Capt. Ken Dahlberg

[keith A]

This officer was promoted to Captain sometime after mid-August 1944. By December he was flying as either a flight commander or perhaps of the Group headquarters flight. On 1 December he encountered the Luftwaffe flying a P-51D with according to one account the markings CG-K. Given that he had been a 353rd Fighter Squadron (markings FT) his new marking would indicate he was not with the 353rd. Explanation?

Also, when was Dahlberg promoted to Captain.

Keith

[Frank Olynyk]

Ken was always and only 353rd FS. On Dec 1 he flew GQ-K, an aircraft borrowed from the 355th FS. This is from the collection of squadron mission schedules in NARA II.

Also, Beantown Banshee was Mike Rogers aircraft. Mike was from Boston (Beantown); Ken was from Minnesota.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[keith A]

Cheers Frank

[keith A]

I assume he must have been promoted to Captain in November 1944?

[Frank Olynyk]

I would have to assume that also. I just checked his biography "One Step Forward" and it has no information on the promotion. Ken was in the Reserves, and I have never seen a USAAF or USAF Reserve Officers Register. I have a number of Regular Officers Registers for the USAF, but no Reserve Registers.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Frank,
Could the reason for borrowing the P51 be that the Group were transitioning from the P51 to the P47 and as operations perhaps continued the Group may have borrowed a/c that they were more acquainted with to go on opps with ?

May I also ask of you , having looked in " Stars & Bars" , which P51B of Dahlberg's was "SHILLELAUGH" coded "FT =*= ". The a/c looks to be wearing "invasion stripes".
Details pages 219-220 followed by picture .

Alex