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Old 27th December 2015, 12:00
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VIII FC's COs Meeting at Debden on 23 March 1945

Hello,

I've read that there was a meeting of the COs of the Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force at Debden on 23 March 1945 in preparation of Operation Varsity. Anybody know a way (a report of the meeting ?) to know the persons who took part to the meeting ?

Regards

Alfred
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Old 29th December 2015, 13:50
ian hunt ian hunt is offline
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Re: VIII FC's COs Meeting at Debden on 23 March 1945

Hi Alfred

I don't know for sure if this is the correct answer to your question, but on the back cover of Roger Freeman's 'The Mighty Eighth' there's a colour photo of a line-up of four Mustangs (plus a Lightning of a photographic squadron) which, it says inside, was taken "at a fighter group commanders' meeting at Debden in March 1945".

It doesn't say whether this was 'your' meeting (no date is given), but would there have been more than one such meeting there that month? Nor does it say that those were the ONLY commanders' aircraft there ... but they might be 'your' ones?

The Mustangs were, it says, from the 359th, 20th, 353rd and 357th FG's.

Then, looking inside the book, the CO's of those units as at 23/3/1945 were:
359th: Col John P Randolph
20th: Col Robert P Montgomery
353rd: Col Ben Rimerman
357th: Col Irwin H Dregne

Don't know if this helps?

Regards

Ian
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Old 29th December 2015, 16:54
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Re: VIII FC's COs Meeting at Debden on 23 March 1945

In fact, I have tried to identify the machines from the photos :



1 P-51D-20-NA (s/n 44-72296) coded "CL*P" and named "DA' QUAKE" of John L. MCGINN (5-0-2 air) of the 338th FS, 55th FG
2 P-51D-15-NA (s/n 44-15625) coded "WR*A" and named "Man O' War" of Clairborne H. KINNARD (8-0-1 air & 17-4 ground), CO of the 355th FG
3 361st FG hack ?
4 P-51D-20-NA (s/n 44-72188) coded "5Q*Z" of Clair M. MASON (0-0-1 air & 2-1 ground) of the 504th FS, 339th FG
5 P-51K-5-NT (44-11619) coded "5E*O" and named "BOILERMAKER SPECIAL" of Robert W. BOYDSTON of the 385th FS, 364th FG
6 Idem 1
7 P-51D-15-NA (s/n 44-15069) coded "PI*Z", named "Audrey 3rd" (on port side) and "Judy" (on starboard side) of Michael P. YANNELL (4-0-2 air & 4-2 ground) of the 360th FS, 356th FG
8 P-51B-15-NA (s/n 42-106894) converted into a twin seater coded "VF*4" of the 4th FG
9 P-51D-15-NA (s/n 44-15717) coded "CV*Q" and named "WILD WILL" of James W. PARSONS (2-0-0 air) of the HQ of the 359th FG
10 P-51D-20-NA (s/n 44-72519) coded "LC*D" and named "Gumpy" of Robert P. "Gump" MONTGOMERY (3.33-0-2 air & 3-2 ground), CO of the 20th FG
11 P-51K-5-NT (s/n 44-11646) coded "LH*V" of Benjamin RIMERMAN (4.5-1-2 air & 8-2.5 ground), CO of the 353rd FG
12 P-51K-5-NT (s/n 44-11678) coded "C5*Q", named "BOBBY JEANNE" (on port side) and "Ah Fung Goo" (on starboard side) of Irwin Hendrick DREGNE (5-0-3 air & 5.5-3 ground), CO of the 357th FG
13 Idem 7
14 Idem 3 ?
15 479th FG ?
Photos from Roger Freeman Collection

The 78th and 352nd are possibly missing because they were attached to IX FC at this time.

But now I would like to confirm the people who attended (the COs may have borrowed an aircraft or they may have sent someone else)

Regards

Alfred
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Old 24th September 2016, 15:11
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Re: VIII FC's COs Meeting at Debden on 23 March 1945

Here's a little update :



A) Photos 5340 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2487) & 10773 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/12010) show Mustangs 2 to 7 from rear on grass, with a second row in front of them.
B) Photos 5337 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/4408) & 5339 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/4518) show Mustangs 2 to 7 from front. Mustangs 4, 5 & 6 have chocks
C) Photo 5338 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2483) show Mustangs 6 & 7 (with a UC-64) from front. Mustang 6 have chocks
D) Photo 14927 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/14927) show Mustangs 1 to 5 from front. Mustangs 1, 4 & 5 have chocks
E) Photo 5305 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2377) show Mustangs 8 to 12 (with the F-5E of the CO of the 7th PRG) from rear. Mustangs 8 & 9 have chocks
F) Photos 5335 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2502) & 6183 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/2528) show Mustangs 9 to 12 (with the F-5) from front. All four have chocks
G) Photos 2329 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/7958) & 14922 (http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/14922) show Mustangs 8 to 15. Mustangs 8 to 13 have chocks
We can assume A & B (and maybe C) were taken at the same time. Also we can assume E & F were taken at the same time. We can assume G was taken after E & F.
Mustang 1/6 moved between D and A & B.
Mustang 7/13 moved between G and A, B & C.
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