350th Fighter Group 1943-1944

[keith A]

I am looking for details of this fighter group and their victories on P-39 and P-38 in this period.

The 346th FS was the most successful in terms of aerial combat with claims of 29-6-16, 16-5-8 of these in the P-47. They seem to have claimed at least 4 kills in the P-38 which leaves about 9 in the P-39. 3 of these came in a dogfight on 6/4/44, 2-0-1 victories were claimed in Tunisia flying the P-39. 4 more in June 1943 (at least 2 in P-38) , another in July and 2 in August (one in a P-38).

The 347th made claims of 17-2-2. At least 4 of these flying P-38s in 1943, and another in 1944, also 3 flying P-39s (2 on 6/4/44). They added 5 in the P-47.

The 345th only made 7 claims (7-2-2) 3 of these in 1943, just 1-0-0 in a P47.


regards

Keith

[edwest]

I hope you find the following web site useful:


http://forum.armyairforces.com/350th...s-m137808.aspx



Ed

[keith A]

Thanks Ed, I used a lot of the links to get information but the aerial victory lists were less useful. Confusion over the 347th FG and 347th FS. Air War over Italy (Nick Beale et al.) is the best source for the P47 victories.

cheers

Keith

[Devilhawk]

Hello Keith A.,
I am Keith Vizcarra, the archivist for the 345th FS, 350th FG. Your request for information has been passed on to Hugh Dow who scored some of these victories and who is also the historian for the 350th Fighter Group. Can you tell me more about your research?

We have come to have some details from both the allied perspective as well as the German and Italian perspective over the years.
Andrew Arthy has spent much effort to pull together the information concerning a raid on Thelepte, Tunisia in 1943. Here is an excerpt:

The P-39s formed up near Thelepte No. 2, and flew to Thelepte No. 1 to meet the Spitfires, arriving there just as the Jagdgeschwader 77 Bf 109s made their escape. 2/Lt. Hugh D. Dow of the 346th FS/350th FG recalled:

… we arrived over the airfield at 500 feet or so just as a flight of ME-109s hit it. The 109 drivers were obviously unaware of our presence, as we were of theirs, until a few balls of flame sprouted up below us. Capt. John Robertson was leading our P-39s and Capt. Charles F. “Chuck” Hoover was my flight leader. The 109s pulled up after they had made a strafing pass across Thelepte #1 and whatever their intentions were thereafter, they got changed rather suddenly. We, of course, were as surprised as they were but our advantage was we were over our own air patch while they were probably 100 miles from home.

I will also check with Andrew Arthy to see if his work is published or if he minds that I share its content. It is 8 pages and involves other groups as well.

The air battle of 6/Apr/44 has also had quite a bit of discussion and discoveries over time as regards accounts from the American and German pilots involved.

I am happy to see in interest in the 350th and hope to share more information soon. You are able to find copies of all the Daily Operation Reports on my website that relate to the p-47 missions. I have yet to digitize all of the DORs of the P-39 years.

[keith A]

Hi Keith,

I had encountered the 350th in Air War over Italy, but it was only when I bought the new Osprey title about P-47s that I started looking at the group a bit more closely. So far it's taught me a lot about the USAAF in the MTO that I didn't really know. My main focus of interest is the RAF, SAAF units in that theater but the 350th have become a favourite tpoic of mine.... hence the posts! I wasn't planning on doing anything with the research, I doubt I coulod do the subject justice, but it's certainly got my focus at the moment!

best regards

the other Keith

[Devilhawk]

Hello Keith,
Have you had a chance to visit my website? Here is the link
http://web.me.com/vizcarraguitars/35...h_FG_Blog.html
You will find many photos and DORs there. I have much remaining to do. The 350th fighter group did not have many air to air encounters and I do have a list of them, including the victories. I have yet to post the MACRs of the group on the web site. The best account of the air war in Italy from 44 to 45 is written by Ferdinando D'Amico, Nick Beale, and Gabriele Valentini.
Best Wishes
Keith V

[keith A]

Hi Keith,

Dropped in on your site today. Fascinating stuff, chum. I am still trying to link victories to LW, ANR losses (especially those in 1943) but it'll come.

Just a small enquiry. Lewis J Klass? Did he claim 2-2-0 with the 350th? I have read all the stuff but am still wondering about the confusion with a pilot of the 27th.

best regards

Keith II

[Frank Olynyk]

I have 2/1/0 for Lewis J Klass. An Me-109 prob on Aug 6, 1943, and 2 Me-109s on Aug 26, all in a P-38G. I would be interested in any information on the additional probable.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[keith A]

Hi Frank,

Oddly enough I have a Ju88 as a probable on 6/8/43 and also on the 26/8/43 which kinda makes me think that it's a misunderstanding.

Most of this unit's victories at this time were over recce Ju88s so perhaps the Bf109s were recce a/c too? The dates are also a bit similar.... so it's possible that we may be looking at a mystery?

regards

Keith

[Devilhawk]

Keith and Frank, In 43 I have the following. I included short narratives for the Klass claims. And two of the Bf109s were indeed noted as Recons on Klass's encounter of 6/Aug/43.

Capt. Charles F. Hoover, 346th FS, in P-39, 15/Feb/43, Tunisia Thelepte #2, Destroyed 1-ME-109

2nd Lt. Hugh Dow, 346th FS, in P-39, 15/Feb/43, Tunisia Thelepte #2, Damaged 1-ME-109, Destroyed 1-ME-109 (Untr Off Karl Reinbacher, III JG 77 is captured)

Capt. Charles Fowles, 346th FS, in P-39, 13/Jun/43, Island of Pantelleri, Monastir, Tunisia, Destroyed 1-FW190

2nd Lt Richard E. Hunter, 346th FS, in P-39, 13/Jun/43, Island of Pantelleri, Monastir, Tunisia, Destroyed 1-FW190

1st Lt. Kitt R. McMaster, 347th FS, in P-38G, 19/Jun/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1-JU88

1st Lt. John A. Urban, 346th FS, in P-38G, 26/Jun/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1 JU-88

1st Lt. Charles H. Van Reed, 346th FS in P-38, 28/Jun/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1 JU88

1st Lt. John A. Urban, 346th FS, in P-38G, 8/Jul/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Destroyed 1 JU-88

2nd Lt Louis J. Klass, in P-38, 6/Aug/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Probably Destroyed 1 ME-109
Since this is one of your inquires Keith A : Scrambled on Bogies, Klass overtakes two Me-109 photo reckons flying out of Sardinia. Controller declares them "friendlies" at which point Klass closes to join them. ID ing them as 109s, he initiates tight turn to get into firing position, at which point the e/a also break. He scores a probable as one passes through his fire, before it split S.

F/O Kirby E. Smith, 346th FS, in P-39, 6/Aug/43, Algeria Reghaia, Destroys 1-Ju88

2nd LT. Benjamin W. Jones, 346th FS, in P-39, 8/Aug/43, Algeria Reghaia, Destroys 1-Ju88,

2nd Lt. Louis J. Klass, 347th FS, in P-38, 26/Aug/43, Med Sea Taher, Destroyed 2 Me109
Vectored on a plot of 4 bandits while on Dusk Patrol, he sees two Me109s in echelon. Pulls up under one and sends it down out of control in smoke. Turns and catches 2nd in cockpit, destroying same. Then spots a third 109 which he chases towards Sardinia until forced to break off of lack of fuel.

2nd Lt. George B. Jameson, 347th FS, in P-38, 28/Aug/43, Med Sea Tahir, Destroyed 1-Me109

Capt. Kitt R. McMaster, 347th, in P-38, 7/Sept/43, Med Sea Taher, Destroyed 2 Me-109

Capt. Charles F. Hoover, 345th FS, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia Damaged 1/2 Do217

1st Lt. Edward J Gabor, 345th FS, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia Damaged 1/2 Do217

Capt. Edgar A. Tharpe, 345th FS, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia, Probably Destroyed 1-He111

1st Lt. John S. Waterman, 345th, in P-39, 21/Oct/43, Med Sea Reghaia Damaged 1-He111

1st Lt. Clyde H. Wilson, 347th FS, in P-39, 26/Nov/43, Med Sea Taher, Damaged 1-He177

2nd Lt. Luis J. Klass, 347th, in P-39, 26/Nov/43, Med Sea Taher, Probably Destroyed 1-Ju88
Klass landed at Taher, bringing mail to the rear echelon from Reghaia. Told of the attack in progress, he accompanied Wilson to the combat area. probably destroying a Ju88. Attacks were few, and the standard procedure was to hit a convoy within the last hour of daylight and only when e/a could escape from day fighters into clouds.



Capt. Ivan L. Behel, 346th FS, in P-39, 2/Dec/43, Med Sea Taher, Sardinia Elmas, Sighted an ME-210 or Me-410. No Claim, but I thought I would mention this because this would be the first sighting for the 350th group of a ME-210 or maybe 410.

1st Lt. Marland O. Marshall, 345th FS, in P-39, 6/Dec/43, So. France Alghero, Destroyed 1-Ar196

1st Lt. Leonard L. Nelson, 345th FS, in P-39, 12/Dec/43, So. France Alghero, Destroyed 1-Ar196

1st Lt. Vernon E. Koenig, 346th FS, in P-39, 17/Dec/43, Sardinia Elmas, probably Destroyed 1 Ju88