (of the 4th Fighter Group HQ Flight?) suffered a fractured skull when his P-51 was hit by flak while escorting Beaufighters off the south coast of Norway. He managed to make it back to the UK, escorted by two other P-51s and landed at R.A.F. Acklington, where he received treatment before being taken to hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Is it possible to find the ID of his P-51 on that date?

Many thanks

Simon

[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

Possibly: P-51D-5-NA 44-13319 WD-G.

8-8-44 Blanding, Leon M. - Maj. 335FS - WIA - While leading 335 home from Norway at 1550 hrs, his A/C was hit in the canopy by flak. Glass badly injured his head on one side. Blood on the fuselage to the tail. He tore his trousers to bandage himself and led by Kolbe & Berry, he guided his wobbling A/C to Acklington, Northern England. He later recovered from the wound. - P-51D WD-G.

Escort To Berlin The 4th Fighter Group in World War II
Fry,Garry L. & Jeffrey L. Ethell
New York:Arco,1980.
p.164.

http://www.4thfightergroupassociatio...inglmweb_a.pdf

http://americanairmuseum.com/person/145503

Col.

[wwrsimon]

Many thanks indeed Col. An absolute miracle that he made it back okay - made of stern stuff indeed!


Simon