Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum  

Go Back   Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum > Discussion > Allied and Soviet Air Forces

Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 20th January 2018, 10:44
knusel's Avatar
knusel knusel is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,853
knusel is on a distinguished road
B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Good morning Gentlemen,

who was the B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills ?

Cheers,

Michael
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 30th April 2023, 17:58
knusel's Avatar
knusel knusel is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,853
knusel is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

...I believe it was Felix Hardison, the pilot of Suzy-Q, whose gunners claimed 26 Japanese aircraft destroyed. Did he ever fly another aircraft in combat or did another pilot ever fly a mssion
in Suzy-Q ?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 1st May 2023, 12:01
Buckeye30's Avatar
Buckeye30 Buckeye30 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bedford, England
Posts: 735
Buckeye30 is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Hardison flew several other B-17s in 1942 from Australia with the 93BS.
41-2640 Tojos Physic
41-2665 Lulu
41-24391 Hoomalimali
41-24384 Snoopy
41-24458 San Antonio Rose
41-2643 -

The 93rd Indian head insignia was painted on in Hawaii on the return to USA.


"Claims to fame" Birdsall / Freeman
Nick
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 1st May 2023, 21:05
knusel's Avatar
knusel knusel is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,853
knusel is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Good evening Nick,

and did he also fly combat missions in these planes ?

Best greetings from Switzerland,

Michael
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2nd May 2023, 00:34
Buckeye30's Avatar
Buckeye30 Buckeye30 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bedford, England
Posts: 735
Buckeye30 is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

He flew missions in all these....
41-2640 4 July.
41-2665 30 July.
41-2643 7 August.
41-24391 26 August.
41-24384 29 August.
41-24458 in Sept. ( dates not known).
The 26 Rising Suns were painted on the rear access door, and the name was on both sides. The squadron insignia included a "93" and 3 Iron Crosses.

This is a close-up of the lettering behind the badge. I think you can read them.
"HOEVET FIELD" near the bottom is Mareeba airfield, Australia.



https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...56-b17-suzy-q/


Regards
Nick
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 2nd May 2023, 21:06
knusel's Avatar
knusel knusel is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,853
knusel is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Good evening Nick,

thanks for the dates. If the USAAF had credited heavy bomber pilots with the kills of their crews, Felix Hardison would have been among the top 10 US all-time-scorers. Or did any other pilot ever fly Suzy-Q in combat ?

Best greetings from Switzerland, sincerely,

Michael
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 3rd May 2023, 12:58
Buckeye30's Avatar
Buckeye30 Buckeye30 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bedford, England
Posts: 735
Buckeye30 is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Sorry Michael, I don't know but her first mission was Feb. 9 flown by Lt. Hillhouse from Java; she arrived on the 7th and Hardison flew her on the 12th. In March the 93rd. retired to Australia. As far as I know all 26 were credited to the Hardison crew (?).

If bomber pilots ever had their "own" aircraft this was Hardison's especially as she was named for his wife Priscilla.
The only other "Suzy Q" I can think of was a B24D 41-23817 (44BG), Col. Leon Johnson won the CMH in her at Ploesti.


Regards
Nick
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 6th May 2023, 19:13
knusel's Avatar
knusel knusel is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,853
knusel is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Good afternoon Nick,

there was also a B-26 of that name:
https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-26/40-1391.html

Why was the B-17 named after Hardison's wife when her name was Priscilla?
The song made famous by Creedence Clearwater Revival is originally by Dale Hawkins from 1957:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AtV7NTIt9g

Cheers,

Michael
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 6th May 2023, 22:29
Buckeye30's Avatar
Buckeye30 Buckeye30 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bedford, England
Posts: 735
Buckeye30 is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Hi Michael. The "Suzy-Q" was a dance step from the 1930s, included in novelty dances like the Jitterbug or Lindy Hop; Hardin Armstrong (2nd wife of Louis) performed it in the 1936 song "Doin' the Suzie Q" (note spelling).
Hope this helps
Nick
Thanks for the link.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 8th May 2023, 15:53
knusel's Avatar
knusel knusel is offline
Alter Hase
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,853
knusel is on a distinguished road
Re: B-17 pilot whose crew was credited with the most aerial kills

Hello Nick,

never heard about that Lady or the song before:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1iOUQ_YIYQ
I wonder if this particular song was really the inspiration for all those bomber names, because White people in these days rarely listened to Black music, did they ?

Cheers,

Michael
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
SB2C aerial victories - Pilot names? ondro123 Japanese and Allied Air Forces in the Far East 31 11th November 2023 10:08
Ju188 lost in France Eric Larger Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 16 16th December 2011 00:47
Losses of B-17's in RCM role paul peters Allied and Soviet Air Forces 4 15th February 2006 21:57
pilot crew listings klaymann Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 8 15th February 2006 21:47
German Claims in Poland 1939 Marius Luftwaffe and Axis Air Forces 56 12th September 2005 18:39


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 10:24.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net