Signal magazine article-December 18,1942 P-38 shoot down

[kaki3152]

The German war magazine published a one page spread of the downing of Lt. Norman Widen, 1 FG, 94th FS by Ofw, Anton Hafner II/JG-51 on December 18.1942. There are 6 photographs showing the pilot bailing out and meeting with Ofw Anton Hafner,clearly showing his Knight's cross.
There is one picture of the P-38 (attached) but there's one problem: the codes are ES-J, which are the codes of the 48th FS,14th FG, NOT the codes of the 94th FS,1st FG which were UN-*.

This begs the question:
(1) Since all the other photographs are in sequence, it would appear reasonable that this one was also taken at the same time as the other photographs
(2) If the plane in question was the one flown by Lt. Widen, was the 1st FG borrowing planes from the 14th FG to fly its missions?
(3) Or the Tunisian desert was just so full of shot down P-38s that the photographer came across one and thought it was the correct fighter?

[kaki3152]

No Speculation? Any ideas welcome..

[RSwank]

There is an article in the Warren County Observer 27 April 1961 in which Widen describes the incident. The article was written just before his trip to Germany in 1961.

Widen says his normal plane "The Great Gut" was out for a spark-plug job, so he had to fly a spare plane that was performing pretty badly. The left wheel door would not quite close, which produced a lot of drag and he could not get full power in the left engine. He describes the dog fight, where he got on the tail of an ME 109 and Hafner got on his tail. One interesting comment is where he came down. He says "I came down near the Tunis airdrome, held by the Germans into what was like a back bay,
one foot of water and two feet of mud." He goes on to describe the planned meeting with Hafner's brother in Germany, when his wings were to be returned.

He may have come in the Sebkhet er Riana (Sabkhet Arina).

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/jog/a...87-nj32-15.jpg

The Tunisian desert did have a lot of P-38s at that point in the war so there were probably a lot of choices for the photo. If his plane was also in two feet of mud and a foot of water it was probably not quite as dramatic a photo.

[kaki3152]

Wow, thanks for the interesting story. The airplane in question does look like a crash-landed plane and Norman Widen clearly bailed out.

One small grievance with MAW3 is that they added some new photographs but also did not publish some of the great one from the original "Fighters Over Tunisia", including one great photo of a crash landed and burnt out P-38 being examined by German troops.

[Leendert]

Also see http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/archiv...p?t-27986.html and
https://ww2colorfarbe.blogspot.be/20...ing-wreck.html

Regards,

Leendert

[kaki3152]

Just means I've asked the question twice. At least I've kept the subject alive. I've just turned 60 so I can hopefully be pardoned for lack of memory.

The only conclusion I can make is that the Signal war correspondent photographed another P-38 and not Lt. Widen's plane. Unfortunately, the records for the 14th FG, 48 FS are scanty making it near impossible to determine the pilot or date of this 48th FS P-38 wreck.

[Leendert]

Indeed, I noticed the double posting later... But then, I'm in the same age category!

Regards,

Leendert

[Mark R.]

SAME DAY, DIFFERENT AIRPLANE?
There was another P-38 loss on that date: 1/18/1943
20 miles S of Pont Du Fahs 1230 - 1300
48th FS/14th FG P-38F-15-LO
Lt Elmer M. Warren Jr. (POW)
cause: engine problems
Notes: POW at Luft Stalag 3. Escorting 319th BG B-26s on anti-shipping mission. Left formation after dropping external tanks.

[kaki3152]

One month difference-December 18 1942 and January 18,1943. Not to say that the picture is not that of Lt. Warren's plane since I'm not sure when the KG (war correspondent) filed his report and the squadron (48 FS) is correct.

[Kaiyan]

Hi, Would this be one of the P.38's?? pic came from an old old ebay sale...