Republic P-47 Thunderbolt top aces

[knusel]

Good evening Gentlemen,

I've compiled a top ten ace list for the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Not suprisingly, most top ten scorers come from the 56. Fighter Group:

rank/ace/kills in P-47/unit
1. Francis Gabreski 28 - 56. Fighter Group
2. Robert Johnson 27 - 56. Fighter Group
3. David Schilling 22,5 - 56. Fighter Group
4. Neel Kearby 22 – 348. Fighter Group (10 while not assigned to a combat unit)
5. Fred Christensen 21,5 - 56. Fighter Group
6. Walker Mahurin 19,75 - 56. Fighter Group
7. Glenn Duncan 19,5 - 353.Fighter Group
8. Walter Beckham 18 - 353.Fighter Group
9. Gerald Walter Johnson 16,5 - 56. Fighter Group (1 in 356. Fighter Group)
10. Hubert Zemke 15,25 - 56. Fighter Group

Have a nice weekend,

Michael

[James S.]

If I'm not mistaken not counting strafing claims for aircraft destroyed, the 56th was the highest scoring fighter group in the 8th Air Force.

[knusel]

I agree.
No 8. Air Force Fighter Group ever exceeded the score of the 56. Fighter Group (664).
In all other air forces only 354. Fighter Group (701) of the 9. Air Force did.
http://cieldegloire.com/fg_354.php
http://cieldegloire.com/fg_056.php

[Alfred.MONZAT]

In USAAF study No. 85 I found:

49th FG: 28 + 178 + 206 + 261 = 673 (now reduced to 664?)
56th FG: 39.75 + 232 + 219.5 + 174.75 = 666 (now reduced to 664 too!?)
354th FG: 15 + 289.5 + 138.66 + 156 = 599.16 (now upgraded to 701 with missing claims from April 1945 right?)

[knusel]

Good morning Alfred,

this book
https://www.amazon.de/Mustang-Eighth...r+force&sr=8-1
provides a list of 8. Air Force Fighter Group scores which indicates 674 for 56. Fighter Group.
This website
http://cieldegloire.com/fg_049.php
indicates 664 kills for 49. Fighter Group.

Michael

[knusel]

I've acquired OSPREY's "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force" and "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Ninth and Fifteenth Air Forces" both by Jerry Scutts, also "Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI" by John Stanaway. I'm looking forward to working these through.