Classic pic of two top aces ...

[chicoartist]

Bob Johnson (27/0/3) and Bud Mahurin (24.25/4/2, including 3.5/1/1 in Korea flying F-86Es. POW in Korea), 56th Fighter Group:





Wade

[Jim Oxley]

Great photo. Really shows off to good effect the daunting, physical size of the P-47.

Poor old Bud had the misfortune to be captured in Europe and serve as a POW there as well as in Korea.

[Frank Olynyk]

Jim,
I don't believe that Bud was ever POW in Europe. He was shot down on March 27, 1944, and returned to military control on May 7. He could not return to combat in Europe, so ended up as CO of the 3rd Fighter (Commando) Sqn, and took it to the Philippines, where he scored one more victory.

Frank.

[Jim Oxley]

Ahh, thanks Frank. I'd always thought he was captured.

[chicoartist]

Speaking of Frank - I only have one more volume to get (Med Victories), and I'll have all 10 victories books + Stars and Bars. Invaluable resource. I managed to get ahold of two USMC books, but the Med volume eludes me.

Anyhoo ...

One more of RSJ, and a bonus kite from the 78th (83rd FS; Lt. Harding Zumwalt; "Superman" side art) ...





Wade

[Jim Oxley]

The P-47 really does have an aweinspiring beauty about it.

[GaraiB]

Hello guys,

Nice photos. I never ever seen it before.
I have one question, Bud Mahurin's plane show one kill of
ME 209. His thirteen victory. It is correct and possible?

Kind regards,

GaraiB

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by GaraiB

Hello guys,

Nice photos. I never ever seen it before.
I have one question, Bud Mahurin's plane show one kill of
ME 209. His thirteen victory. It is correct and possible?

Kind regards,

GaraiB

Yes I to noticed the Me209. What a/c was it really?

Also, it looks like a Fw290 is claimed. Is this a Fw190D-9?

[Franek Grabowski]

Mustang and Thunderbolt respectively!

[John Beaman]

Originally Posted by Kutscha

Yes I to noticed the Me209. What a/c was it really?

Also, it looks like a Fw290 is claimed. Is this a Fw190D-9?

Allied intelligence knew about the ME 209 and circulated profiles of it, so Allied pilots begin to claim them. Someone can correct me but I do not think and of the V. 209s was ever shot down. The same is true of the FW 290. In any event Bob Johnson left the ETO before the D-9 was ever produced and flew operations.

Aircraft ID'ing was a weak link for combat pilots from all nations, but some were better than others. When researching George Preddy's victories, he claimed 4 Ju-88s on July 18/44 when actually we discovered they were ME 410s. At 300 mph and from the rear, they can bear a semblance to the 88.