Strafing kills - U.S. Army Air Forces

[strafer]

Dear all,

does another U.S. Army Air Force - besides 8th Air Force - oficially register strafing kills during WWII???

Many thanks in advance. Regards, Filip

[Frank Olynyk]

Not to my knowledge. Only 8th AF Fighter Command prepared combat reports for ground attacks, and reviewed the claims in their Victory Credit Board reports. The other air forces would usually list totals in their mission reports, but rarely noting the pilot(s) responsible. The same is true for USN and USMC units.

Frank.

[Tom Semenza]

I hate to differ with a top expert in the field like Frank, but according to Gene Gurney in "Five Down and Glory" (which dates from 1958) ground kills were credited by the 10th and 14th Air Forces in the CBI. The book lists pilots with air and ground claims totalling 5 or more. The top strafer is listed as Maj. Thomas A. Reynolds with 38.5 ground credits to go with 3 air credits (although Frank credits him with 4/0/2 in the air.) Carl Molesworth in "Wing to Wing: Air Combat in China, 1943-45" also indicates that ground claims were credited.

Tom

[Frank Olynyk]

Oops.

Thanks, Tom. I forgot about them. And it might be noted that the AVG paid for aircraft destroyed on the ground, as well as in the air. Chennault had to request permission to do so, since it was initially thought, and agreed to, that the AVG would only be engaged in shooting down Japanese bombers over China. Once they were based in Burma, and were close enough to Japanese bases to attack them the situation changed. He requested permission in January 1942 (after the first ground attacks), and permission was granted in March, when the first bonus for ground claims were paid.

Frank.

[strafer]

Dear gentlemen, many thanks for your help. It seems now that in terms of ETO and MTO, the 8th AF was the only Air Force whose pilots were oficially credited with ground kills.