US 39th Fighter Squadron

[BruceMk11]

After claiming a single victory on the 2nd Nov 43, this unit had to wait a year before claiming another (three destroyed on the 6th Nov 44).

In the interim, did the squadron see any combat? Were any probables or damaged claimed? Dates?

Cheers,

Bruce

[Buckeye30]

Hi Bruce. They were flying escorts and sweeps in that period ( Tommy Lynch was killed March 9) ; his 4 claims in 1944 were with V FC not 39FS.
You must have seen p.547 of "Study 85 credits" which lists no claims between your dates ? the usual reference.

Regards
Nick

[Frank Olynyk]

There are a handful of probable and damaged claims in that period, but no claims of destroyed aircraft. Handful = 0/3/2; 0/1/2 for Charlie King, 0/1/0 for George Prentice, and 0/1/0 (claimed as destroyed) by Harvey Clymer. Combat and mission reports for 5th AF for late 1942 to EOW are available from the National Archives microfilm M1065 (9 reels). But I believe I was told that NARA no longer produces microfilm, so these may have been turned into PDFs which can be downloaded from the Catalog. Explore!

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Buckeye30]

Sorry Frank I should have referenced your book too. Very inconsiderate.


Regards
Nick

[BruceMk11]

Thanks to you both

[Edward]

Following significant P-38 losses during the Fifth Air Force's campaign against Rabaul of 12 October - 7 November 1943 the 9th Sq / 49th FG and 39th Sq / 35th FG were forced to transition (temporarily) to the P-47 Thunderbolt. Their remaining P-38's were transferred to the 475th FG and perhaps the 80th Sq / 8th FG. The story of the Lockheed fighter during the Rabaul campaign is discussed in great detail in Richard L. Dunn's article for Air Power History (vol. 59 no. 3 - Fall 2012), "Shootout at Rabaul" which the author uses as a case study to compare the P-38 against the Zero fighter of the Japanese navy. He provides accurate numbers for claims vs. actual losses on both sides.

Dunn writes:
"It was clear that despite inflicting damage the Fifth Air Force had failed in its mission to knock out Rabaul. The numbers in the shootout had been fairly even. Had it been a draw? Actually, though few histories reveal it, there had been one clear loser. The Fifth Air Force P-38 force had taken a drubbing. Recorded combat losses do not reveal this. Moreover, it seems counter-intuitive since the P-38 is iconic, the championship fighter of the Pacific war. However, outright combat losses, returning aircraft damaged beyond repair, and wear and tear caused by long range missions and combat damage came close to decimating the P-38 force." p. 26-27.

The issue of Air Power History can be downloaded from the website - link below.

The absence of claims by the 39th Fighter Squadron following November 2, 1943 is directly related to their transition to the P-47 Thunderbolt.

Edward

https://www.afhistory.org/air-power-...story-archive/