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Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. |
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Leon McFaddin Blanding, August 8th 1944
Hi all
On August 8th 1944, 'Chump' Blanding (of the 4th Fighter Group HQ Flight?) suffered a fractured skull when his P-51 was hit by flak while escorting Beaufighters off the south coast of Norway. He managed to make it back to the UK, escorted by two other P-51s and landed at R.A.F. Acklington, where he received treatment before being taken to hospital in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Is it possible to find the ID of his P-51 on that date? Many thanks Simon |
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Re: Leon McFaddin Blanding, August 8th 1944
Hello,
Possibly: P-51D-5-NA 44-13319 WD-G. 8-8-44 Blanding, Leon M. - Maj. 335FS - WIA - While leading 335 home from Norway at 1550 hrs, his A/C was hit in the canopy by flak. Glass badly injured his head on one side. Blood on the fuselage to the tail. He tore his trousers to bandage himself and led by Kolbe & Berry, he guided his wobbling A/C to Acklington, Northern England. He later recovered from the wound. - P-51D WD-G. Escort To Berlin The 4th Fighter Group in World War II Fry,Garry L. & Jeffrey L. Ethell New York:Arco,1980. p.164. http://www.4thfightergroupassociatio...inglmweb_a.pdf http://americanairmuseum.com/person/145503 Col. Last edited by Col Bruggy; 27th May 2020 at 02:57. |
#3
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Re: Leon McFaddin Blanding, August 8th 1944
Many thanks indeed Col. An absolute miracle that he made it back okay - made of stern stuff indeed!
Simon |
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