Louis Cordes

[CJE]

Hello,

Apart from him, were there any other Allied pilots who claimed victories against the three major Axis powers air forces?

Thanks.

Chris

[Tom Semenza]

Bonjour, Chris, I am not familiar with Louis Cordes. Could you give some details on him?

As far as pilots making claims in the air against the three major axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) there are a number of British and Commonwealth pilots who scored the Axis "hat trick." Here are a few that I found (with one exception, only got up to the letter "F" at this point!)

F/L James L. Briggs (274, 213 & 607 Sqns.)
W/C Clive R. Caldwell (RAAF) (250 & 112 Sqns. & 1 Wg RAAF)
S/L Neil Cameron (17, 134, 213 & 258 Sqns.)
S./L Charles A. Crombie (RAAF) (89 & 176 Sqns.)
W/C Robert T.P. Davidson (30 Sqn. also later shared a Luftwaffe LeO 45 and claimed 2 MiG-15s damaged in Korea!)
F/L Alan M. Peart (RNZAF) (81 Sqn.)

In addition the following made claims against the Germans, Italians & Vichy French:

Lt.(A) Guy W. Brokensha (RN) (803 Sqn.)
Lt.Cdr. John M. Bruen (RN) (803 & 800 Sqns.)
F/L Allan C. Cameron (RAAF) (3 Sqn. RAAF)
Lt.Cdr.(A) Robert M. Crosley (RN) (813F, 800 & 886 Sqns. - he also claimed some Japanese aircraft on the ground with 880 Sqn.!)
F/O Peter T. Dowding (80 Sqn.)

Regards,
Tom

[Frank Olynyk]

His name is Louis Edward Curdes (not Cordes).

9 victories, 8 in the MTO (German & Italian) with the 95th FS of the 82nd FG. 1 Dinah near Formosa with the 4th Commando Squadron. Plus the well known incident of "carefully" shooting down a C-47 that was about to land at a Japanese occupied air strip. I have never been able to document the actual aircraft serial number, and would love to have further information, and reports.

Carl Wilson Payne. 309th FS, 31st FG. Vichy French, German and Italian in the MTO. A destroyed claim against a Zeke over Japan in 1945 with the 34th FS, in a P-47N. I don't know whether this is currently accepted by the USAF, but he certainly filed a combat report.

Harrison Reed Thyng. 309th FS, 31st FG. Vichy French and German, with a Ju-87 damaged, which might possibly coulda been Italian (probably not). Credited with an Oscar probable over Japan in 1945, with the 413th FG, P-47N. And of course he got MiG-15s in Korea.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[RSwank]

According to this: https://aviation-safety.net/database...?id=19450210-3

the C-47 was 43-30761.

Curdes story here:
http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi...GRid=163273697

The AAF credit list does show him with 9 credited planes, including the Japanese plane.

http://aces.safarikovi.org/victories...ii-by.name.pdf

Here is a little more on him:

https://www.truthorfiction.com/bad-a...rlfriend-wwii/

[Tom Semenza]

Here are a few more (up to the letter "N"):

Against German, Italian & Japanese:

S/L A.P. "Tim" Goldsmith (RAAF) (185, 126 & 452 Sqns.)
Maj. Ronald C. Hay (RM) (801 & 808 Sqns., 47 NFW)
S/L Charles G.St.D. Jeffries (3, 232, 261, 185 & 155 Sqns.)

Against German, Italian & Vichy French:

F/L Thomas Hindle (94 & 260 Sqns.)
Lt.Cdr.(A) Peter J. Hutton (RNVR) (801 Sqn.)
F/L Lindsay E.S. Knowles (RAAF) (3 Sqn. RAAF)

Against German, Vichy French & Japanese (possibly uniquely):

S/L John F. Jackson (RAAF) (3 & 75 Sqns. RAAF)

Regards,
Tom

[CJE]

Yes, of course, it's Curdes. Sorry, typo.

And many thanks to all of you.

Chris

[mars]

Originally Posted by CJE

Hello,

Apart from him, were there any other Allied pilots who claimed victories against the three major Axis powers air forces?

Thanks.

Chris

Was he the one also shot down an US transport airplane what was about to mistakenly landed on a Japanese occupied island, and then painted an American flag on his own aircraft along side German, Italian and Japanese flags?

[CJE]

That's right.
I mispelled his name, read: Curdes.

[DavidIsby]

The C-47 story appears to have its source in the 317th Troop Carrier Group's historical narrative, on 16mm microfilm at the US National Archives and the USAF HRA at Maxwell AFB.

However, while multiple sources (including the Braugher website) identify C-47A 43-30761 (msn 13912) as the aircraft involved, Jennifer Gradige's The First Seventy Years v.2 shows no such serial number while the airplane with that man never went overseas.

The C-47A in question was "X-23" of the 39th Troop Carrier Squadron. Its serial number appears uncertain.

[Tom Semenza]

Chris,

Here is the last of the group I have found. All can be located in the two volumes of Aces High and Those Other Eagles.

Against German, Italian and Japanese:

W/C John A. O'Neill (601, 238 & 89 Sqns.)
F/Sgt. Thomas G. Paxton (250 & 30 Sqns.)
F/O Arthur M.O. Pring (89 & 176 Sqns.)
F/O Leonard A. Smith (152 Sqn.)
S/L Donald W.A. Stones (79, 249, 605 & 67 Sqns. & MNFU)
S/L William M. Whitamore (112, 601 & 81 Sqns.)
S/L Robert J.C. Whittle (RAAF) (250 & 86 RAAF Sqns.)

Against German, Italian, Japanese and Vichy French (undoubtedly unique!):

S/L Peter St.G.B. Turnbull (RAAF) (3 RAAF & 75 RAAF Sqns.)

Against German, Italian and Vichy French:

S/L William Vale (33 & 80 Sqns.)
W/O Robert J. Wallace (80 & 213 Sqns.)
W/C George H. Westlake (80 & 213 Sqns.)
F/L Frederick A.W.J. Wilson (RAF, later RCAF) (80, 213, 441 & 443 Sqns.)
Sgt. Rex K. Wilson (RAAF) (3 RAAF Sqn.)

I'd be interested if anyone can add to the list.

Tom