RAF pilot flying with USAAF

[Brian]

Hi guys

Simply out of interest, why was Flg Off Shenberger RAF flying with 309FS?

Extract from 31FG history

November 1943, the 31 FG was starting to face renewed resistance from the Luftwaffe in Italy. There were numerous encounters throughout the month, resulting in seven enemy aircraft destroyed, one probably destroyed, and seven damaged. There were also four losses: Lieutenant Frost of the 308 FS on 5 November; Lieutenant Mann of the 307 FS on 18 November; Lieutenant Van Natta on the l9th; and Flying Officer Shenberger, a British pilot with the 309 FS. on 24 November.

NB: I can't find a Shenberger in CWGC

Cheers
Brian

[Alex Smart]

Hello Brian,

From "In a now Forgotten Sky"
Page 145.
Makes reference to the bad weather and that the 309th put up two sweeps, one at 11.30 to 12.20 the other from 14.30 to 15.30 at 21000 ft.
There were No sightings of e/a on either mission.
Two pilots returned early but from which sortie is not recorded, they were Griffing and Jared.

Perhaps the reference to the loss of the RAF man was that he was some kind of ground officer or instructor ( the group were still on Spitfires but soon to take on the P51 ).

The 31 FG Honor site does mention Shenberger but no details other than the date of 24/11/43.

There was a Shropshire who was with the 309th , KIA on 24/09/44. Perhaps him ?

Alex

[Alfred.MONZAT]

It is know that a good number of RAF pilots flew in the 8th AF but that's new to me for other AF. Anyway, if someone have a good article or book dealing with RAF pilots in the USAAF (8th AF at least), I would welcome that kind of advice.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Looked at both September and November 1943 RAF Lists but no Schenberger could I find.
There are several Shenberger's recorded in the NARA Enlistments section, perhaps he was an as yet un-naturalised ex- Brit American that had joined the RAF ?

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
It has been established on "RAF Commands" Forum that Shenberger was a Canadian in the RCAF.
Also it looks like he survived the war as he is not listed on the Canadian Virtual Memorial site.

There was also a F/O. George J. Shenberger T-223044 Who DNB .Listed as Berk's County, Pennsylvania.
Not in that ABMC though.
Nara has some Enlistments -
Alex

[Andrew Arthy]

Hi,

George Loving wrote on page 80 of Woodbine Red Leader: "A few days later, on November 23, spirits were dampened when one of the new boys, Flight Officer George Shenberger, was killed in a crash near the airdrome."

Cheers,
Andrew A.
Air War Publications - www.airwarpublications.com/earticles

[Chris Goss]

So Flight Officer as opposed to Flying Officer

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Many thanks to you all in helping to solve this question.
Indeed he was an American who joined the RCAF, then came to the Uk . Served in RAF Units before going to the Middle East and being loaned to or perhaps transfered to the USAAF and flying with his fellow Americans in the 31st FG,309th FS as did others.
See the armyairforces.com site for details of death.
Alex

[Brian]

Hi Alex and others

Excellent investigation!

So, he was not British, as originally suggested.

Thanks

Brian

[Larry]

Incidentally Lt MJJ 'Jerry' Harris RNVR flew a P-47D with the 405th FG in July 1944 on a mission over Normandy but got lost and landed at an advanced landing ground in France, refuelled and returned home late!