Jack H. Bond and Bruce C. Cobb, 319th FS/325th FG on 7 July, 1944

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Gentlemen,

I am looking for some information on Jack H. Bond and Bruce C. Cobb. Both pilots served with the 319th FS and both of them ended their tour with 4 confirmed kills. Jack Bond is already deceased, according to the 325th veterans but they don't have info on Bruce Cobb at all.

I am looking for pictures of them and details of their combat on July 7, 1944 (both of them scored an air victory on that day).

Thank you,

Csaba

[udf_00]

Herschel "Herky" Green : "Herky, the Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace. p.101

The following day was our day for oil. We covered B-17's attacking the oil refinery at Blechhammer, Germany. Thirteen Me-109's were lurking in the target area and were jumped bu the P-51's. In the fray that followed, I never was able to get into a decent for a good shot, but I did manage to get a couple of snap shots at two Me-109's that were trying to evade the P-51's by diving for the ground. In both case I got hits, but I didn't follow them to the groung as our primary mission was to keep the enemy fighters off the bombers. Lt Frank C. Soltesz'plane was seen to blow up. No chute was observed. His misfortune was believed to have been caused by mechanical failure. Credits to
1st Lt. Bruce C. Cobb 1 Me-109
2nd Lt. Jack H. Bond 1 Me-109
Major H.H. Green 2 Me-109's (Dam)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blechhammer

STARS & BARS by Frank Olynyk p.306, has Green's claims at 0950 by 48-40 N, 17-25E

Fifteenth Air Force Story by Kenn C. Rust p.29, has the B-24 scheduled to Bleckhammer N(orth) & other targets, and the B-17 to Bleckhammer S(outh)

Checkertail Clan - The 325th Fighter Group In North Africa And Italy (9780816897506): Ernest R. McDowell, William N. Hess p.94, has 45 a/c dispatched/ 42 effective for an escort mission, losses 1-0, claims 2-0-1.
Also on p.92 Cobb is listed on the Frantic mission of 2-11 june 1944 with 42-103431 #80 (319th)

[Faenor]

On this grate site, there is some info about Lt Frank C. Soltesz plane:

http://www.airwarsk.sk/

copy text:
July 7, 1944
325. Fighter Group, 318. Fighter Squadron
Mission: Escort and cover
P-51B-15-NA 43-24895 (#50)
CREW:
2nd Lt. Frank C. Soltesz
During mission, fullfilling escort and cover Mustang of 2nd Lt. Soltesz was hit by enemy Bf 109, most probably of I./JG 302 and shot down. Pilot baled out on parachute and was POW. Later rescued by B-17 from Tri Duby airfield. Plane crashed near Tura Luka, Slovakia.

Faenor

[Csaba B. Stenge]

Originally Posted by udf_00

Herschel "Herky" Green : "Herky, the Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace. p.101

The following day was our day for oil. We covered B-17's attacking the oil refinery at Blechhammer, Germany. Thirteen Me-109's were lurking in the target area and were jumped bu the P-51's. In the fray that followed, I never was able to get into a decent for a good shot, but I did manage to get a couple of snap shots at two Me-109's that were trying to evade the P-51's by diving for the ground. In both case I got hits, but I didn't follow them to the groung as our primary mission was to keep the enemy fighters off the bombers. Lt Frank C. Soltesz'plane was seen to blow up. No chute was observed. His misfortune was believed to have been caused by mechanical failure. Credits to
1st Lt. Bruce C. Cobb 1 Me-109
2nd Lt. Jack H. Bond 1 Me-109
Major H.H. Green 2 Me-109's (Dam)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blechhammer

STARS & BARS by Frank Olynyk p.306, has Green's claims at 0950 by 48-40 N, 17-25E

Fifteenth Air Force Story by Kenn C. Rust p.29, has the B-24 scheduled to Bleckhammer N(orth) & other targets, and the B-17 to Bleckhammer S(outh)

Checkertail Clan - The 325th Fighter Group In North Africa And Italy (9780816897506): Ernest R. McDowell, William N. Hess p.94, has 45 a/c dispatched/ 42 effective for an escort mission, losses 1-0, claims 2-0-1.
Also on p.92 Cobb is listed on the Frantic mission of 2-11 june 1944 with 42-103431 #80 (319th)

Hi udf,

Thank you, I know the cited sources, but they contains no details about the combat of Cobb and Bond. I don't have yet the narrative mission report or any personal encounter report of that day, which may contains more information.

As for Soltesz, Peter's site was linked already.
According to his family he deceased in Cleveland on March 13, 1998 at the age of 77.