Spitfire Production Summary

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31st Fighter Group, WWII, "In Memorium"

Final Destination Slovakia

The Spitfires of Gozo

Wartime Aerial Victory Credits

MACR#	Date	Serial#	A/C Type	Pilot	Service#	Sqdn	Group	AF	Status	Comments
.	9 Jan 41	36-413	Seversky P-35,	Vacca, Derald A	.	39PS	31PG	.	.	Pilot bailed out from uncontrollable spin, 6 miles southwest Selfridge Field, MI. USA
.	29 Jan 41	36-401	Seversky P-35	Newbauer, John A	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Crashed due to mechanical failure, 41PI, 31PI, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	10 Feb 41	33-197	Boeing P-26C	Taylor, William B	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Severely damaged taking off, Albrook Field, Canal Zone plane later condemned at Chanute AAF Oct 22, 1942
.	24 Feb 41	36-379	Seversky P-35	Lombardy, Bennie L	.	39PI	31PI	.	.	Severely damaged landing, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	28 Feb 41	40-325	Curtiss P-40	Criz, Albert	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged landing, Selfridge Field, MI, USA, plane surveyed Sep 26, 1941
.	13 Mar 41	40-344	Curtiss P-40	Moss, Robert C	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Slightly damaged during when ground looped, Selfridge Field, MI, USA, plane later surveyed at Craig Field Jun 5, 1943
.	13 Mar 41	40-346	Curtiss P-40	Hartbrodt, Frederick A	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged during take off, Selfridge Field, MI, USA, plane later surveyed Sep 26, 1941
.	25 Mar 41	40-333	Curtiss P-40	Criz, Albert	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Slight damage landing, Selfridge Field, MI, USA, plane later rebuilt as P-40G. Force landed Utica, MI Nov 5, 1941 and w/o.
.	2 Apr 41	40-2980	Bell P-39C-BE Airacobra	Carter, William H	.	39PI	31PI	.	.	Plane damaged midair collision, New Baltimore, MI, USA
.	2 Apr 41	40-2979	Bell P-39C-BE Airacobra	Mc Nickle, Marvin L	.	39PI	31PI	.	B/o	Pilot bailed out, plane destroyed midair collision, New Baltimore, MI, USA
.	3 Apr 41	36-419	Seversky P-35	Norman, Jacob M.	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged when ground looped, Mitchel Field, New York, USA
.	3 Apr 41	40-2987	Bell P-39C-BE Airacobra	Prentice, George W	.	39PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged taxiing, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	9 Apr 41	36-393	Seversky P-35	Doss, Edwin A	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Severely damaged, crash landed mechanical failure, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	9 Apr 41	40-348	Curtiss P-40	Walker, William G	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Severely damaged forced landing due to engine failure, Mount Clemens, MI, USA, plane later converted to P-40G. To CL-26 Jun 22, 1942 and to New England Aircraft School, Boston, MA
.	17 Apr 41	40-343	Curtiss P-40	Litton, William P	.	40PI	31PI	.	B/o	Pilot bailed after midair fire Newhaven, MI, Apr 16, 1941. Pilot bailed out.
.	21 Apr 41	40-331	Curtiss P-40	Litton, William P	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Severely damaged forced landing due to engine failure, 6 miles N of Richmond, MI, USA, plane later rebuilt as P-40G. Wrecked in MI Jan 23, 1942. To CL-26.
.	24 Apr 41	36-373	Seversky P-35	Chapman, Wilson A	.	39PI	31PI	.	.	Plane destroyed landing, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	5 May 41	36-429	Seversky P-35	Thorsen, James G	O-401549	41PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged landing, Oscoda, MI, USA
.	5 May 41	40-2989	Bell P-39C-BE Airacobra	Watson, Eugene A	.	39PI	31PI	.	B/o	Pilot bailed out due to engine failure, 7 miles S of Mt. Clemens, MI , USA
.	15 May 41	40-356	Curtiss P-40	Zins, William E	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Severely damaged crash landing, Kalaska, MI, USA, (crashed 15 mi NE of Kalkaska, MI May 15, 1941)
.	15 May 41	40-336	Curtiss P-40	Van Zant, Claude L	O-399590	40PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged during ground loop, Grayling, MI, USA, plane rebuilt as P-40G Aug 1, 1941. Converted to P-40 Sep 1, 1941.
.	20 May 41	36-412	Seversky P-35	Edris, Gordon L	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged landing, Camp Skeel, Oscoda, MI , USA
.	24 May 41	36-382	Seversky P-35	Thorsen, James G	O-401549	41PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged during ground loop, Camp Skeel, Oscoda, MI , USA
.	26 May 41	36-389	Seversky P-35	Hockenberry, Frank C	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Crash landed mechanical failure, Bowman Field, KY, USA
.	30 May 41	40-332	Curtiss P-40	Walter, William G	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged landing, Utica, MI, USA, plane later rebuilt as P-40G Aug 10, 1941. To Curtiss for Defense Aid Oct 31, 1941
.	11 Jun 41	36-395	Seversky P-35	Grable, Francis L	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged landing, Camp Skeel, Oscoda, MI, USA
.	16 Jun 41	36-427	Seversky P-35	Little, Edwin R	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged ground looped, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	16 Jun 41	40-2144	North American AT-6 Texan	Robertson, John C	.	40PI	31PI	.	.	Damaged landing, Camp Skeel, Oscoda, MI, USA
.	19 Jun 41	40-329	Curtiss P-40	Van Zant, Claude L. Jr	O-399590	40PI	31PI	.	DNB	Pilot killed when plane spun in, 40PI, 31PI, Camp Skeel, Oscoda, MI, USA Hometown: Henry County, IN, DNB
.	27 Jun 41	36-365	Seversky P-35	Wagner, Furlo S	.	41PI	31PI	.	.	Pilot bailed out, engine failure, Richmond, IN, USA
.	2 Jul 41	40-35	Bell YP-39 Airacobra	Edris, Gordon L	.	39PS	31PI	.	.	Damaged when crash landed mechanical failure, Camp Skeel, Oscoda, MI, USA, plane later scrapped at Buckley Field, CO Nov 13, 1945.
.	13 Jul 41	40-351	Curtiss P-40	Mercer, Davis P	.	HQ	31PG	.	.	Damaged during forced landing due to engine failure, Mt. Clemens, MI, USA, plane later to CL-26 at Patterson
.	14 Jul 41	40-336	Curtiss P-40	Breche, George J	.	40PS	31PI	.	.	Damaged during ground loop, Selfridge Field, MI, USA, plane later rebuilt as P-40G Aug 1, 1941. Converted to P-40 Sep 1, 1941. To Defense Aid Oct 31, 1941
.	1 Aug 41	41-6728	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Thorsen, James G	O-401549	41PS	31PG	.	.	Slight damage taxiing, based at Bell Aircraft Plant, happened at Niagra Falls Airport, Niagra Falls, New York, USA, plane surveyed Feb 20, 1942
.	1 Aug 41	41-6730	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Avery, Delwin B	O-388864	41PS	31PG	.	.	Slight damage taxiing, based at Bell Aircraft Plant, happened at Niagra Falls Airport, Niagra Falls, New York, USA, plane later surveyed at Godman Field Jun 17, 1943
.	1 Aug 41	40-3001	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Taylor, John J	.	41PS	31PG	.	.	Slight damage taxiing, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	1 Aug 41	40-3020	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Kerr, Harry R	.	41PS	31PG	.	.	Slight damage taxiing, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	1 Aug 41	40-3039	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Ingraham, Robert D other sources have his name spelt Inghram	O-421774	40PS	31PG	.	W/o	Destroyed taking off, Selfridge Field, MI, USA.
.	4 Aug 41	40-2977	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Macomber, Louis N	.	39PS	31PG	.	.	Severely damaged taxiing, Camp Skeel, Oscoda, MI , USA
.	5 Aug 41	40-3004	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Taylor, John J	.	41PS	31PG		.	Severely damaged forced landing, engine failure, 1/4 mile W of Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	5 Aug 41	40-3047	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Balch, Edwin V	.	41PS	31PG	.	W/o	Destroyed taking off, Selfridge Field, MI, USA
.	15 Aug 41	41-8008	Stearman PT-17	Smith, Stephen M	.	40PS	31PG	.	.	Severely damaged mechanical failure taking off, Plymouth, MI, USA
.	13 Sep 41	40-3023	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Vinson, Arnold E	O-418149	39PS	31PG	.	.	Damaged landing, Natchitoches Muni Airport, Louisiana, USA. Pilot has later service with 2FS, 52FG
.	18 Sep 41	41-6728	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Hill, Frank A	O-399962	40PS	31PG	.	.	Severely damaged forced landing, engine failure, Jackson AAB, Mississippi, USA, plane surveyed Feb 20, 1942
.	19 Sep 41	41-6745	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Williams, George V	.	39PS	31PG	.	.	Severely damaged landing, Natchitoches Muni Airport, Louisiana, USA, plane surveyed Mar 9, 1942
.	21 Sep 41	40-3046	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Paulk, John H	O-421666	41PS	31PG	.	.	Severely damaged landing, Randolph, Field, Texas, USA
.	21 Sep 41	40-3003	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Grable, Francis L	.	41PS	31PG	.	.	Severely damaged landing, Randolph, Field, Texas, USA
.	1 Oct 41	40-3035	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Hoover, Charles F	.	40PS	31PG	.	Aus	Damaged landing, Zanesville Muni Airport, Ohio, USA. Accepted in the USAAF on the 1st July 1941, she was issued to the 31st Pursuit Group, and at Selfridge. It was damaged at Briggs Field, Zanesville OHIO on the 1st October 1941 when 2nd Lt Charles Hoover, of the 31st PG, overshot field on landing. Repaired, it was then based at Baer Field from the 10th December 1941 with another Unit. Later it was issued to the 80th Pursuit Squadron then based at Lowood. There it was to suffer a forced landing during April-May 1942. Salvaged and repaired, it was diverted to Australia on the 30th July 1942 to become A53-9.
.	4 Oct 41	41-6725	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Hoyer, Dave H	.	40PS	31PG	.	.	Forced landed due to weather, Golf Course, Kingwood, West Virginia, USA, plane later condemned Mar 18, 1942
Conflict	21 Oct 41	41-6731	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Merrian, William H	.	40PS	31PG	.	W/o	Destroyed landing, Daniel Field, Georgia, USA ( JB web site has wrecked in landing Oct 21, 1941 at Selfridge AAF Oct 21, 1941. To New England Aircraft School)
.	23 Oct 41	41-6727	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Stephens, Evans G	.	40PS	31PG		.	Damaged landing, Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, plane later force landed after fuel exhaustion and wrecked at Midway, Florida, USA, Aug 18, 1942 and DBR< >Damaged Beyond Repair
.	23 Oct 41	41-6761	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Smith, Stephen M	.	40PS	31PG	.	.	Damaged landing, Atlanta Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, plane later to CL-26 at Gulfport AAF, MS
.	23 Oct 41	40-3021	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Wagner, Furio S	.	41PS	31PG	.	.	Damaged landing, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
.	1 Nov 41	41-6790	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Jones, Curran L	.	39PS	31PG	.	.	Crash landed, mechanical failure, Florence, South Carolina, USA, plane later condemned Apr 25, 1943
.	5 Nov 41	40-3037	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Cobb, Elmor R	O-421604	39PS	31PG	.	.	Severely force landed engine failure, Albermarle, North Carolina, USA
.	7 Nov 41	40-3040	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	English, Robert L	.	40PS	31PG	.	W/o	Crash landed, engine failure, plane destroyed, Pope Field, North Carolina, USA Later served with 350FG as CO of 346FS
.	10 Nov 41	40-3012	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Taylor, John J	.	41PS	31PG	.	.	Force landed fuel exhausted, 3 mi E of Nichols, South Carolina, USA
.	17 Nov 41	40-3006	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Barber, Keenan C	O-421586	41PS	31PG	.	.	Force landed fuel exhausted, Pope Field, North Carolina, USA
.	17 Nov 41	40-3005	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Howard, William E	O-421708	41PS	31PG	.	DNB	Pilot killed force landing fuel exhausted, 2 mi N of Florence, South Carolina, USA, Hometown: Tulsa County, OK
.	26 Nov 41	40-3041	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Riha, Amos F	.	40PS	31PG	.	.	Severely force landed, engine failure, 3 mi S of McBee, South Carolina, USA
Think this one should be 40-2994	2 Dec 41	40-3994	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Avery, Delwin B 308FS CO	.	HQ	31PG	.	.	Severely force landed fuel exhausted due to weather, Marysville, Tennessee, USA
.	8 Dec 41	41-6756	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	White, Edward T	.	39PS	31PG	.	DNB	Damaged taking off, engine failure, Baer Field, Idaho USA, plane later wrecked SW of Key Field, MS Jun 28, 1942. Pilot killed.
.	9 Dec 41	40-2971	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Clark, Albert P, Jr	O-020218	HQ	31PG	.	.	Severely force landed, engine failure, Key Field, Meridian, Mississippi, USA
.	9 Dec 41	41-6748	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Green, Donald J	.	39PS	31PG	.	.	Damaged, take off accident, engine failure, Sloan Field, Midland, Texas, USA, plane wrecked in takeoff accident Dec 9, 1941 at Midland, Texas then sent to CL026 Mar 4, 1942.
.	14 Dec 41	41-6784	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Hoover, Charles F	O-421706	40PS	31PG	.	.	Destroyed, take off accident, engine failure, Inyokern, California, USA, plane surveyed Sep 9, 1942. Pilot has later service with 346FS, 350FG
.	14 Dec 41	41-6724	Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra	Stephens, Evans G	.	40PS	31PG	.	.	Damaged in structural fire, Inyokern, California, USA, plane later condemned Oct 31, 1944
Think this should be 40-3010	31 Dec 41	41-3010	Douglas A-20B Havoc, 40-3010, Bell P-39D-BE Airacobra,	Isbell, James A	.	41PS	31PG	.	.	Damaged taxiing, Paine Field, Washington, USA

1942

MACR#	Date	Serial#	A/C Type	Pilot	Service#	Sqdn	Group	AF	Status	Comments
.	23 Jan 42	40-2838	Curtiss O-52 Owl	Sims, Sidney L Jr	O-433415	309FS	31FG	.	W/o	Nosed over on takeoff at Brooks Field, TX Jan 23, 1942. Plane later crashed into pole, then burned, 26 Oct 1942, at Brooks Field, TX
.	29 Mar 42	41-25021	Curtiss P-40E-1	Dabney, William A M	O-437013	.	.	.	.	Incident at Orlando AB, FL Pilot has later service with 308FS, 31FG. Plane was (ET345) retained in USA it went to CL-26 Aug 1, 1944
.	20 Apr 42	41-7328	Bell P-39F-1-BE Airacobra	Sims, Sidney L. Jr	O-433415	309FS	31FG	.	DNB	Hometown: Garland County, AR. Wrecked 8 m E of Phoenix Apr 9, 1942 and DBR. Pilot listed as DNB date unknown to me. Hometown: Garland County, AR
.	11 May 42	41-7311	Bell P-39F-1-BE Airacobra	Marine, George D	O-442130	307FS	31FG		DNB	Hometown: Ventura, CA, plane destroyed Chef Menteur 4 Mi SE, LA USA
.	20 Apr 42	R7292	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 31-3-41 9MU 4-4-41 71S 26-8-41 CE ops 1-10-41 FACE 27-3-42 AST 308USAAF 20-4-42 91S 11-10-42 CAC ops 14-10-42 ros 1CRU 21-3-43 VASM 2-7-43 fuel syst mods MkIII IFF wing stiff 306S 27-10-43 FAAC 27-5-44 ros 345S 3-7-44 collision with AB254 landing Hawkinge recat E SOC 8-12-44
.	20 Apr 42	W3370	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 30-5-41 8MU 1-6-41 609S crashed del flt 23-6-41 611S 31-12-41 616S 28-1-42 307USAAF 20-4-42 350S 12-9-42 411S 20-12-42 402S 25-3-43 19S 26-4-43 Cunliffe-Owen 9-11-43 RNAS Lee on Solent 28-2-44 Charlton Horethorne 1-12-44 798S Lee/Halesworth 1-45 to 9-45
.	5 May 42	41-19174	Douglas A-20C Havoc	Tovrea, Edward A	O-418147	.	.	.	.	Incident at New Orleans AAB, LA , Pilot has later service with 307FS, 31 FG. Plane was a Lend-lease contract for RAF but transferred to Soviet Air Force and large numbers were taken over by USAAF after Pearl Harbor.
xxxxx	??/??/42	.	.	Dondo, Joseph First Sergeant	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	Died of a fall from a second story window at his billet in Kenly, England
.	16 Jun 42	W-8586	Miles Master	Wren, William D.	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	Accident High Ercall, UK
.	17 Jun 42	R6835	Spitfire, Mk Ia	Wells, Lewis P.Jr	O-433433	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Unknown mishap, Pilot and Plane returned to service, Factory 829, Engine MIII, FF 28-6-40, 12MU 1-7-40, 603S 'XT-W' 14-7-40, C2 ops 31-8-40, 1CRU 11-9-40, 457S 22-6-41, 53OTU 20-10-41, SF Atcham 13-6-42, FAAC 24-6-42, 61OTU 14-8-42, RNAS 17-5-43, 761S Yeovilton 17-5-43 to 8-43 759S, Yeovilton 9-43 to 10-43 794S Dale engine trouble precautionary landing Angle 22-11-43 (S/L JO Jerromes) 761S Henstridge 4-44 to 7-44
.	19 Jun 42	R6895	Spitfire Ia	Dziesinski, Kenneth R	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	FF 5-7-40 6MU 5-7-40 54S 9-7-40 FAC2 2-8-40 damaged by bombs on takeoff C3 31-8-40 SOC 6-9-40 AST 17-9-40 58OTU 21-8-41 FACB 30-8-41 Scottish Aviation 61OTU 14-8-42 RNDA 15-1-44 SOC 6-3-45, accident, Atchum, UK
.	21 Jun 42	EN784	Spitfire Vb	See 26 July 42 for Pilots correct name and details		308FS	31FG	8AF		12MU 7-5-42 308USAAF 21-6-42 FACA 9-7-42 Engine cut abandoned over Channel 26-7-42 Lt Col L C Clarke USAAF PoW [317S 21-10-42 412S 29-6-43]
.	25 Jun 42	W8934	Miles Master	Schofield, Earl S, Jr			31FG	8AF		Accident, High Ercall, UK
.	27 Jun 42	X4234	Spitfire Ia	Cooper, James H	O-416273	.	31FG	8AF	.	FF 15-8-40 8MU 16-8-40 609S 24-8-40 damaged combat P/O Staples safe 27-9-40 AST 66S 13-10-40 57OTU 1-11-40 FACB 27-6-42 ros wing fail in spin crashed Alsager Cheshire CE 25-9-42, landing accident, Atcham England. He has later service with 522FBS, 27FBG
.	28 Jun 42	66-454 should read BM454	Spitfire Vb	Cobb, Elmon R	O-421604	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	Forced landing, Atcham England. FF 11-4-42 37MU 12-4-42 308S overshot downwind landing Atcham overturned CB 28-6-42 AST CE SOC 28-7-42
.	28 Jun 42	AD464	Spitfire Vb	.	.	.	.	.	.	45MU 16-10-41 310S 'NN-Y' 16-11-41 Westland 14-2-42 M55MA install FAAC 28-6-42 ros 308S 28-7-42 71S 12-8-42 334USAAF 1-10-42 HAL 12-7-44 10AGS 8-6-45 Reid Sigrist refurb to Portugal 4-7-47
.	28 Jun 42	X4174	Spitfire Ia	Robb, Harry J	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 11-8-40 24MU 13-8-40 266S 17-8-40 616S 7-9-40 65S 26-2-41 308S 16-4-41 303S 'RF-V' 21-7-41 306S 6-10-41 57OTU 10-1-42 53OTU 11-8-43 Spun into ground 1m NE of Llantrisant Glamorgan 8-9-42, accident, Atcham England
.	28 Jun 42	66-901 should read EN901	Spitfire Vb	Dalrymple, Edwin	O-433356	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	Accident, Atcham England. 37MU 10-5-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 308S 24-8-42 VASM 24-7-43 fuel syst mods wing stiff S Type pt MkIII IFF bomb carrier 234S 11-1-44 Reid Sigrist 24-10-46 refurb Portugal 9-6-47
.	28 Jun 42	.	.	.	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	Many accidents are being registered. The 308th cracked up four planes today, one turning completely over in a wheat field, but nobody was injured.
.	29 Jun 42	66-847, should read, EN847	Spitfire Vb	Giacomini, Alfred W	O-421595	308FS	31FG	8AF	DNB	Factory CBAF, Engine M45,12MU 3-5-42, 308 USAAF 9-6-42, stalled on approach crashed nr, Atcham, England, CE 29-6-42, AST 17-7-42, SOC FH5.15 *29 Jun - Lieut. Giacomini of 308 was killed in a crash today, apparently due to mechanical failure; he died on way to hospital*., Hometown: Logan County, CO,308FS, 31FG, 8AF, apparently due to mechanical failure; he died on way to hospital. The first pilot fatality of the 8th Air Force in the ETO is suffered when First Lieutenant Alfred W Giacomini of the 31st Fighter Group crashes a Spitfire while landing at Atcham, England.
Possible	29 Jun 42	EN952	Spitfire Vb	.	.	HQ	31FG	8AF	.	12MU 16-5-42 RAF Atcham 23-6-42 HQ 8Ftr Command 2-10-42 FACE 22-11-42
See 9 Oct 42 for final details the plane	29 Jun 42	66-838, should be EN838	Spitfire, EN838	Lymberis, Stephen M	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	12MU 8-5-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 FAAC 24-6-42 308USAAF 10-7-42 u/c collapsed after landing Kenley 11-8-42 308USAAF 24-8-42 crashed Arundel pilot killed wreck to Tangmere by VA CE 17-10-42, accident, Atchem England
.	29 Jun 42	BM635	Spitfire Vb	Shafer, Dale E. Jr	O-433414	309FS	31FG	8AF	Plane repaired	Accident High Ercall, UK. Coded WZ-Y, it was photographed at High Ercall (Membury Airdrome), England in 1942 and was later damaged with 65 Sqdn. 8MU 7-5-42 High Ercall 21-6-42 FACB 20-7-42 ros 65S 2-12-42 DeH 1-11-43 61OTU 23-9-44 SOC major repair 13-2-45
.	29 Jun 42	EN923	Spitfire	Ground Accident	.	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	45MU 16-6-42 309S 30-6-42 FACB 8-7-42 Westland Palma 5-12-42 USSR 30-1-43. No pilot, accident, High Ercall, UK
.	10 Jul 42	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	10 Jul - Two Spits collided in mid-air today, but nobody was hurt, excerpt comes from the diary of Lieutenant H. B. Gilstrap, Jr., a pilot with the 31 FG at the time
.	10 Jul 42	EN832	Spitfire Vb			308FS	31FG	8AF	.	12MU 4-5-42 308S 24-6-42 collision with AD563 on approach Atcham CE 10-7-42 31Sup Grp 28-7-42
.	10 Jul 42	AD563	Spitfire Vb			307FS	31FG	8AF	.	9MU 23-11-41 452S 5-12-41 [Missing on sweep to Le Havre 26-3-42] 307S collision on approach with EN832 Atcham CE 10-7-42
.	10 Jul 42	BM563	Spitfire Vb	.	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	37MU 1-5-42 307S 20-6-42 Collided with another Spitfire on approach Atcham FACE 10-7-42 AST SOC FH20.20
Possible 31FG plane	.	EN833	Spitfire Vb	.	.	.	.	.	.	12MU 8-5-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 DBR while taxiing Mount Farm FAAC 18-10-42 to 3414M 11SoTT 1-11-42 CE 28-6-48
.	13 Jul 42	W3427	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 22-6-41 38MU 25-6-41 610S 19-7-41 CE ops 23-7-41 AST 307USAAF 13-7-42 FACA 18-8-42 303S 11-9-42 VASM 24-10-42 fuel syst mods wing stiff 315S 6-6-43 hit high ground in formation with AR338 and BL469 Clady Corner Co Antrim Ireland CE 11-9-43 SOC 28-9-43
.	14 Jul 42	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	Officers meeting in the morning. In the past 16 days, 21 planes have been destroyed or badly damaged, most of them by 308 Squadron. That's too many, and due to carelessness, says Col. Hawkins.
.	16 Jul 42	.	.	Kerr, Harry R.	O-422023	309FS	31FG	8AF	DNB	Lieut. Kerr of 309 was killed last night during an oxygen hop. It appeared that something went wrong with his oxygen and he blacked out, went straight in. (date Officially listed as 16 Jul 42 other sources have it as 17 July 42 and this one had day before 18 July 1942 which would make it 17 July 1942, I went with the American Battle Monuments Commission, date)
Possible 31FG plane	22 Jul 42	EN897	Spitfire Vb	.	.	.	.	.	.	12MU 16-5-42 RAF Atcham 22-6-42 8FtrGrpUSAAF 24-3-43 FACB 18-11-43 Cunliffe-Owen Cv trainer RNAS Henstridge 30-4-44 (761S?) Burscough u/c failed to lock down (S/L FG Outwin) [?-listed as FN897] 759S Yeovilton 9-44 to 12-44 Swung to port landing burst tyre on nose 10-10-44 (Mid TM Nethery)
.	26 Jul 42 other source has this as 28 Jul 42	EN784 other source has plane as BL964 coded VZ-G	Spitfire Vb EN784 (12MU 7-5-42 308USAAF 21-6-42 FACA 9-7-42 Engine cut abandoned over Channel 26-7-42 Lt Col L C Clarke USAAF PoW [317S 21-10-42 412S 29-6-43]) Spitfire Vb, BL964, 5MU 22-2-42 64S 28-3-42 FACB 3-4-42 309S FTR ops 26-7-42	Clark, Albert P Jr (Excutive Officer)	O-020218	HQ	31FG	8AF	POW	Lieutenant Colonel Albert P Clark, Executive Officer of the 31st Fighter Group, is shot down while flying with the 412 Squadron (Royal Canadian Air Force), on a sweep over France, thus becoming the first 8th Air Force fighter pilot to be shot down in the ETO; he survives and is taken prisoner by the Germans. European Theatre: Germany. Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11. "I thought I'd tell you a little bit about how I became a POW. I think most of you remember it from England. I was not very happy about the fact that I was your first casualty. It was not anything to brag about. But, you may remember, while you were at Atcham, and the new pilots were trying to learn how to keep from ground looping, 7 of us were sent down south to find out what the war was like. That included myself, the squadron commanders, and deputies. 7 of us were flying with the British (actually Canadians, RCAF 412 Sqdn) over Abbeville. I was shot down when my flight of four (I was not leading the flight, but I was a wingman) beat up the airdrome. In the process, I got involved with several ME-109's and had to bail out.
.	28 Jul 42	EN920	Spitfire Vb	.	.	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	12MU 15-5-42 RAF Atcham 21-6-42 31FG Merston attached 131S struck lorry on takeoff Merston CB 28-7-42 SOC 8-8-42
.	30 Jul 42	66-371	Spitfire	Chandler, Berry	O-440088	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	Accident, High Ercall, UK
.	30 Jul 42	W3828	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 29-8-41 24MU 30-8-41 266S 13-9-41 154S 8-3-42 ASTH 6-5-42 309USAAF 30-7-42 340S 12-3-43 LMS 66S 11-10-43 340S 15-11-43 FACA 26-11-43 ros 350S CB ops 27-6-44 DeH 1AGS 10-3-45 engine failed wheels up landing on beach Grange over Sands Lancs CE 14-12-45 SOC 9-1-46
.	30 Jul 42	AD357	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	8MU 2-10-41 412S 7-10-41 GAL 19-5-42 309USAAF 30-7-42 VASM 27-4-43 mods Cv Seafire Ib reserialled PA112
.	1 Aug 42	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	HQ 31st Fighter Group and 307th, 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons move from Atcham to Westhampnett, Biggin Hill, Kenley and Westhampnett, England respectively with Spitfire Mk Vs.
.	Aug 42	BL628	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	This aircraft was delivered from Castle Bromwich in January 1942. Allocated to No. 410 Squadron RCAF at Gravesend, BL628 became a personal aircraft of G.B. Murray who named it Marion after his girlfriend. It subsequently served briefly with No. 308 Squadron 31st Fighter Group USAAF in Aug 1942, then Nos. 167 and 610 Squadrons. Transferred to Royal Navy in 1943, the aircraft was converted to hooked Spitfire configuration by Cunliffe Owen Aircraft in June 1943. Allocated to No. 899 Squadron FAA for training, it served in Belfast, Ireland. Before the end of the war, it went to 719 and 794 Squadrons Royal Navy at St.Merryn, but the airframe was now at the very end of its service life and the aircraft was eventually struck off charge and abandoned on a farm in St. Merryn, Cromwell.Plane details 12MU 25-1-42 401S 'YO-D' 1-4-42 308S 5-8-42 167S 12-8-42 610S 14-10-42 Cunliffe-Owen 19-6-43 hook fitt RNDA 16-1-44 899S Belfast 30-1-44 u/c collapsed landing Cat X1 5-2-44 (Lt LJ Kelly) 719S St.Merryn 10-44 794S St.Merryn 2-1-45 to 3-45 to Australia extant Victoria
.	1 Aug 42	AD566	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	9MU 1-12-41 412S 15-12-41 FAAC 9-1-42 AST St.Athan 20-6-42 308USAAF 1-8-42 FAAC 11-8-42 HAS AST Cv Seafire Ib reserialled NX922
.	?? Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Collinsworth, Jerry D.	O-440086	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Coded MX-M, Biggin Hill, England
.	2 Aug 42	.	.	Information only	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	The 308FS, was at Kenly, England from 2 Aug 42 to the 25 Aug 42.
1st Claim, not to be confused with 1st shot down on 19 Aug 42	4 Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Thyng, Harrison R., CO 309FS	O-376197	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	Damaged FW-190, , the first claim by a U.S. fighter during the war.
.	10 Aug 42	.	Spitfire	Howell, Elmer J. “Buz”, SMSGT	6915148	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	Coded, HL-L, taxing accident, West Hampnett Airdrome, CHICHESTER, ENGLAND, 308FS, 31FG, Crew Chief of the plane was Jim Leister
.	12 Aug 42	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	ETO (8th AF): 31st Fighter Group at Westhampnett, England with Spitfire Mk Vs, is declared fully operational and ready for combat operations under Royal Air Force (RAF) control until it gains enough experience to be able to fight as a group; this is first US fighter unit in the UK to reach this operational status.
Possible	18 Aug 42	W3427	Spitfire Vb	.	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 22-6-41 38MU 25-6-41 610S 19-7-41 CE ops 23-7-41 AST 307USAAF 13-7-42 FACA 18-8-42 303S 11-9-42 VASM 24-10-42 fuel syst mods wing stiff 315S 6-6-43 hit high ground in formation with AR338 and BL469 Clady Corner Co Antrim Ireland CE 11-9-43 SOC 28-9-43
Blank	18 Aug 42	Blank	Spitfire	.	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	.
.	19 Aug 42	.	.	FW190 Units against 31FG	.	.	.	.	.	On Wednesday, 19 August 1942, the Allies launched a major cross-channel attack, with landings taking place at the French port of Dieppe. The Luftwaffe played a major role in countering this raid, and the air battle over Dieppe proved to be one of the Focke-Wulf 190's finest hours. The two German fighter units involved, J.G. 2 and J.G. 26, both called upon three FW 190 fighter Gruppen, along with FW 190-equipped Jabostaffeln. Other Luftwaffe units involved in the day's fighting included II./K.G. 40 with Do 217 E-2s, K.G. 2 with Do 217 E-4s, and 1.(F)/123 with a variety of single and twin-engined reconnaissance types (including a single FW 190 A-3). The Allies considered air cover essential to the success of their landings, and they could rely on around-the-clock assistance from RAF Spitfires, Hurricanes, Typhoons and Mustangs. 48 squadrons of Spitfires took part, including 42 equipped with Spitfire Vs, two with Spitfire VIs, and four with Spitfire IXs.^[1] Support for the mostly Canadian landing force was also provided by R.A.F. bomber units, along with the Spitfires of the American 31st FG and the B-17s of the 97th BG. However, Allied numerical superiority did not prove enough to secure the skies over Dieppe on 19 August 1942.
.	19 Aug 42	BL338	Spitfire Vb	Failed to Return	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	8MU 15-11-41 72S 21-11-41 FACB 14-3-42 ASTH 308USAAF FTR 19-8-42
Possible not confirmed USAAF	19 Aug 42	EN778	Spitfire Vc	Failed to Return	.	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	45MU 28-4-42 Ercall 21-6-42 309S FTR ops 19-8-42
Possible not confirmed USAAF	19 Aug 42	EN792	Spitfire Vb	Failed to Return		308FS	31FG	8AF	.	12MU 30-4-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 Kenley 1-8-42 FTR ops 19-8-42
Possible not confirmed USAAF	19 Aug 42	EN855	Spitfire Vb	CE Ops	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	12MU 8-5-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 307S CE ops 19-8-42
.	19 Aug 42	.	Spitfire	Collins, Laverne	O-433350	309FS	31FG	8AF	KIA	The 309th FS arrived over Dieppe not long after the 308th, and Lt. Junkin of the 309th made the first U.S.A.A.F. victory claim in Europe, for a Focke-Wulf 190 destroyed. 123 Spitfire Mk Vs of the 31st Fighter Group support the raid on Dieppe and claim 1-1-5 Luftwaffe aircraft with the loss of 8 Spitfires (4 pilots are MIA); 2nd Lieutenant Samuel F Junkin Jr of the 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, flying a Spitfire Mk V in support of the amphibious raid on Dieppe, shoots down a German fighter, this being the first aerial victory won by an 8th Air Force fighter pilot flying from the UK. Units arriving in England from the US, (Lieutenant Samuel F. Junkin of the 309 FS became the first 31 FG pilot to down an enemy plane on a mission with 11 other Spits of his squadron. They took off from Westhampnett for a rendezvous with RAF 130 and 131 Squadrons. After crossing the Channel to the Dieppe beachhead, they were attacked by 25 FockeWulf Fw-190s (FW-190/FW). During the ensuing dogfight, Lieutenant Junkin was one-versus-one with a FW, which he managed to shoot down before he was subsequently attacked by a second FW. Wounded in the shoulder by cannon fire, he momentarily passed out, but regained consciousness just above sea level. He climbed to 1,000 feet where he planned to bail out, having to break through his stuck canopy before he managed to get out at an altitude of 600-700 feet. Rescued by an Allied torpedo boat, he was transferred to another ship which had also picked up Lieutenant Collins, another Spitfire pilot who had been shot down. When it was all over, the 31 FG had flown 123 sorties for the day. The inexperienced group lost eight Spitfires, with seven more damaged. Lieutenant Lewis P. Wells was killed, Lieutenant Robert G. Wright missing, with three other pilots later reported as prisoners of war. Lieutenant Junkin had scored the unit's first kill, however, along with a kill by a pilot in the 307FS. Captain Hill was credited with a probable, along with Major Harrison Thyng and Lieutenant J. H. White, plus two claims by the 31 FG for enemy aircraft damaged):
.	19 Aug 42	AD113	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	6MU 16-8-41 222S 22-8-41 64S 5-4-42 GAL 23-4-42 FACE 5-8-42 ros 307USAAF 19-8-42 350S 12-9-42 401S 7-12-42 402S 12-12-42 416S 23-3-43 421S 20-5-43 DeH 28-7-43 Cunliffe-Owen 7-11-43 hook fitt RNDA 9-2-44 Lee to 761S Henstridge 14-8-44
.	19 Aug 42	.	.	.	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Charles O'Rourke, 307th Tech Supply sent the following excerpt from his diary from our time in England. August 19, 1942, Biggin Hill, England: Just about noon, Have been on the go since 3 AM. There is definitely something cooking! Our Squadron has been on several sweeps over the Channel. I've just heard that two of our A/C are missing. Reports are coming thru regarding the success of an operation in France. We are hoping this is the long awaited 2nd front, or it may be just another raid? This is certainly a hornets nest today---A/C landing and taking off all the while. Haven't heard how the other Squadrons are doing. August 20, 1942, Biggin Hill: After yesterday's operation three of our A/C are missing. Reports have it Lt. Wells apparently crashed in the channel and his body washed up on the beach this AM. Two are still missing. Not sure but think our Sqdn got 3 enemy A/C. An exciting day full of suspense. A feeler for future operations? Later I learned this was the Dieppe Raid Three missions were flown during Operation Jubilee, the Dieppe operation on August 19. Lt. Tovrea was taken POW and Lt. Wright was killed, however the squadron made its first claims against the enemy.
.	19 Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Smith, Derwood K	O-433416	308FS	31FG	8AF	Rtn with plane	Lt. Smith's plane was hit by 20 mm and 7.92 mm rounds.
.	19 Aug 42	.	.	Junkin, Samuel F Jr	O-433375	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	Claims 1 victory. During the ensuing dogfight, Lieutenant Junkin was one-versus-one with a FW, which he managed to shoot down before he was subsequently attacked by a second FW. Wounded in the shoulder by cannon fire, he momentarily passed out, but re- gained consciousness just above sea level. He climbed to 1,000 feet where he planned to bail out, having to break through his stuck canopy before he managed to get out at an altitude of 600- 700 feet. Rescued by an Allied torpedo boat, he was transferred to another ship which had also picked up Lieutenant Collins, another Spitfire pilot who had been shot down. (Bob Castle)
.	19 Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Dabney, William A. M.	O-437013	308FS	31FG	8AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: Virginia
.	19Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Wells, Lewis P. Jr.	O-433433	307FS	31FG	8AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: New York. The 308th FS began its second mission of the day at 10:02 with twelve Spitfires. They returned at 11:32, with one pilot missing and three aircraft suffering damage, and without making any victory claims. A third mission by the 308th FS/31st FG commenced at 12:24, and a minute later the 307th began its second mission of the day. Again no claims were made, and Lt. Wells of the 307th was posted missing in action (he was later found dead by Allied ASR (Air Sea Rescue). The 308th FS flew its fourth mission as an escort for ships in mid-afternoon (landing at 15:15), and this was more successful, with no losses Wells crashed when his plane ran out of fuel.. Air Sea Rescue recovered his body.
.	19 Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Wright, Robert G.	O-440153	307FS	31FG	8AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: Texas. The 307th FS sent off its first mission at 09:55, led by Major McNickle and Wing Commander Thomas. At 10:15 they arrived at Dieppe, and immediately dived to intercept FW 190 fighter-bombers attacking shipping. However, the German fighter-bomber tactics were too good for the Americans. The FW 190s built up great speed in the dive to attack the ships, and this meant the German aircraft could flee towards the coast when pursued by the American Spitfires. Lt. Merlin P. Mitchell's Spitfire V was badly damaged by 20 mm cannon fire, but he returned to base. Two 307th FS pilots went missing. (Wright, Robert G. and Tovrea, Edward A )
.	19 Aug 42	.	.	Brown, Leonard H	O-433346	309FS	31FG	12AF		Born in Versailles, Missouri, and enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in July 1940. He was with 309 Squadron and by May 1942 was in England, flying the British Spitfire Mk. V in a reverse 'lend lease' arrangement. Based at Chichester on the south coast, they flew fighter sweeps across the English Channel to France. First major encounter was August 19, 1942, over Dieppe. He flew four combat missions that day. When the press learned that the USA pilots felt the Spitfire was far superior to the P39, this did not go over well with the top brass. In late 1942 the Squadron was shipped to Africa, where they continued flying Spitfires. 2nd Lt. Brown ended his military career as a Colonel, with one victory. Awards include Legion of Merit, DFC, Air Medal with 6 OLC's, and Bronze Star. His aircraft was named Dee
.	19 Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Tovrea, Edward A	O-418147	307FS	31FG	8AF	POW	European Theatre. Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
	19 Aug 42		Spitfire Vb	Mitchell, Merlin P	O-416326	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Lt. Merlin P. Mitchell's Spitfire V was badly damaged by 20 mm cannon fire, but he returned to base.
.	19 Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Ingraham, Robert D other sources have his name spelt Inghram	O-421774	308FS	31FG	8AF	POW	European Theatre: Germany, Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11). The 308th FS took off at 07:17 for the 31st Fighter Group's first mission of 19 August 1942, and after arriving over the Allied invasion fleet, the unit's Spitfire Vs were badly bounced by FW 190s. Lt. Inghram had to bail out off the coast. Honored by, Arnold A. Wright, Friend. SHOT DOWN BY FLAK OFF DIEPPE, FRANCE ON AUGUST 19, 1942. BAILED OUT AND SPENT 40 HOURS FLOATING IN DINGHY. CAPTURED AND ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1942, BECAME THE 16TH AMERICAN AIRMAN CONFINED TO STALAG LUFT III. ONE OF 3 ORIGINAL AMERICAN AIRMEN WHO HELPED IN THE DIGGING OF THE ESCAPE TUNNELS. 3 July 1945, Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
.	19 Aug 42	.	.	Robertson	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claim for for 0.5, FW-190 destroyed Operation Jubilee,
.	19 Aug 42	.	.	White, John H	O-440155	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claim for for 0.5, FW-190 destroyed Operation Jubilee,
.	19 Aug 42	.	.	Whisonant William B	O-418150	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Credit for for 1 FW-190 damaged Operation Jubilee,
.	Aug 42	EN851	Spitfire Vb	Information Only Pilot - Wooten, Roland F Jr (0-348640 ) Merston, West Sussex, July-/August 1942.	O-348640	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Plane coded MX-D, named * Lima Challenger*, based out of Merston, England. Plane details 12MU 7-5-42 RAF St .Athan 20-6-42 AST 16-11-42 Cunliffe-Owen Cv Seafire Ib reserialled NX952 17-3-43
.	19 Aug 42	.	Spitfire Vb possibility above	Wooten, Roland F Jr (0-348640 ) and Whisonant, William B (0-418150 )	O-348640 O-418150	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	The final mission of the day for the 307th began at 16:05. Twelve Spitfires were to protect the Allied invasion fleet as it returned to England. The ships were mid-Channel when the 307th FS reached them, and immediately the American pilots spotted four FW 190 fighter-bombers attacking the ships. Lts. Whisonant and Wooten attacked the leading FW 190, hitting it. It flew back to France trailing black smoke. Two other American pilots successfully attacked an FW 190, hitting it numerous times, and it was claimed probably destroyed. This was the 31st Fighter Group's last combat for the day.
Possible	20 Aug 42	EN929	Spitfire Vb	FTR Ops (Failed To Return)	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	45MU 16-5-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 307S FTR ops 20-8-42 (Following the Dieppe raid the 307th took part in Circus missions to St Omer, France and Ostend, Belgium before moving to Merston on the 23rd.)
Possible	20 Aug 42	EP111	Spitfire Vb	FTR Ops (Failed To Return)	.	307FS	31FG	8AF		12MU 6-6-42 RAF Atcham 21-6-42 307S 20-8-42 FTR ops 20-8-42
.	22 Aug 42	W3236	Spitfire Vb	Information Only	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 16-5-41 6MU 17-5-41 609S 1-6-41 CAC ops 17-9-41 ros AST 29-10-41 310S 25-2-42 130S 28-2-42 ASTE 30-4-42 307USAAF 22-8-42 350S 12-9-42 Hit trees in bad visibility Godstone Surrey CE 21-9-42 SOC 27-9-42
.	22 Aug 42	R7298	Spitfire Vb	Information Only	.	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 3-4-41 9MU 5-4-41 610S 10-7-41 ASTH 14-8-41 72S 28-10-41 ASTE 5-12-41 309USAAF 22-8-42 FACB 11-11-42 1CRU 131S 18-3-43 310S 30-6-43 313S 27-7-43 FAAC 27-8-43 ros VASM 5-11-43 fuel syst mods 1TEU 16-6-44 61OTU 28-9-44 Flew into ground on night training flight Redwood Farm Salop FACE 9-11-44
Sometime on or after 23 Aug 43	Aug 42	EN799	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Coded MX-R, while based at Merston, England. Plane details 45MU 2-5-42 HQ 8Ftr T S ATC 21-10-42 61OTU crashed nr Stafford 15-12-42 SOC 24-12-42
.	24 Aug 42	.	.	.	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	August 24, 1942: Leave Biggin Hill and travel to the S. Coast by train to Chichester, then by truck to Merston. See Anti-aircraft guns in action against two Jerry A/C., too high to identify. Visited Chichester's Unicorn Inn for a couple pints with locals Hollie LaRonde, Steve Kubjalko, Ulla Patrick, Chet Shea, and Morrie Harris. We're in Quonset huts again like at Atcham. Merston not a good as Biggin Hill!
See 9 Oct 42 for final details of Pilot and plane	24 Aug 42	EN838	Spitfire Vb	.	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	12MU 8-5-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 FAAC 24-6-42 308USAAF 10-7-42 u/c collapsed after landing Kenley 11-8-42 308USAAF 24-8-42 crashed Arundel pilot killed wreck to Tangmere by VA CE 17-10-42
Possible	24 Aug 42	EP174	Spitfire Vb	.	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	9MU 6-6-42 RAF Atcham 23-6-42 FAAC 19-8-42 308S 24-8-42 FLS 5-2-44 RNDA 23-3-44 for trainer 761S Henstridge 12-44
Possible	24 Aug 42	EP175	Spitfire Vb	.	.	308FS	31FG	8AF	.	9MU 7-6-42 RAF Atcham 24-6-42 308S 24-8-42 VASM 16-8-43 fuel syst mods wing stiff S type pt MkIII IFF bomb carrier RNDA 16-1-44 269S 27-4-44 CE 4-3-46 SOC 28-3-46
.	25 Aug 42	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	8AF	.	WESTHAMPNETT AIRDROME: On Aug 25th the 307th and 308th joined the 309th already at this base near Chichester, England. The Group airplanes were now flying fighter sweeps and bomber escort missions across the channel.
.	26 Aug 42	AD231	Spitfire Vb	Information Only	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Coded MX-X. named West Bormeo plane details 5MU 13-9-41 19S 26-10-41 R-R 30-10-41 mods FACB 14-2-42 ASTH 307USAAF 26-8-42 350S 12-9-42 401S 7-12-42 403S 25-1-43 Crashed 5m SE of Le Treport on sweep 15-2-43 FH114.0 F/O H A Westhaver killed
.	Sep 42	.	Spitfire Vb	Thompson, Norman P	O-433425	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	Flew plane coded WZ-Y
.	12 Sep 42	W3619	Spitfire Vb	Information Only	.	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	FF 1-8-41 39MU 5-8-41 Starveall Farm dispersal 315S 29-8-41 307USAAF 12-9-42 350S 23-9-42 401S 7-12-42 VASM 16-9-42 ? mods 64S eng fire crash-landed Langley Sussex 11-8-43 DeH ARF 2-12-43 315S 24-5-44 HAL 12-7-44 Armee de l'Air GC2/18 19-1-45
.	16 Sept 42	BL660	Spitfire Vb	White, Edward T	O-416367	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Accident Merston, UK. Plane details 12MU 16-5-42 307S 1-10-42 ros HQ 8Ftr Command 21-10-42
.	22 Sep 43	EP179	Spitfire Vb	Thyng, Harrison R., CO 309FS	O-376197	309FS	31FG	8AF	.	Flew WZ-A named Mary &James based out of Westhampnett, England. Its scheduled missions were "Rodeos", feints to decoy German fighter opposition, and convoy escorts, but on August 9 Major Thyng and a wingman flew a defensive patrol over the English Channel in which Thyng claimed a Junkers Ju 88 damaged. Plane details 9MU 14-6-42 71S 20-7-42 334USAAF 1-10-42 CB AST 31-3-44 1OADU 8-1-45 Armee de l'Air 19-1-45
.	1 Oct 42	EN909	Spitfire Vb	Chambers, Winfred L.	O-421607	309FS	31FG	8AF	DNB	Entered the Service from: Arkansas. Pilot killed plane destroyed at Westhampnett, England. 5MU 14-5-42 High Ercall 21-6-42 FACE 1-10-42 SOC
.	2 Oct 42	DL-828	Miles Master	Whisonant, William B	O-418150	307FS	31FG	8AF	.	Incident Merston, England
.	9 Oct 42	EN838	Spitfire Vb	Ward, Willard C	O-885279	308FS	31FG	8AF	DNB	Pilot killed , plane destroyed. Based out of Westhampnett, England , accident occurred at Arundel Park, England. 12MU 8-5-42 RAF Atcham 20-6-42 FAAC 24-6-42 308USAAF 10-7-42 u/c collapsed after landing Kenley 11-8-42 308USAAF 24-8-42 crashed Arundel pilot killed wreck to Tangmere by VA CE 17-10-42
.	24 Oct 42	BM472	Spitfire Vb	Gray, J (Sgt)		308FS	31FG	8AF	KIA	37MU 12-4-42 308S 21-6-42 FAAC 19-8-42 308USAAF Calibration test Shot down by Fw190s off Selsey Bill Sussex 24-10-42 Sgt J Gray killed
.	7 Nov 42	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	At about 1520 hours Doolittle arrived on the Gibraltar airdrome from the command post and ordered Col. John R. Hawkins to take his 31st Group fighters into Tafaraoui. The 31st had been scheduled for the Casablanca area, where the more strenuous resistance was anticipated, and was parked on the crowded airstrip in front of Col. Dixon M. Allison's 52d Group, which was to go into Oran. As any other arrangement meant delay, Doolittle ordered Hawkins' pilots to take off, which they did inside of twenty minutes-two squadrons of Spitfires-flying around thundershowers on the way to Oran and trying vainly to contact the fighter control which according to their briefing would have been set up at Tafaraoui. They arrived at 1700 hours. Hawkins found a section of the runway without holes and led his pilots in for a landing. French artillery was registering on the airdrome and some of the Spits still airborne temporarily silenced it by a strafing attack. Four Dewoitines, mistaken for Hurricanes, had been doing lazy eights over the field as the squadrons arrived; when the last four Spits were in a landing circle with wheels down the Dewoitines came in for an attack and shot down and killed one pilot, only to lose three of their number.
.	8 Nov 42	.	.	Kenworthy, Charles C Jr	O-421776	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Dewoitine 520 of GC III/3.
.	8 Nov 42	.	.	Payne, Carl W	O-433390	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Dewoitine 520 of GC III/3.
.	8 Nov 42	.	.	Thyng, Harrison R	O-376197	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Dewoitine 520 of GC III/3.
.	8 Nov 42	.	.	Byrd, Joseph W	O-887689	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Was shot down and killed by a French Dewoitine 520 of GC III/3. The Dewotine, misidentified as a British Hawker Hurricane, attacked just as Byrd crossed the airfield boundary with his gear and flaps down. The remaining airborne Spitfires gave chase, destroying three of the four Dewotines. Major Harrison Thyng and Lieutenants Carl W. Payne and Charles Kenworthy (O-421776) were each credited with one destroyed enemy aircraft
.	9 Nov 42	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF		The 31st rendered important aid in the stubborn battle for Oran. Shortly after dawn on the 9th, three of its Spits on reconnaissance southward discovered a large hostile force moving up from Sidi-bel-Abbes. Continuing attacks, enduring four to five hours, were maintained against the column, which turned out to be the famous Foreign Legion. The light French tanks offered pitiful opposition to the Spits' 20-mm. guns, and the discouraged Legion eventually turned back, after which it was not further molested. Hawkins, using the radio in the armored force's command tank and later those in the Spits, had established communications with the Largs. The command ship assigned several missions: one against coastal guns too heavily protected for effective strafing, another against what proved to be an American unit, which promptly shot down two of the offending Spits-the command ship had identified the target as west of La Macta when it had meant to say east. Flights of the 31st, however, were able to silence the troublesome 75's which had intermittently shelled Tafaraoui. During the afternoon Doolittle arrived in a B-17 with Spitfire escort from the 52d Group. Altogether, seventeen missions, totalling forty-five sorties, were flown during the day. ^{Losses since 8 November included one in combat, four from ground fire, and two in taxiing. Six of the 52d's aircraft had run out of gas on the way in from Gibraltar and came down in various places}
.	9 Nov 42	.	.	.	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Operation Torch, the Invasion of North Africa, commenced on November 8, 1942. The ground echelon went ashore at Arzeu that afternoon. The pilots flew their Spitfires from Gibralter to Tafaraoui, Algeria on the 9th. The 307th saw action against French ground targets prior to the French surrender on the 11th. The squadron moved the 5 miles to Le Senia, Algeria on the 12th where they flew routine and uneventful patrols in their sector for the next five weeks. On December 21 the 307th moved to Maison Blanche, Algeria. Operating independently of the rest of the 31st they were primarily tasked with escorting transports from Algeria to Tunisia.
.	9 Nov 42	.	Incongruously marked with pseudo- American markings - a white star on a blue circle, surrounded by a yellow ring - in a vain attempt to fool the defenders into thinking they were American, British aircraft made bombing attacks and fought several aerial engagements. The first British carrier strikes came at dawn when 42 aircraft launched against Vichy airfields at La Senia, Maison Blanche, and Tafaroui near Oran.	Hutton, P J	RAF	.	.	.	.	Seafires flew armed escort and reconnaissance missions throughout the day. Two British pilots landed their Seafires near American columns. Sub- Lieutenant Peter Twiss - who would become a famous postwar test pilot - offered to fly short reconnaissance missions for a U.S. Army tank column, even though his aircraft had only about 50 gallons of fuel left. Sub-Lieutenant P. J. Hutton crash-landed alongside another armored column and made his way to the US. Army Air Force’s 31st Fighter Group, which had flown its Spitfire VCs into Oran at the end of the day. The next day, November 9, Hutton borrowed an American Spitfire and flew a mission before being ferried back to Gibraltar by a Royal Air Force Hudson. (American Spitfires were ferried, along with British aircraft, aboard British carriers to Gibraltar.)
He is mentioned in MACR 9223, P-47D, 42-25894, 362FG, 4 Oct 1944	10 Nov 42	.	.	Wooten, Roland F. Jr	O-348640	307FS	31FG	12AF	S/d	Photo Nov 10, 1942, England, This is Wooten's Spitfire 307th FS shot down by ground fire he survives coded K-J with American flag painted on the fuselage
.	Nov 42	ER180	Spitfire Vb	Holloway, Arthur P. Jr	O-416304	307FS	31FG	12AF		Coded MX-P, Shark mouthed Spitfire based at La Senia, Algeria. Plane details 9MU 27-8-42 76MU 10-9-42 SS621 16-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 FAC2 26-11-42 NWAfrica 28-2-43 Malta 1-7-43 NAfricanASC 31-10-43 SOC 30-6-45
.	2 Dec 42	AD187	Spitfire Vb	Conner, Hal C	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Accident Farnborough, England. 13MU 10-9-41 118S 16-9-41 457S 22-3-42 485S 28-3-42 309S 16-7-42 FAAC 23-1-43 ros AST 28-7-43 hook fitt RNDA 16-1-44 899S Belfast taxying port wheel sank in soft ground nosed over code 8 10-2-44 (S/L BA Gentry) 886S Lee landed wheels up on runway 4-3-44 (S/L DK Lewis)
.	11 Dec 42	.	.	Ford, Jack P	.	.	.	.	.	December 11, Oran Discovered that my generators were not functioning and found a burned-out solenoid, so ventured over to La Senia to see if I could replace same. Dillon went along. We looked up J.P. Ford who is flying Spitfires and thereupon had a class reunion. J.P. was still slightly woozy from a party on the preceding night so after one glass of champagne he was off to the races. We consumed six quarts among four of us. The solenoid was not to be had, by the way.
Not confirmed	17 Dec 42 other source has 1943	ER488	Spitfire Vb	Information Only Possible 52FG	.	.	.	.	.	Coded Q (Yellow edged Star) V. Crashed in Algiers, 46MU 21/9/42, 215 MU 15/10/42. Then transported by the ship SS628 to Algiers. Failed to return from Ops 17/12/42"
.	21 Dec 42	EN957	Spitfire Vb	Phillips, Robert E		308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Accident AAF Sta G-467, 45MU 22-5-42 308S 24-8-42 ASTE 14-3-44 350S 16-6-44 57OTU 23-7-44 FAAC 9-8-44 Engine lost power crashlanded at Leuchars 2-10-44 recat E 23-10-44

1943

MACR#	Date	Serial#	A/C Type	Pilot	Service#	Sqdn	Group	AF	Status	Comments
.	6 Jan 43	EP780	Spitfire VbT		.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-B, 9MU 29-8-42 82MU 21-9-42 SS620 15-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 111S Engine cut stalled on approach Souk el Khemis C3 6-1-43
.	6 Jan 43	.	.	Klaas, Joe	O-885360	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Belly lands when landing gear fails to extend at Yours les Bains
.	6 Jan 43	.	.	Langberg, Maurice K	O-379909	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Belly lands when landing gear fails to extend at Yours les Bains
.	11 Jan 43	.	.	.	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Moved to Casablanca, Morocco in order to cover the arrival of President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Churchill arrives in Commando 3 a converted B-24 as seen in the documentary Tunisian Victory (1944). The most famous Liberator II was AL504, which was the personal transport of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. All armament was removed, and the fuselage was modified to accommodate plush seats, berths, and an electric flight kitchen. It bore the name Commando. In 1944, Commando was fitted with a single-fin and rudder. Commando was lost over the Atlantic on Mar 27, 1945 while on a flight to Canada . All aboard were lost, including Air Marshal Sir (Peter) Roy Maxwell Drummond, the RAF's Air Member for Training
.	23 Jan 43	AR283	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	33MU 12-1-42 611S 8-2-42 [301S 14-7-42] 307USAAF 23-1-43 HAL 7-4-43 VASM 19-8-43 fuel syst and elev mods wing stiff MkIII IFF bomb carrier 416S 3-12-43 186S 10-2-44 130S 18-4-44 303S CAC ops 26-7-44 ros 61OTU 14-4-45 SOC 22-5-45
.	5 Feb 43	ER670	Spitfire VbT	.	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-XX, 6MU 10-10-42 82MU 14-10-42 SS626 20-10-42 Gibraltar 6-11-42 NWAfrica Tailwheel broke swung and u/c collapsed Tingley 5-2-43
.	14 Feb 43	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	Claim was made by Erich Rudorffer of Stab II./JG 2, 16:16 hours, 10 km W Pribon: 100 m / Spitfire V of 31 FG, USAAF
.	14 Feb 43	.	.	Callender, Alvin D	O-435853	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory Twelve Spitfires of the US 308th FS were escorting 9 A-20s, 6 P-39s and 6 P-40s. After one Spitfire returned to base early with a radio problem, the P-40s were attacked by 8 Fw 190s from JG 2. The Spitfires also attacked with 5 of them getting firing opportunities. However, none of the guns fired due to sand jamming them. There had been 2 days of blowing sand and it was not an uncommon problem. By the end of the day, fighters from II./JG 2 had claimed 11 Spitfires shot down with Oblt. Kurt Buhligen of 4./JG 2 again having a multiple kill day with 4 Spitfires. Two other pilots from 4 Staffel, Lt. Lothar Werner and Ofw. Kurt Goltzsch each claimed 2 Spitfires destroyed.
.	15 Feb 43	.	.	Reed, Joseph C.	O-437044	308FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: New York
.	15 Feb 43	.	.	Callender, Alvin D	O-435853	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory.
.	15 Feb 43	.	.	White, John H.	O-440155	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	15 Feb 43	.	.	Mitchell, Merlin P.	O-416326	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	15 Feb 43	.	Spitfire Vb coded MX-Y	Collinsworth, Jerry D	O-440086	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. His first FW-190. Lts. Marlin Mitchell and John White each claiming ME-109s destroyed and Lt. Malcolm A. Hormats, O-885364, prior service with RCAF, damaging a FW-190. Due to the advancing German army, the 31st had to abandon Thelepte on the 17 Feb 1943 returning 11 Mar 1943
.	15 Feb 43	.	.	Kenworthy, Charles C Jr	O-421776	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory Returning from a P-39 escort mission, the US 309th FS engaged a mixed formation of 16 Bf 109s and Fw 190s attacking Thelepte. The Allied formation claimed 2 Luftwaffe planes shot down while Hptm. Erich Rudorffer of II./JG 2 shot down 7 more Allied aircraft in 20 minutes. Oblt. Kurt Buhligen of 4./JG 2 claimed 3 P-38s and Ofw. Kurt Goltzsch of 4./JG 2 claimed 2 Lightnings.
.	15 Feb 43	.	.	Thyng, Harrison R	O-376197	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	Date unknown at this time	.	Spitfire	Thyng, Harrison R	O-376197	309FS	31FG	12AF	S/d	During that cold, wet North African winter, the 309th moved frequently from one improvised strip to another, living under primitive conditions and averaging three missions a day in support of ground operations and against the cream of the Luftwaffe and the Italian Air Force. On one mission, Thyng crash-landed his battle-damaged Spitfire behind enemy lines, suffering a back injury. Armed only with a pistol, he fought his way through an Arab patrol to the sanctuary of a friendly tank.
.	.	.	Spitfire	Thyng, Harrison R	O-376197	309FS	31FG	12AF	S/d	The 31st deployed to a forward base at Thelepte, Tunisia, which it temporarily evacuated during the German breakthrough at the Battle of the Kasserine Pass (19 to 25 Feb 1943). Thyng won a second Silver Star attacking German armored forces during the battle and was shot down twice, once by British anti-aircraft fire.while Thyng was on the tail of an Me-109, a British antiaircraft unit, wishing to be helpful, opened fire on the enemy plane but shot down Thyng's Spitfire. After his rough parachute landing, apologetic Brits put the bruised pilot in a jeep for return to his squadron. On the way, the jeep driver went over an embankment. Thyng was thrown out, breaking his ankle. The next morning, as he hobbled to operations with his ankle in a cast, he was met by his crew chief, standing beside a Spitfire, "borrowed" during the night from another squadron, with Thyng's name painted on the nose. The crew chief had rigged a sling on the rudder bar "so we won't have to miss a mission." Years later, in February 1975, retired Brig. Gen. Harrison Thyng wrote about that crew chief in one of the most engaging stories AIR FORCE Magazine has ever published.
.	17 Feb 43		.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	31ST Fighter Group had to evacuate Thelepte Airdrome by noon February 17th. It was about 10AM and all our people were already gone when the Artillery Officer ordered the three Anti-Tank guns to start firing. In minutes, an A-20, a P-40, and 3 Spitfires were afire plus dozens of barrels of 100 octane fuel.
.	18 Feb 43	.	.	Ford, Jack P	.	.	.	.	.	Glen Edwards 47th Bomb Group (L)February 18, Youks-les-Bains Just learned that J.P. Ford got sort of shot up on the ground the other day trying to get his Spit into the air. He's in the hospital which they moved down here to Youks-les-Bains, so Simmons and I went in to see him today. He's getting along okay.
.	21 Feb 43	.	.	Hill, Frank A	O-399962	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Feb 43	.	.	Mitchell, Merlin P.	O-416326	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory claimed a ME-109 shot down near Kasserine Pass
.	28 Feb 43	ER180	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded MX-P, 9MU 27-8-42 76MU 10-9-42 SS621 16-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 FAC2 26-11-42 NWAfrica 28-2-43 Malta 1-7-43 NAfricanASC 31-10-43 SOC 30-6-45
.	28 Feb 43	ER181	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	46MU 29-8-42 215MU 5-10-42 Camarata Leith 2-11-42 Takoradi 14-12-42 Middle East 1-6-43 Malta 1-7-43 Sicily 1-8-43 Hit by EP192 while parked Palazzo 1-10-43 SOC 8-3-44
.	28 Feb 43	ER187	Spitfire Vb	Information only Coded WZ-C, named Lindy and Frank . Assigned to Capt Frank Hill. 6 May 1943.	O-399962	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded WZ-C, named Lindy and Frank . Assigned to Capt Frank Hill. 6 May 1943. 9MU 27-8-42 82MU 19-9-42 SS622 17-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 NWAfrica 28-2-43
.	8 Mar 43	.	.	Collingsworth, J. D	O-440086	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory claimed a FW-190 destroyed on March 8th during a patrol to Pichon, after the squadron was bounced and Lt Thomas (Collingsworth's wingman) was shot down.
.	8 Mar 43	Werk Number 0140681	FW 190A-4	.	.	.	.	.	S/d	White 1 of 4./J.G.2, assigned to Kurt Bühligen This aircraft was lost on 8 March 1943 in combat with USAAF Spitfires of the 31st FG. Later that day Oblt Bühligen shot down a pair of Spitfires of the 307th FS/31st FG. However in return, Uffz Erich Engelbrecht was shot down and killed, and Uffz Alfred Sonntag was wounded.
.	8 Mar 43	.	.	Thomas, Woodlief A. Jr.	O-433424	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	During the morning, four Spitfires of the 307th FS/31st FG took off from their Le Kouif base to fly a reconnaissance mission over the front. At 09:35, they were bounced by at least five FW 190As from 4./J.G. 2. At the moment when the Germans attacked, the American formation was re-forming, and Lt. Woodlief A. Thomas had slowed down to return to his position as wingman to Lt. Jerry D. Collinsworth. Lt. Collinsworth recalls the early moments of the combat: "Unknown to any of us, at least three FW 190s were coming up off the 'deck' from behind to attack us ... I was just barely past Woody [Thomas] when I heard guns and upon looking toward him I discovered he was already on fire and, without uttering a word, he crashed to the ground about 500 feet below". Thomas had fallen victim to 4./J.G. 2's Staffelkapitän, Oblt. Kurt Bühligen. Bühligen recorded the victory as occurring at 09:38, about 35 km north-north-west of II./J.G. 2's base, Kairouan. Two of the Spitfire pilots (including Collinsworth) tried to escape by flying into cloud, but the American formation leader, Lt. Merlin P. Mitchell, engaged in a low-level, turning dogfight with a few of the FW 190s. However, he was outnumbered and was shot down by Oblt. Bühligen, Lt. Lothar Werner, or Uffz. Heinz Schülze, all of whom made claims for Spitfires at low-altitude between 09:39 and 09:43. Meanwhile, Lt. Collinsworth was dog fighting with Uffz. Erich Engelbrecht. He recalled: "Fortunately, when I came out of the clouds I was behind him about 500/800 feet. I immediately 'shoved everything to the firewall' and headed down for him. I knew exactly when he saw me for black smoked poured out of the FW, and I knew he had gone to full throttle. But, since I had accelerated earlier than he and had 300/400 feet of altitude on him, I was gaining on him. He went to the 'deck' but that was only about 400 or 500 feet. I wanted to avenge Woody's death if possible so I left Mitchell and the other two FWs to their fight ..." Engelbrecht tried to escape his pursuer, and flew towards Kairouan, but he did not make it back to base: "The FW 190 headed in a generally southerly direction with me gaining on him. We were flying less than 50 feet above the terrain. Shortly thereafter, as I was getting closer, the German pilot entered a steep left turn. I turned inside of him and started firing. One of my two 20 mm cannons jammed immediately and the effect was to make my Spit 'see-saw' back and forth with only one cannon firing from out on my wing. I don't know for sure if I hit his a/c or not but, in any event, he snapped inverted. I was so scared and up-tight that I thought, 'He is going to do a Split-S and try to come up behind me'. Of course, he crashed into the ground doing about 350 mph. And then, I realized that a fighter can't do a Split-S from less than 50 feet about the ground and a speed of 350 mph!" Uffz. Engelbrecht perished in the crash. Erich Engelbrecht had just turned 23, and had shot down two enemy aircraft in Tunisia. Uffz. Alfred Sonntag also fell victim to the USAAF Spitfires, and was probably shot down by Merlin Mitchell. Sonntag was flying FW 190A-4 'White 7 + -', and was wounded (he was later killed in combat in France on 25 June 1944). Merlin Mitchell survived the combat, and was captured by the Germans. He spent some time with II./J.G. 2 at Kairouan, and was photographed sitting at a table with Kurt Bühligen and other pilots from the FW 190 unit.
.	8 Mar 43	.	.	Mitchell, Merlin P.	O-416326	.	31FG	12AF	POW	North African Theatre: Tunisia, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11. Merlin Mitchell survived the combat, and was captured by the Germans. He spent some time with II./J.G. 2 at Kairouan, and was photographed sitting at a table with Kurt Bühligen and other pilots from the FW 190 unit.
.	12 Mar 43	.	.	Davis, Adrian A	O-435856	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory Northwest African Air Force B-17s bombed the docks and marshalling yards at Sousse. B-26s pounded supply dumps and scored near misses on bridges at Enfidaville while B-25s bombed shipping between Tunisia and Sicily. Fighters escorted the bombers and carried out attacks on ground targets, destroying several vehicles in the Pichon area and south of Pont-du-Fahs. RAF Wellingtons bombed the Tunis docks during the night. ....Lt. A. A. Davis of the US 31st FG downed one Fw 190 and damaged another. The same day Lt. Mosby damaged a Fw 190.
.	15 Mar 43	.	.	Cobb, Elmon R	O-421604	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory Lt. Cobb of the US 31st FG claimed a Bf 109. Surprisingly, Lt. Cobb observed the Messerschmitt crash-land and the German pilot, wearing khaki shorts, got out and waved.
.	17 Mar 43	N/A	N/A	Mandeville, Robert N	6916142	307FS	31FG	12AF	DOW	12 Mar 1943, Raid: When fog lifted in AM 5 ME 109's with 4 FW 190's for cover bombed the edge of the field.. then went on to strafe Thelepte #2. Some 307th ships damaged.. several men hurt. Robert Mandeville serious.. to hospital.. died later. , Thelepte #1, Robert J. Mandeville of Flint, MI was the 31st's first enlisted battle casualty. He was wounded on Mar 12th, 1943, 2nd attack at Thelepte by German aircraft strafing our field and bivouac area.
.	.	.	.	Fleming, Thomas B	O-385178	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	At Thelepte 2nd time Capt Fleming's plane badly shot up.. 20mm 'HE' hit insignia area.. dented the dual armor plate.. plane scrapped due to shrapnel holes.. On next airplane he and crew chief put 2nd piece of armor plate behind the seat.. Soon afterward his Spit took a 20MM on the right side.. double plate kept ball from him!
.	20-Mar-43	.	.	Barber, Keenan C	O-421586	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Six Spitfires of the Us 309thFS/31st FG got into a dogfight with 8 Bf 109s, claiming 3 damaged while Lt. Barber had to crash land. Oblt. Dietrich Kasten of 2./JG 53 claimed the Spitfire for his 17th victory. JG 53 also lost Oblt. Gunther Hess of 6./JG 53 when the 9 victory pilot was listed as missing in action in his Bf 109G-4/trop.
.	20 Mar 43	.	.	Klaas, Joe	O-885360	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Belly lands when he forgets to extend his landing gear at Thelepte
.	21 Mar 43	.	.	Langberg, Maurice K.	O-379909	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories. On the 21st the squadron got into a bit of a scrap near Maknassy, resulting in a Ju-87 claimed by Lt. Maurice Langsberg.
.	21 Mar 43	.	.	Langberg, Maurice K	0-379909	307FS	31FG	12AF	S/d	The 31 FG's turn came on 21 March when they encountered numerous Ju-87 Stuka dive-bombers with ME-109 escorts. The result was four Stukas shot down and four damaged, and one ME-109 damaged. One Spit flown by Lieutenant Langberg was lost. He bailed out near Maknassy, he was captured by Italian troops, but then was released and returned on the 23rd
.	21 Mar 43	.	.	MacDonald, James S	O-885230	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory The US 31st FG escorted A-20s to Kairouan and encountered 17 Ju 87 Stuka dive-bombers with Bf 109 escorts. The temptation was too great and the 309th FS went after them. The result was 4 Stukas shot down and 4 damaged and one Bf 109 damaged. One Spitfire, flown by Lt. Langberg, was lost. He bailed out, was captured by Italian troops but then was released and returned on the 23rd. The US 52nd FG lost one Spitfire that day also. Three pilots from II./JG 51 and Oblt. Siegfreid Freytag from Stab II./JG 77 claimed 4 Spitfires.
.	21 Mar 43	.	.	McCarthy, Robert E Jr	O-663063	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Mar 43	.	.	Paulk, John H	O-421666	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Mar 43	.	.	Payne, Carl W	O-433390	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	22 Mar 43	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	The US 52nd FG was very successful near Mazzouna against Bf 109s, Fw 190s and Ju 88s. the group downed 5 Bf 109s, 2 Fw 190s and 2 Ju 88s, losing only one Spitfire to a crash landing from flak damage. The US 31st FG also lost one to a crash-landing.
.	23 Mar 43	.	.	Early, Nathaniel G	T-190826	309FS	31FG	12AF	FOD	Hometown: St. Joseph County, IN
.	24 Mar 43	.	.	Juhnke, Jerome	O-437021	309FS	31FG	12AF	S/d Rtn	.
.	25 Mar 43	.	.	Hill, Frank A	O-399962	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Mar 43	EP965	Spitfire Vb	.	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-U, 12MU 15-8-42 82MU 2-9-42 SS621 16-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 241S Crashed Hal Far C3 25-3-43
.	27 Mar 43	.	.	MacDonald, James S	O-885230	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Mar 43	.	.	Lupton, Robert M. Jr	O-437028	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Mar 43	.	.	Thyng, Harrison R	O-376197	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Mar 43	EN329	Spitfire IX	Dean, Fred Murray CO 31FG	O-021245	308FS	31FG	12AF		Plane coded for his initials FM-D, Plane details FF 13-1-43 6MU 21-1-43 47MU 3-2-43 SS658 22-2-43 Gibraltar 7-3-43 NWAfrica 31-3-43 NAfrica 30-11-43 145S Colonel Fred. M. DEAN, United States Air Force, appointed Commander of USAAF 31st Fighter Group, which comprised the 307th, 308th and 309th Fighter Squadrons, who arrived at Xewkija Aerodrome, Gozo, from Tunisia on 30th June 1943. It had been built by 21st Engineer Aviation Regiment, under the supervision of Captain Robert E. Sexton, between the 8th, and 20th June 1943 Retired July 1, 1972. Died May 6, 2002
xxxxx	??/??/??	.	.	Robbins, Ben	O-360566	309FS	31FG	12AF	DNB	Killed in vehicle accident, Hometown: Allegheny County, PA
.	1 Apr 43		.	Strole, Francis M.	O-885349	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: Kansas. Shot down by flak he collided with a tank while attempting to crash land
.	1 Apr 43	.	Spitfire coded WZ-O	Juhnke, Jerome	O-437021	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Hometown: San Diego, CA Shot down east of El Guittar in plane assigned to Leonard Houston Meldeau, coded WZ-O. This was the third time he had been shot down, but this time his parachute (which actually belonged to Meldeau) failed to open. Juhnke assigned plane at the time was WZ-Z
.	1 Apr 43	.	.	Peebles, Richard L	O-885204	308FS	31FG	12AF	S/d Rtn	Damaged in aerial combat crash lands at Gafsa.
.	1 Apr 43	.	.	O'Brien, William C.	O-791322	308FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: New York. Shot down in flames over El Guettar
.	1 Apr 43	.	.	Kelly, Stanley O	O-885344	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Bf-109
.	1 Apr 43	.	.	Thyng, Harrison R	O-376197	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Bf-109, .Major Thyng of the US 309th FS / 31st FG destroyed a Bf 109. Lt. Kelly also claimed a Bf 109 however Lts. Juhnke and Strole were both killed. JG 77 gained an emblem when the unit was given a Geschwader badge and the name 'Herz-As' or Ace of Hearts.
.	2 Apr 43	.	.	Meldeau, Leonard Houston	O-885323	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 Apr 43	.	Spitfire coded WZ-Z	Meldeau, Leonard Houston prior service with RCAF	O-885323	309FS	31FG	12AF		April 2 Mission: Escort 48 A-20's and 4 P39's for an attack on the airfield at La Fauconnerie. The bombers got there. I was to lead an element of Blue flight 309th Squadron(307 and 308th also had aircraft on this mission). After joining the bombers, we proceeded to target. The advanced P39's reported no targets on the airfield and no wonder! Visible was an immense dust cloud from the area to the north. The enemy had moved their aircraft and were comming up to do battle. The bombers dropped their bombs on a useless target and turned full bore westward toward safety. I don't remember what happened to the low P39's but I suppose they were all shot down as usual. Shortly after turning west, we were attacked by about 20 ME109's and engaged in a fierce battle to protect the bombers. One a-20 bomber was badly hit and dropped back in slow flight to await the inevitable. Colonel Fred Dean, our lead, ordered several of us back to defend the bomber. Arriving at the A-20 bomber we found that he was badly hit and slowly losing altitude. Suddenly we were attacked by another formation of German ME109's. Did I count them, Hell no! I remember that there were only 4 of us back there. Henry Huntington, Brown, myself, and the other Spit. Faced with this we turned and tore into the enemy. Henry Huntington got one on the first pass and I saw hits on my target. The battle really wound up with the Germans willing to dogfight with there great numerical superiority. Planes were going around and around to the left, to the right, and the whole mess was tumbling over and over and over. As I drove one aircraft from the main combat area and prepared to help him become a dead hero, I was suddenly fired upon from above. The new enemy was in too close because I received no hits. His tracers were straddling my fuselage at arms length. As he swept down on me, I saw his gold colored nose and recoganized ME109G( Abbeville Kid ). After he passed me going absolutely straight up to several thousand feet above. I lost him in the sun until there he was again moving down at 400 plus with vapor trails coming from his wingtips. These trails were typical of the ME109 during high "G" loads such as pulling through from a high-speed dive. When his vapor trails ceased, I broke hard right as I knew he had completed his pursuit curve and was on a collision course necessary to fire. Again his tracers passed to my left and back only inches from a hit. Just after he went by again, I was attacked by several ME109'S but was able to turn left hard enough to avoid a hit. However, all this manoeuvering had my Spitfire down to an unacceptable speed. During a opportunity for a shallow dive to pick up speed I remember hoping that the "yellow nose" would pick on somebody else to give me a rest. I was now down to 3000 or so feet which was good because that usless mask and goggles slipping down was no help. The few seconds break was short-lived. However I looked up and saw the wingtip vortices of that yellow nose devil on his way down, I had a feeling that "This is it". At that moment I suddenly recalled the "head-on" proposal of the night before and, with the pitiful speed I had left, I pulled the yoke straight back and up. Win or lose, I was too tired to take it any more and just wanted to get it over with. My guns now centered on the enemy, I waited for him to get in range. I had to fire first when his vortices ceased but my speed was dropping too fast and I opened fire with all four machine guns and tow cannons when he was still at a slight deflection angle. As I fired, I saw he was in exact range as my hits were solid for all guns. He had not quite completted his pursuit curve as all firepower was going under me. Suddenly he snapped over on his back and went underneath me which was lucky for both of us because the recoil of firing all guns had just about stopped me in midair with no control left to avoid him. As the enemy went by spewing smoke, fire, and debris, my spity went into a spin. Luckily, my pass had taken me to about five thousand feet, just about enough room to recover. On the way down, I saw the enemy plane crash in a flat spin and a parachute went by. By this time, poor A-20 had taken many more hits and was forced to crash land short of Thelepte. The pilot survived to confirm my victory. This story was writte by Col. Leonard Houston Meldeau and was later transcribed from his notes by his son after his death on May 31, 1995.
.	2 Apr 43	.	.	Huntington, Henry E.	O-885336	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Me-109
.	5 Apr 43	.	.	Adams, Michael E	O-791272	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	5 Apr 43	.	.	Collingsworth, Jerry D.	O-440086	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	5 Apr 43	.	.	Fischette, Charles R.	O-885163	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	6 Apr 43	.	.	Fields, Virgil C. Jr.	O-727434	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Apr 43	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	On April 6 the 31st received its first Spitfire Mk IXs. The 309th also took possession of their first Spitfire Mk IXs on the 14 Apr 1943, things slowed considerably for the 31st FG during the rest of May. Pilots were given rest leave and most of the Spitfire V's were replaced with Spitfire IXs and Spitfire Mk VIIIs. The 308th received 55 examples of the Mk VIIIs/Merlin 61, which were nearly identical in performance to the Mk IX
.	6 Apr 43	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	JG 77 suffered 3 losses in the afternoon, one northwest of Fatnassa in air combat and 2 in belly-landings near to La Cesare due to unknown reasons. Fw. Herbert Kittler of 7./JG 77 was killed in action shortly after gaining his 11th victory, a Spitfire. Oblt. Georg Seckel of 7./JG 77 claimed another Spitfire shortly after Fw. Kittler's.
.	6 Apr 43	.	.	Klaas, Joe	O-885360	307FS	31FG	12AF	POW	North African Theatre: Tunisia, Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
Not confirmed	6 Apr 43	ER530	Spitfire Vb	.	.	.	.	.	.	46MU 19-9-42 215MU 15-10-42 SS628 25-10-42 Gibraltar 9-11-42 NWAfrica 28-2-43 Shot down by Bf109s nr Mateur 6-4-43
.	7 Apr 43	.	.	Miller, Donald E. (Prior service with RAF)	O-885341	.	31FG	12AF	POW	North African Theatre: Tunisia, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	7 Apr 43	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	The US 31st FG received its first Spitfire Mk IXs. The Germans were now on the run and the Group was moved to Djilma, 15 miles from the front.
.	9 Apr 43	.	.	Langberg, Maurice K	O-379909	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Apr 43	.	.	Johnson, Edward G	O-421750	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Apr 43	.	.	Strawn, Harry C., Jr	O-885334	309FS	31FG	12AF	S/d	Plane blew up in mid air. Wounded and badly injured he is taken to hospital by 2 German soldiers. He is rescued from hospital on 7 May 1943 when Tunis falls.
.	21 Apr 43	.	.	Bryson, William C.	O-421638	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	21 Apr 43	.	.	Davis, Mercer P.	O-23232	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victory 2 FW-190s.
.	21 Apr 43	.	.	White, John H.	O-440155	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victory 1 Me-109 and Engaging 6 to 8 FW-190s during their second sweep of the day, the 307th scored again with Lts. Roland Wooten, Willaim Bryson and J. White destroying FW-190s
.	21 Apr 43	.	.	Wooten, Roland F. Jr.	O-348640	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	21 Apr 43	.	.	Avery, Delwin B	O-388864	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 43	.	.	Corrigan, Robert E	O-433353	.	31FG	12AF	POW	Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	21 Apr 43	.	Spitefire coded HL-Q.	Peeples, Richard L	O-885204	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 43	.	Spitefire coded HL-Q.	Peebles, Richard L	O-885204	308FS	31FG	12AF	POW	Plane coded HL-Q. Shot down by BF-109 he was badly injured in the crash landing and woke up beside Strawn in hospital. North African Theatre: Tunisia, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	26 Apr 43	.	.	Dalrymple, Edwin	O-433356	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Apr 43	.	.	Johnson, Edward G	O-421750	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Apr 43	.	.	Overend, Walter J	O-885361	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	May 43	.	NEW SPITFIRES	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	At Korba, Tunisia. Spit 'V's' were traded for Spit VIII and IX's.. the 308th got VIII's.. the Group began readying for the invasions of Sicily and Southern Italy
.	May 43	EN307	Spitfire IX	Information only	.	307FS	31FG	12AF		Plane coded MX-O, based at Le Sers, Tunisia. Plane details FF 23-12-42 543S Benson 29-12-42 37MU 14-1-43 Wellington Court 18-2-43 Gibraltar 7-3-43 NWAfrica 31-3-43 USAAF 31-12-43 lost over Italy 15-12-44, MACR 1525
.	6 May 43	.	.	Chaddock, Robert B	O-791281	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 May 43	.	.	Collingsworth, J. D	O-440086	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Fw-190
.	6 May 43	.	.	Fischette, Charles R.	O-885163	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 May 43	.	.	Hormats, Malcolm A	O-885364	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 May 43	ER187	Spitfire Vb (Coded WZ-C, named "Lindy and Frank")	Hill, Frank A	O-399962	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Spitfire history 9MU 27-8-42 82MU 19-9-42 SS622 17-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 NWAfrica 28-2-43
.	6 May 43	.	.	McCarthy, Robert E. Jr	O-663063	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 May 43	.	.	Payne, Carl W	O-433390	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 May 43	.	.	Schafer, Dale E. Jr	O-433414	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 May 43	.	.	Thyng, Harrison R	O-376197	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	Sicily 1943	ER994	Spitfire Vb	Crew Chief Senyitko, Joseph J	13003877	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-C, 9MU 22-11-42 82MU 12-12-42 SS652 2-1-43 Gibraltar 18-1-43 Middle East 28-4-45 SOC 25-7-46
.	Sicily 1943	JK609	Spitfire VcT	Crew Chief Sullivan	See below	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL- L, 39MU 18-2-43 82MU 1-3-43 Empire Prince 23-3-43 Casablanca 6-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 12/31USAAF lost over Italy 5-11-43, Frost, Edward M
1304 there are 2 planes with this MACR # other one is 42-5875	11 May 43	JK609	Spitfire VcT	Frost, Edward M Jr	O-798121	308FS	31FG	12AF	POW	Plane Coded HL- L,. Location, Vicinity, S E Of Sulmona 10 Miles, Point Of Departure, Pomigliano A/D. North African Theatre: Italy. Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11). Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
.	Sicily 1943	LZ827	Spitfire Vc	Crew Chief Gangwish, Howard L	17012143	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-N, 9MU 4-4-43 82MU 20-4-43 Fort Thompson 3-5-43 Casablanca 17-5-43 Middle East 28-4-45 SOC 27-6-46
.	Sicily 1943	JL381	Spitfire VcT	Crew Chief Quint, Albert P	16007335	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-O, 38MU 13-4-43 82MU 26-4-43 Fort Jersey 11-5-43 Casablanca 30-5-43 Malta USAAF 1-8-43 Middle East 25-2-45 SOC 27-6-46
.	Sicily 1943	JK543	Spitfire VcT	Crew Chief Stucker, Lester L	37049967	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-W, 39MU 20-3-43 82MU 29-3-43 SS680 11-4-43 Casablanca 25-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 USAAF NWAfrica 31-7-43 Trg del France 25-10-45
.	Sicily 1943	EE864	Spitfire Vc	Crew Chief Davis	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-Z, 6MU 23-1-43 222MU 4-2-43 Alphard 5-3-43 Takoradi 20-4-43 Middle East 25-5-43 Engine cut crash-landed 5m E of Matarlya 10-6-43 Dbr (Damaged beyond Repair)
.	Sicily 1943	JK226	Spitfire Vc	Crew Chief Gooley	Possibly Ames, R A	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-AR, 15MU 3-2-43 76MU 21-2-43 Harpolycus 22-3-43 Casablanca 6-4-43 NWAfrica 30-4-43 308S USAAF 32S RAF RHAF 25-11-46 Plane was photographed coded HL-AA flown by Executive Officer Lt Col R A Ames
.	Sicily 1943	ER309	Spitfire Vb	Crew Chief Hammond, Frank C	12044868	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-X, Cosford 45MU 26-9-42 215MU 11-10-42 SS628 25-10-42 Gibraltar 9-11-42
.	Sicily 1943	JF407	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Stewart, plane assigned to Capt John H. Paulk, CO 308FS	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-R, FF 2-4-43 46MU 3-4-43 82MU 15-4-43 SS687 29-4-43 Casablanca 17-5-43
.	Sicily 1943	JF397	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Holman, Glenn W	15088628	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-FF, FF 26-3-43 46MU 28-3-43 215MU 12-4-43 Empire Barrie 2-5-43 Casablanca 17-5-43
.	Sicily 1943	JF463	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Swartz, Joseph	16019358	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-P, FF 28-4-43 15MU 30-4-43 47MU 15-5-43 SS703 1-6-43 Casablanca 15-6-43 NWAfrica 1-7-43
.	Sicily 1943	JF349	Spitfire VIII (Possibly named "The Fargo Express")	Crew Chief Le Clair, Edward J	11032722	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-K, FF 10-3-43 38MU 14-3-43 222MU 19-4-43 Fort Thompson 3-5-43 Casablanca 17-5-43
.	Sicily 1943	JF351	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Dowling, Herbert M Jr	12045372	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-D, FF 12-3-43 45MU 14-3-43 215MU 31-3-43 Empire Barrie 2-5-43 Casablanca 17-5-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 USAAF 31-7-43 SOC 31-8-44
.	Sicily 1943	JF452	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Strom, Roy V	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-FAH, FF 16-4-43 38MU 18-4-43 82MU 22-5-43 SS702 2-6-43 Casablanca 15-6-43 NWAfrica 1-7-43 SOC 26-4-45
.	Sicily 1943	EP780	Spitfire VbT	Crew Chief Terrio, Alton J	14025031	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-B, 9MU 29-8-42 82MU 21-9-42 SS620 15-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 111S Engine cut stalled on approach Souk el Khemis C3 6-1-43
.	Sicily 1943	ER817	Spitfire Vb	Crew Chief Firovea	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-F, 12MU 18-10-42 82MU 27-10-42 SS634 4-11-42 Gibraltar EAfrica C2 ops 3-12-42 SOC 31-12-42 bboc Middle East 22-2-45 Lost power on take-off belly landed El Geneina FACE 28-4-46 SOC 27-6-46
.	Sicily 1943	JK542	Spitfire VcT	Crew Chief Stupka, Raymond C	12032982	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-M, 39MU 20-3-43 222MU 29-3-43 SS680 11-4-43 Casablanca 25-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 USAAF NAfricanASC 31-10-43 Served with Yugoslavian Sqdn attach Tact Wing Balkan AF SOC 31-12-43
.	Sicily 1943	EP965	Spitfire Vb	Crew Chief Symons, Donald C	12045131	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-U, 12MU 15-8-42 82MU 2-9-42 SS621 16-10-42 Gibraltar 1-11-42 241S Crashed Hal Far C3 25-3-43
.	Sicily 1943	ER945	Spitfire Vb	Crew Chief Sarnoff	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-V, 12MU 10-12-42 82MU 23-12-42 SS652 2-1-43 Gibraltar 18-1-43 NWAfrica 28-2-43
.	Sicily 1943	EF650	Spitfire Vc	Crew Chief Helmly, Frank W	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-Y, 8MU 13-4-43 82MU 23-4-43 Empire Barrie 2-5-43 Casablanca 17-5-43
.	Sicily 1943	JK403	Spitfire Vc	Crew Chief Stull, Clifford H	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-FF, 12MU 6-2-43 215MU 20-2-43 Harmatris 10-3-43 Gibraltar 26-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 Malta 1-8-43 USAAF
.	Sicily 1943	JK772	Spitfire VcT	Crew Chief Stiwalt, Nolen Boyd	14052929	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-LL, 39MU 6-3-43 82MU 16-3-43 SS685 12-4-43 Casablanca 25-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 USAAF 31-8-43
.	Sicily 1943	ER670	Spitfire VbT	Crew Chief Graham, Razzie G	14021790	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-XX, 6MU 10-10-42 82MU 14-10-42 SS626 20-10-42 Gibraltar 6-11-42 NWAfrica Tailwheel broke swung and u/c collapsed Tingley 5-2-43
.	Sicily 1943	JF395	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Leister, Donald W	33117844	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-G, FF 25-3-43 33MU 27-3-43 82MU 6-4-43 SS686 26-4-43 Casablanca 17-5-43 MedAAF 21-6-45 SOC 20-9-45
.	Sicily 1943	JF411	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Johnson	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-I, FF 3-4-43 33MU 4-4-43 82MU 18-4-43 SS687 29-4-43 Casablanca 17-5-43
.	Sicily 1943	JF333	Spitfire VIII	Assigned to Johnson, Gillis Crew Chief Pecsi, Paul Jr 20614250	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-J, FF 20-2-43 MU 25-2-43 82MU 9-3-43 SS682 12-4-43 Casablanca 25-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 USAAF 31-7-43 RAF 31-5-44 Hit by flak and crashlanded 16-4-45
.	Sicily 1943	JF408	Spitfire VIII	Crew Chief Serota, Herbert	6853263	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-R, FF 2-4-43 46MU 3-4-43 47MU 29-5-43 SS703 1-6-43 Casablanca 15-6-43 NWAfrica 1-7-43
.	7 Jun 43	.	.	Rinard, Robert R., Cpl	39084645	307FS	31FG	12AF	DOI	Hometown: Sacramento, CA
.	9 Jun 43	.	.	Baker, Royal N	O-433343	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	9 Jun 43	.	.	Callender, Alvin D	O-435853	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	9 Jun 43	.	.	Dalrymple, Edwin	O-433356	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	9 Jun 43	.	.	Fleming, Thomas B	O-385178	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	9 Jun 43	.	.	Overend, Walter J	O-885361	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	9 Jun 43	.	.	Wolfe, Merritt C	O-433441	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	9 Jun 43	.	.	McMann, Stanley E.	O-885161	308FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: Colorado. Prior service with the RAF. 9 June 1943 Tenente Drago, (Me109G-6 Trop. W.Nr.18421 flown by Tenente (1st. Lt.) Ugo Drago (17 kills, 3 shared) CO 363° Squadriglia, 150° Gruppo Autonomo C.T. "Gigi tre osei", Sciacca/Italy June 1943.), shot down an American Spitfire off Pantelleria. This was a Spitfire from 308th FS flown by 1st Lieutenant McMann. Later in the day other pilots from 308th were sent out to search for the missing pilot (who was later rescued by an Allied craft). These aircraft intercepted a mixed force of an estimated 16-20 MC.202. In fact these were 14 Macchis of 151° Gruppo and four Bf109Gs of 150°. The American pilots claimed four Macchis and one Bf109 without loss. Two Macchis were actually lost, both the Gruppo Commander Capitano Bruno Veronesi and Sottotenente Antonio Crabbia bailed out safely, as did the Messerschmitt pilot, Tenente Drago, who just claimed a second Spitfire shot down. Tenente Giovanni Chiale claimed a third Spitfire. This was the only time during his career that Drago was shot down and some fishermen from Pantelleria rescued him from the sea. All three downed Italian pilots were later flown back to Palermo aboard an SM.81 only hours before the besieged island surrendered. This was last Regia Victory for Drago, after 154 mission and 6 kills. He ended the war flying Me109G-10 with II° Gruppo Caccia's 4° Squadriglia A.N.R. adding 11 plus victories
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Bryson, William C	O-421638	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Fischette, Charles R.	O-885163	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. Prior service with the RAF
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	White, John H	O-440155	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Wooten, Roland F. Jr	O-348640	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Chandler, Berry	O-440088	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Hill, Frank A	O-399962	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Keith, Donald J	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Payne, Carl W	O-433390	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Rahn, Robert O	O-433396	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Shafer, Dale E. Jr	O-433414	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	.	Swicer, ( or Swiger ?)James R	O-885334	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Jun 43	.	Friendly fire	Goodding, George V.	O-666926	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA, Friendly fire	Entered the Service from: Nebraska. On 10 June, the squadrons were supporting bombers attacking Pantelleria, flying 72 sorties on 7 missions, in addition to 2 scrambles against enemy aircraft. Although one Spitfire and pilot were lost, they successfully shot down 12 enemy aircraft, plus 3 more probables. The one Spitfire lost, a case of mistaken identity, was flown by Lieutenant Gooding.'' On that mission, he and his wingman became separated from the rest of the group and returned to base alone. Approximately 20 miles from their field, they observed three P-40s closing from behind, as if to join up, and one of them shot down Gooding. Lieutenant Gooding entered a spin and crashed into the sea.
.	10 Jun 43	EE864	Spitfire Vc	Crew Chief Davis	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-Z, 6MU 23-1-43 222MU 4-2-43 Alphard 5-3-43 Takoradi 20-4-43 Middle East 25-5-43 Engine cut crash-landed 5m E of Matarlya 10-6-43 Dbr (Damaged beyond Repair)
Mentioned in 1466 listed on 1474	10 Jun 43 other sources have this as 30 Jun 43	.	.	Fardella, Edward L	O-793598	308FS	31FG	12AF	W/o	Hit high berm runway edge & crashed atop RAF Spit at side killing 4 Brit Commandoes who had just replaced Ralph Francis & crew taking equipment out of the plane. Fardella hurled out still in the seat, hurt but alive. killing Leading Aircraftsman Ernie Nuttall and Leading Aircraftsman Jim Taylor, of 3231 RAF Servicing Commando Unit. (Collided with the wreck of a Spitfire, at Gozo Airfield, killing Leading Aircraftsman Ernie Nuttall, 1305857, and Leading Aircraftsman James Renton Taylor, 1342823, of 3231 RAF Servicing Commando Unit)
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	Bryson, William C	O-421638	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	Collingsworth, J. D	O-440086	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, FW-190
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	Fischette, Charles R.	O-885163	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	White, John H	O-440155	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	Baker, Royal N	O-433343	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	Smith, Derwood K	O-433416	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	Rich, Gordon H	0-727546	308FS	31FG	12AF	B/o	The next day, with the group flying 130 sorties on 9 missions, they downed 11 enemy aircraft and damaged 2 more, losing one Spit, the pilot bailing out. Lieutenant Rich was the unlucky one, although he was fortunately picked up by Air Sea Rescue's Walrus aircraft.
.	11 Jun 43	.	.	Smith, Monroe P. Jr.	O-437046	308FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: Mississippi
.	23 Jun 43	JK707	Spitfire VcT	.	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	The 307th, 308th, and 309th Fighter Squadrons move to Gozo. (An airfield a Xewkija on Gozo had a short life. It was needed during World War II and constructed during 1943. The first unit based there was the United States of America Air Force, 307, 308 and 309 Squadrons under Colonel Fred M. Dean. However, after the invasion of Sicily and subsequent successes by the Allied Forces, it was no longer needed and the land was handed back to its original owners by June 1944.) The aircraft were ferried from Tunisia, via Safi in Malta to Gozo Island near Malta. Coded MX (Yellow ringed Star) T, Operating from Gozo, July 1943. This aircraft ended its days in September 1943, in a belly-landing on the beach at Salerno, after having been hit by friendly fire.
1239	30 Jun 43	FS182 Wrong Should be ES182	Spitfire Vc	Steven, John B. Jr.	O-730652	308FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Location, 1-5 Miles North Of Gozo, Point Of Departure, Gozo Airdrome. Entered the Service from: California, Lt Steven crashed in sea on go-around-- in 36' of water 500 yards N of Gozo, CBAF, M46, 9MU 22-12-42 222MU 9-1-43 Merchant Prince 18-1-43 Gibraltar 6-2-43 USAAF 12-3-43 lost at Malta 30-6-43
.	6 Jul 43	.	.	Fleming, Thomas B	O-385178	308FS	31FG	12AF	POW	First missions to Sicily, (Comiso)-Capt Fleming (308 CO) down in flames, North African Theatre: Sicily, Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
.	6 Jul 43	.	.	Babcock, Charles F	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	First missions to Sicily, (Comiso) 1st Lieutenant BABCOCK, 308 Fighter Squadron, United States Air Force, based at Xewkija Airfield, Gozo, killed 6th July 1943 in action over Sicily
.	8 Jul 43	.	.	Van Ausdell, P Dixon	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Lt Van Ausdell crashed on take off at Gozo due to soft runway, shaken up badly, Spit salvaged. Korba rear echelon crating to move
.	10 Jul 43	.	.	Johnson, John E.	O-666943	307FS	31FG	12AF	S/d friendly fire,	On June 30 the 307FS pilots flew their Spitfires to their new base on Gozo, located 2 miles from Malta and 80 miles from Sicily. On July 10 the 307th flew as cover for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Huskey. Lts. Johnson and Conley were shot down by American flak as most likely was Lt. Goldenberg the next day.
.	10 Jul 43	.	.	Conley, John E	O-437012	307FS	31FG	12AF	S/d friendly fire	On June 30 the 307FS pilots flew their Spitfires to their new base on Gozo, located 2 miles from Malta and 80 miles from Sicily. On July 10 the 307th flew as cover for the invasion of Sicily, Operation Huskey. Lts. Johnson and Conley were shot down by American flak as most likely was Lt. Goldenberg the next day.
.	11 Jul 43	.	.	Winkler, John M.	O-433437	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jul 43	.	.	Wooten, Roland F. Jr	O-348640	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jul 43	.	.	Callender, Alvin D	O-435853	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jul 43	.	.	Paulk, John H	O-421666	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jul 43	.	.	Waltner, Wilfred R	O-440147	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jul 43	.	.	Chandler, Berry	O-440088	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jul 43	.	.	Payne, Carl W	O-433390	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
1010	11 Jul 43	FS340 (Should be ES340)	SPITFIRE Vc	Goldenberg, August L.	O-793610	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	(The next campaign was the invasion of Sicily which began on 10 July 1943. A large armada of over 300 ships was covered by the 31 FG. The landings at Gela, Sicily went relatively unhampered. The group flew patrols continuously from about 0430 until 2200. Later missions required flares for landing. Only one enemy 4-ship was observed all day, and it was too far away for anyone to engage. The next couple of days brought some air activity, however, as four enemy fighters and three enemy bombers were destroyed on the 11th. An additional fighter was destroyed the next day before the 31 FG moved to Ponte Olivo on the 13th, an airfield located in Sicily. The group didn't remain there long either, as on the 21st, it moved to Agrigento aerodrome. The 307 FS relocated to a Palermo aerodrome, and eventually all squadrons regrouped at Termini by early August, operating from two aerodromes called Termini East and Termini West) pilot Entered the Service from: New York. Factory CBAF, Engine M46, History 45MU 6-12-42 222MU 18-12-42 SS652 2-1-43 Gibraltar 18-1-43 12/31USAAF lost over Sicily 11-7-43
.	12 Jul 43	.	.	Collingsworth, Jerry D	O-440086	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, FW-190
.	16 Jul 43	.	.	Whisonant William B	O-418150	307FS	31FG	12AF		Claims 1 victory
.	16 Jul 43	.	I have found no details or confirmation	Hoffman, Charles W. (Sgt)	19065626	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	.
.	19 Jul 43	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	Moved to Agrigento airstrip on southern coast of Sicily.
.	28 Jul 43	.	.	Heil, Robert F	O-727455	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	HOMETOWN, Pittsburgh, PA, HONORED BY, Marion Heil, Wife
.	Aug 43	.	N/A	Information	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Some Pilots of 307FS, Termini Immerse, Sicily, August 1943, McCall, John Gfeller, Storms, Moore, Carroll A. Pryblo, Vaughn, Brown, Norman Tucker, Rostrum, Adams, Huntington, Johnson, Beaver, J. White, Charles R. Fischette, O-885163 , John E. Conley, O-437012 , Mercer P. Davis, O-23232 , Lamar W. Davis Jr., O-409727 , Wilburn C. Dodd, O-793496 , Van Natta, Strum, Joseph H. Tyus, O-793699 , Laurin R. Hardage, O-665401 , Place, Gilbert, George S. Montooth, O-439532 , James Ivers Jr, O-434511 , Hans W. Forester, O-392357 , Livingston, Jerry D. Collinsworth, O-440086 , Perry H. Beeson, O-435064 , Delton G. Graham, O-666930 , Berberich D.Pinckney, O-304564, later with 309FS
.	Aug 43	.	.	MacMillian, David W	O-428514	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	He served with the 52nd from April 1943 thru Aug 1943 when he was transferred to the 31st. where he served until April 1944. He flew mostly spits 5 and 9's and some P-51 mustangs with the 31st. One personal spit he was assigned was an MK-5, QP-U. Others were WZ-N and QP-M. He also flew over 100 missions in Korea in P-51s and Sabres. After retiring from the Air Force he continued to fly and moved on to helicopters.
.	8 Aug 43	.	.	Hurd, Richard F	O-670918	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	8 Aug 43	.	.	Paulk, John H.	O-421666	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	8 Aug 43	.	.	Ramsey, Charles R	O-885272	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	8 Aug 43	.	.	Williams, there where 4 (Williams, Alvin R Williams, Dwight J Williams, Edward L Williams, Lawrence )	.	.	31FG	12AF	WIA	Captain Williams was wounded by a 20-millimeter cannon shell in his neck and back.
.	Aug 43	.	.	Van Ausdell, P. Dixon		308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Survives a crash at Termini
.	11 Aug 43	.	.	Chaddock, Robert B	O-791281	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. During a mission covering shipping near Cape Orlando on the 11th, Lt. Chaddock downed an Macchi 202
.	11 Aug 43	.	.	Graham, Delton G	O-666930	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory. Lts. Carroll Pryblo and Delton Graham shared a FW-190 destroyed
.	11 Aug 43	.	.	Prybylo . Carroll A	O-795634	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	11 Aug 43	.	Spitfire	Hurd, Richard F	O-670918	308FS	31FG	12AF	S/d	Dog fight over Cape Orlando, 1 FW-190 for Capt Baker, Lt Hurd had a coolant leak and crash landed at San Stefano uninjured, Capt Williams hit by flak, severely injured, got back to base but will be in hospital for weeks
.	11 Aug 43	.	.	Baker, Royal N	O-433343	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Aug 43	.	Information	Baker, Royal Newman	O-433343	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	In March 1942 he joined the 308th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group at New Orleans, La., and went with the group to Atcham Army Air Forces Station, England, in June 1942, the first American fighter group to reach England. The group was subsequently equipped with British Spitfire aircraft and Aug. 19, 1942, participated in the historic Dieppe Raid. Three months later, the group moved to North Africa where General Baker piloted the British fighter in air operations over Algeria, Tunisia, and Sicily. For his aerial combat achievements, General Baker was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 16 oak leaf clusters
.	5 Sep 43	.	.	Dougherty, Gordon W	.	.	31FG	12AF	W/o	On 5 September, Lieutenant Dougherty was attempting to takeoff, but couldn't get airborne for some reason. When he was almost out of runway and still on the ground, he cut the engine and aborted. The Spitfire promptly shot through a gate to the base, startling the RAF gate guards, and stopped in a soft field. Although Dougherty wasn't hurt, his aircraft was totaled.
.	7 Sep 43	.	.	Walton (could he have meant Waltner, Wilfred R Jr )	.	.	31FG	12AF	W/o	A second Spit was lost when two days later Lieutenant Walton lacked power to complete his takeoff. He elected to collapse his wheels and, with the aircraft on its belly, crashed into a stone wall. Only slightly injured, his aircraft was also a total loss
.	9 Sep 43	42-11081	Curtiss P-40L-20-CU Warhawk	Nelson, John T	O-752229	.	.	.	B/o	Based out of Pinellas AAF, FL, bails out engine on fire over S Davis Causeway, Clearwater, Fl. Gulf of Mexico. Later serves with 307FS, 31FG
.	9 Sep 43	.	.	.	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Our (308FS) aircraft at Milazzo airdrome
.	?? Sep 43 The invasion of Italy at Salerno took place on September 9, the 307th covered shipping and the landing beaches	JK707	Spitfire VcT	.	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	S/d friendly fire	Coded MX-T, Operated from Gozo, July 1943. This aircraft ended its days in September 1943, in a belly-landing on the beach at Salerno, after having been hit by friendly fire 31st Fighter Group 307th Squadron Spitfire MX-P, shot down by Allied antiaircraft fire over Paestum beach in Italy. Another source has Spitfire Vb MX-T, s/n JK707, (15MU 24-2-43 76MU 10-3-43 Harpolycus 22-3-43 Casablanca 6-4-43 NWAfrica 30-4-43 31FtrGrpUSAAF Shot down by US Navy off Salerno 9-43),307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, operating from Gozo, July 1943. This aircraft ended its days in September 1943, in a belly-landing on the beach at Salerno, after having been hit by friendly fire.
.	9 Sep 43	.	.	Fields, Virgil Cephus Jr	O-727434	307FS	31FG	12AF	S/d Rtn	Scored a probable of a DO-217. Return fire from the bomber's gunner hit his engine however, causing him to crash on the beach. He was fortunately picked up by a ship from the invasion fleet.
.	10 Sep 43	.	.	Shafer, Dale E. Jr	O-433414	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Sep 43	.	.	Graham, Delton G	O-666930	307FS	31FG	12AF	Evaded	Lt. Graham had to put down his overheating Spitfire during a mission over Italy on the 10th, was captured, but escaped arriving back at Milazzo on the 14th
.	13 Sep 43	.	.	Hood, Robert F	O-663731	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	15 Sep 43	.	.	Paulk, John H	O-421666	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	15 Sep 43	.	.	Weismueller, Robert W	O-433432	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	16 Sep 43	.	.	Hormats, Malcolm A	O-885364	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	?? Sep 43	.	Spitfire Vb	Skinner, William J	O-795656	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-X, Stops taxing to clear traffic on the PSP at Cape Milazzo ( He later flies HL-T named Lonesome Polecat at Monte Corvino,, 1 Oct 1943 (Bill Skinner's crew chief, Donald Firoved, and armourer, Ralph Francis, . It was hard on all 31st FG personnel to let go of their proven Spitfire.)
.	?? Sep 43	.	.	Fardella, Edward L	O-793598	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Wing man to Skinner, due to dust he does not see Skinner stop and with the metal propeller on his plane he chops Skinners plane to destruction. Both Pilots survive.
Blank	19 Sep 42	Blank	Spitfire	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	.
.	On or about 20 Sept 43	.	.	Fawcett, John	.	2FS/ 309FS	52FG/ 31FG	12AF	Transferred	In September, my best friend, Dave MacMillan, and I were transferred as pilot replacements to 309th Squadron of 31st Fighter Group which had just moved into the Salerno beachhead. After getting over the pain of leaving all our friends in 2nd Squadron we were greatly pleased with this move and the chance to get out of the Coastal Command. The 31st FG was part of Twelfth Air Support Command and engaged in bomber escort and close tactical support of the ground forces and thus always located right up close to the lines. We joined them at Montecorvino Airdrome within the beachhead perimeter which had been secured a week or so earlier. Mac and I soon realized that here too was a great collection of characters, all Americans, some of whom had come to us from the RAF when they found they could fly Spitfires under their own flag.
.	20 Sep 43	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	308th Spitfires arrive at Monte Corvino, (joined by 307FS and 309FS during 21-22 Sep) bombed and strafed by FW-190's five times today, 308th unharmed. Monte Corvino had been a major Luftwaffe base and there were many destroyed aircraft lying all about as well as several fly able ones. There was a big hangar on the field and in front of it sat what looked like a brand new Focke-Wulf 190. We inspected every inch of it from the tail wheel to the BMW medallion on the big radial engine. There was a strange odor while sitting in the cockpit but I had an overpowering desire to crank it up and try a couple circuits of the field. A pilot from one of the other squadrons did just a few days later and was mucking around the field at about a 1000-ft when a gang of A-36s arrived back from a mission and very nearly fixed his wagon. Luckily he made the fastest emergency landing on record and that ended the leisure flying of our "Focke Willie." Also taken here in excellent condition was an Italian trainer, the Caproni Saiman 200 biplane. A couple of months later this ship was acquired by our squadron for use as a general hack running errands and so on.
.	21 Sep 43	.		Imwall, William F	O-794328	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Hometown: Kenton County, KY
.	25 Sep 43	.	.	Johnston, John E.	O-666943	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	30 Sep 43	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	14 Oct 43	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	On 14 October, a few days after Naples fell, we moved to the big airdrome at Pomigliano at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius, about 10-km east of Naples. It was the only paved runway I ever flew on overseas and, though there were tall trees at the east end, it was a pleasure to fly from. We used the former air terminal building for our operations, and there was a large dispersal area adjacent to the runway half filled with wrecked German and Italian aircraft. Beside the field was the bomb-blasted factory of Alfa-Romeo engine works and two blocks toward Vesuvius was a four-story apartment complex built by Mussolini for the "new order," which turned out to be 31st Fighter Group, an A-36 outfit, a P-40 gang and some quartermaster types. The beautiful North African summer flying weather was coming to an end, winter was closing in, and we were glad to have a roof over our heads instead of tents.
.	Nov 43	EF637	Spitfire VcT	.	.	308FS	31FG	12AF		Coded HL-L crash landed at La Senia Airdrome, 8MU 24-3-43 82MU 8-4-43 SS686 24-4-43 Casablanca 17-5-43 Middle East 1-7-43 NWAfricanAF 1-11-43 SOC 31-10-45 M50 install
1305 also mentioned in 1303, page 5	5 Nov 43	JK609,	Spitfire VcT	Frost, Edward M	O-798121	308FS	31FG	12AF	POW	Plane coded HL-L, North African Theatre: Italy. Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11). Lost on patrol to Venafro, CBAF, M46, 39MU 18-2-43 82MU 1-3-43 Empire Prince 23-3-43 Casablanca 6-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 12/31USAAF lost over Italy 5-11-43, November, 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.*(I m searching a pilot who falled and had been saved by my grand father in ITALY at the end of 1943, close to MONTECASSINO. He staid hiden at home during 7mounths until the front line passed over. I made a short list of MIA pilots during this periode, i have eliminated a lot of pilots shot down, remains EDWARD FROST 31G 308FG that could be the pilot I'm searching. I have the MACR but i need some more information, such as When has he been recovered by the US army ? Somebody knows about his mission at the end of 1943 ? Somebody knows if he has been declared missing during 7 months ? Any information would be welcome)
.	11 Nov 43	.	.	Clark, John L. Jr.	O-666873	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190 During a sweep over the lines the 307th engaged five FW-190s with Lts. John Clark and Storms each claiming FW-190s
.	11 Nov 43	.	.	Storms	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
1474	11 Nov 43	JF340	Spitfire VIII	Fardella, Edward L.	O-793598	308FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Location, 10 Miles N Of Gaeta, Point Of Departure, Pomigliano A/D. Entered the Service from: New Jersey, 4 Spit VIII's took on 10 FW-190's over Gaeta, last seen going straight down into the clouds by Lt Trafton., 4050, EA, M63, FF 28-2-43 6MU 6-3-43 82MU 13-5-43 Fort Steele 16-5-43 Casablanca 30-5-43, 12/31 USAAF lost Italy 11-11-43)
.	13 Nov 43	.	.	Fields, Virgil C. Jr	O-727434	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	13 Nov 43	.	.	Tucker, Norman D Jr	O-795669	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	18 Nov 43	.	.	Mann, Elwyn F.	O-413470	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Entered the Service from: Oregon
1471 also mentioned in 1466	19 Nov 43	EN255	Spitfire IX	Van Natta, Richard H	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Serial 3836, Factory R-R, Engine M61, FF 8-1-43 R-RH Cv IX 6MU 12-1-43 47MU 15-1-43 Empire Tide 3-2-43 Gibraltar 16-2-43 NWAfrica 31-3-43 12/31USAAF lost in Italy 19-11-43. On 19 November, we were on a fighter sweep up behind Rome with the 307th furnishing the low cover under us. While approaching the coast on the way back my No. 1. Harry Barr, had a complete engine failure. I was following him down. When we were about level with the Goona flight we were into intense heavy flak. One of the 307th guys got hit and went down smoking into the sea off Cape Linaro. It looked like Barr was going to join him but just then his engine came back to life so we pulled up with the 307th types and came home over the water. The Goona pilot was Van Natta and we later learned that he had bailed out and was a prisoner.
.	24 Nov 43	.	Brit	Shenberger	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Flying Officer Shenberger, a British pilot with the 309 FS. on 24 November.
.	30 Nov 43	EP615	Spitfire IX	Information only	.	.	31FG	12AF		Original aircraft crashed Willenhall 18-7-42 on test flt A Henshaw safe Serial reallocated VA Cv IX M63 39MU 16-6-43 CAC 22-6-43 ros 222MU 20-9-43 Empire Marlow 2-10-43 Casablanca 19-10-43 NAfrica 30-11-43 12/31USAAF 31-1-44 lost in Italy 7-2-44
.	1 Dec 43	.	SpitfireVb	Fawcett, John	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Plane coded WZ-N, By the first of December, I had apparently qualified as an old timer and got my own personal airplane (a Mk. VB, WZ-N) assigned to me and had Ellen's name painted on it. Was I ever proud! Ten days later, when I wasn't flying, another guy went out on a mission using my plane. On his return he had a landing accident and totaled it out with no injury to himself- so there went my private airplane!
1412	2 Dec 43	JK870	Spitfire Vc	Harrelson, James Dow	O-437325	HQ ?	31FG	12AF	POW	Location, Enemy Territory, N Of Gaeta, Point Of Departure, Pomigliano, Italy. North African Theatre: Sicily. Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12. CBAF, M46, 12MU 11-3-43 47MU 22-3-43 Essex Trader 10-4-43 Casablanca 25-4-43 NWAfrica 31-5-43 12/31USAAF 31-7-43 lost over Italy 2-12-43. I felt bad for the crews whose pilot failed to return. I think now of several tinies I should have gone over and talked to them, but I didn't know what to say - so they toughed it out alone. I remember clearly the mission when we lost Harrelson. I was in the high flight when a mixed bag of 109s and 190s bounced the low flight over Rocco, and they mixed it up for a minute damaging two 109s. Harrelson was last seen on the deck in close pursuit of a 190 over the Pontine marshes north of Terracina, and we heard no more. After de-briefing we were leaving the field and off to the left in Harrelson's revetment were three guys sitting in a semi-circle on upturned jerry cans, smoking cigarettes and glancing occasionally up at the northern sky. Their pilot was gone and they knew it. Tomorrow they would be assigned another Spitfire, probably with one of the new replacement pilots, and the whole bloody thing would start over again.
.	7 Dec 43	.	.	Ainlay, John Mickey	O-730322	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	7 Dec 43	.	.	Barr, Harry L	O-421583	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 Dec 43	.	.	Blumenstock, Duane R	O-668547	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 Dec 43	.	.	Jared, Garth B	O-424960	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 Dec 43	.	.	Porter, John F	O-2056196	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	On or about 14 Dec 43	MA625	Spitfire IX	Fawcett, John	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Assigned a brand new Mk. IX WZ-NN, named Lady Ellen II with Eddie King as my crew chief. Plane details 9MU 28-6-43 82MU 8-7-43 Fort Nakesley 14-7-43 Casablanca 29-7-43 12/31USAAF lost over Italy 29-2-44 (Nisbet)
.	14 Dec 43	.	.	Fields, Virgil C. Jr	O-727434	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, an ME-190 over the lines
.	14 Dec 43	.	.	Roche, Henry A	O-667106	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	15 Dec 43	.	.	Tucker, Norman D Jr	O-795669	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, shot down an ME-109 over the Liri River
.	15 Dec 43	.	.	Beeman, Lyman, A.	O-820446	309FS	31FG	12AF	B/o Rtn	Over Cassino when eight German fighters bounced the 309th from out of the sun. Lt. Lymans lost his engine and bailed over allied lines
.	15 Dec 43	.	.	Barr, Harry L	O-421583	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, FW-190, Barr's crew chief was S/Sgt J W Sisco of Gladwin, Mich
1525	15 Dec 43	EN307	Spitfire IX	.	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Plane coded MX-O, 3786, EA, M61, FF 23-12-42 543S Benson 29-12-42 37MU 14-1-43 Wellington Court 18-2-43 Gibraltar 7-3-43 NWAfrica 31-3-43 USAAF 31-12-43 lost over Italy 15-12-44
.	15 Dec 43	.	.	Archer, William M	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	MIA	On the 14th the 307th finally saw some action again with Capt. Fields downing an ME-190 over the lines. The next day Lt. Tucker shot down an ME-109 over the Liri river, however Lt. Archer was missing.
1531	15 Dec 43	MA616	Spitfire IX	Walker, Neill Stevenson	O-668672	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Hometown: York County, SC. Location, Enemy Territory. Aquino Area, Point Of Departure, Pomigliano, Italy. CBAF, M63, 39MU 27-6-43 82MU 15-7-43 Fort Rupert 25-7-43 Casablanca 16-8-43 218Grp NAfrica 30-11-43 12/31USAAF lost over Italy 15-12-43. Capt. Barr put a long burst into a FW-190 sending it down to crash. Lt. Walker, flying Capt. Barr's wing, became separated and didn't return to base.
.	21 Dec 43	BM586	Spitfire Vb	Information only	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	FF 30-4-42 6MU 1-5-42 309USAAF MMO 21-12-43 M46 install Cunliffe-Owen 11-3-44 ? mods RNDA 3-3-44 as trainer 33MU to Eastleigh 11-3-44 761S Henstridge 8-44 ADDLs burst tyre landing swung off runway nosed up turned onto wing Cat B 9-2-45 (Lt CA Bevan)
date not known	Appox 23 Dec 43	.	.	Thorsen, James G	O-401549	308FS	31FG	12AF	Rtn	"One of my fellas was shot down over Anzio beachhead, Major Thorsen, one of my squadron commanders. He had to force land on the beachhead, and as he was going down with his engine puffing smoke and pouring oil, and looking for a place to set down, for some reason he didn't want to bail out. An ME-109 pulled up alongside him, skidded down to his speed, or approximately that in sort of a slip, and saw that he was going to have to land, and saluted him, and flew away, rather than shooting at him. This is the last piece of chivalry I ever heard of in air combat
.	27 Dec 43	.	.	Gompf, Jack W	.	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Lt Gompf, crashed landed near Capua uninjured. Suspect fuel problem again.
.	.	EP837	Spitfire VbT	Hurd, Richard F	O-670918	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Plane coded HL-L, named Evelyn, (The "Fighting Black Cat" insignia of the 308th, designed by 308th pilot Lt. Richard F. Hurd wears a golden crown symbolizing the "King" of fighters) assigned to Larry Guarino, crash landed at La Senia Airdrome (date unknown to me) MU 4-8-42 222MU 3-9-42 Gibraltar 27-9-42
.	.	.	.	Booth, William E S/Sgt from Pa	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	Pulled a stunned pilot Richard F Hurd from his wreckage. Earlier in the year Booth was awarded the Soldiers Medal for performing a simalar funtion. Siple performed a similiar feat soon after. (In all they saved 3 pilots this way)
.	.	.	.	Siple, George E S/Sgt from Harrisburg Pa.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	Pulled a stunned pilot Richard F Hurd from his wreckage. Earlier in the year Booth was awarded the Soldiers Medal for performing a simalar funtion. Siple performed a similiar feat soon after. (In all they saved 3 pilots this way)
.	28 Dec 43	.	.	Schanning, William H	O-799593	307FS	31FG	12AF	MIA	Returned
.	Dec 43	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	A very serious problem that winter was 12th Air Support Command's inability or unwillingness to keep us supplied with replacement pilots. Being a Lend Lease group, flying non-American aircraft, we felt like a bastard outfit at the end of the pipeline. Replacement aircraft were never a problem. When we needed them the RAF gave them to us, the only problem being that we had to detach two or three valuable pilots from an already depleted squadron to go down to Setif or Telergma in Algeria to fly them back, often taking three or four days or more. Syl Wiemer drew this chore during the bad times in January and he pulled a neat caper that he would never explain. While at Telergma he somehow got three new pilots put on orders, stuffed each of them in new Nines and herded the lot back to Castle Volturno. He was a modest hero and never revealed his secret. Why in the hell 12th ASC couldn't have figured this out earlier we never did know.

1944

MACR#	Date	Serial#	A/C Type	Pilot	Service#	Sqdn	Group	AF	Status	Comments
.	3 Jan 44	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, the 31st FG CO, shot down a FW-190 near Cassino while leading the 307th on a patrol.
.	6 Jan 44	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Jan 44	.	.	McKee, Wesley I	O-666972	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	8 Jan 44	.	.	Fields, Virgil C. Jr	O-727434	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, destroyed a FW-190 when the squad encountered 15 190s during a bombline patrol
.	8 Jan 44	.	.	Belmont, Richard T	O-1702890	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	12 Jan 44	.	.	Blumenstock, Daune R	O-668547	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	16 Jan 44	.	.	Walker, Donald J	O-730677	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	16 Jan 44	.	.	Fawcett, John	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	My log book records that on 16 January, while putting some slow time on a ship with a new engine, I flew up and looked over our new field of Castle Volturno. It was a new strip just bulldozed from the sand a little back from the beach on the south side of the mouth of the Volturno River where it runs into the sea. In the same location on the north side of the river mouth was another identical strip being prepared for our fellow workers from the Royal Air Force, which became known as Lago Field.
.	18 Jan 44	.	.	Brown, Charles E	O-793488	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jan 44	.	.	Brunasky, John J	O-727397	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jan 44	.	Spitfire of Kenny Benson coded WZ-JJ	Fawcett, John	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	We flew into Castle Volturno on the 18th and it was our first experience landing on the Davis Mat, the perforated flat steel grids lay on sand to give a hard all-weather surface. They were slippery when wet and gave us problems for a while - and there were several prangs due to running off the mat into the sand, resulting in nose up or ground loop. At the same time the RAF's 324 Wing (which we call a Group) moved into Lago across the river and included the No. 111 Squadron of Battle of Britain fame. I had the honor of having dinner in their mess with the lads of Triple One one night a couple of months later after making a dead stick landing and almost buying a piece of property at the end of their runway. That's one I don't like to remember. We were on a last light patrol over the Abbey when a couple of 190s passed about a mile in front of us in a long, shallow dive. We gave chase but couldn't close and so we broke off. We'd had some flak and were just back to the bombline when I started losing glycol and the temperature began to go up. It was a question of whether to hop out or belly in to Farmer Jones' cornfield or perhaps stretch it to Lago Field which I could almost see in the distance. In a minute or two the temperature was out of sight so I shut her down. Any intelligent pilot would have picked a nice flat field of which there were a number within easy reach and squashed it in. But I knew Kenny Benson would never forgive me if I banged up his nice shiny Double J so I elected to hold on for Lago. It was good weather but getting dark, and with my No. 2 (Ralph McCubbin) worrying around me in big spirals I came between the tree tops at the north end of their field in near stalled three-point position and banged down on the end of the mat at the same time those big prop blades stopped still, looking me in the face.
.	20 Jan 44	.	.	Bohl, Fredrick L	O-796546	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	20 Jan 44	.	.	Tyus, Joseph H	O-793699	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory. January 18th the 307th moved to Castel Volturno, 21 miles northwest of Naples. Escorting A-20s hitting Pontecorvo on the 20th, the 307th engaged Luftwaffe fighters making for the bombers. In the melee that followed, Lt. Maurice Vaughn downed one, Lts. Frederick Bohl and Joseph Tyus shared one destroyed, and Capt. Fields damaged one.
.	20 Jan 44	.	.	Vaughn, Maurice G	O-406526	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 Jan 44	.	.	Guarino, Lawrence N	O-798126	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 Jan 44	.	.	Brown, Charles E	O-793488	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Jan 44	.	.	Guarino, Lawrence N	O-798126	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Jan 44	.	.	Molland, Leland P	O-667089	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Jan 44	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jan 44	.	.	Livingston, Elmer E	O-670944	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jan 44	.	.	Tucker, Norman D Jr	O-795669	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. Returning from escorting A-20s to Cisterna on the 26th, the 307th tangled with a gaggle of 109s and 190s over Nettuno. Major Fields downed a FW-190, Lt. Tucker destroyed a ME-109, and Lt. Moore damaged 2 FW-190s. Lts. Brown and Livingston each shot up a FW-190. Major Field's victory made him an ace.
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Fields, Virgil C. Jr.	O-727434	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Nelson, John T	O-752229	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Our mission briefing before my first combat mission was very short. I would be flying wingman position on the lead plane of a flight of four. We would definitely be engaged in aerial combat with 109 Messerschmitts providing fighter cover against us for 190 Focke-Wulfe fighter dive-bombers attacking the beachhead. The F-190's, after dropping their bombs, would join the 109's as Germany's best fighters. They would attack from high altitude at high diving speed.
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Prybylo, Carroll A	O-795634	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. Two patrols over Anzio on the 28th brought heavy action for the 307th. Lt. Pryblo downed an FW-190 and damaged another. Major Fields claimed another destroyed. Lts. Bell, Rostron, and Beaver, each damaged one.
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Graham, Delton G	O-666930	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	From pilot Ron Brown's diary. I quote: "Ran into about 100 Fw's and Me's on the morning mission. Probably got one and a damaged. Others claimed damage on theenemy. Graham was shot up and bellied into a landing strip at Nettuno or Anzio, whatever one wants to call it. Fields and Dodd were shot up but managed to make it back. Haberle was last seen chasing an Me-109 and is "missing in action". 309th also had a couple of boys shot down. On the second mission, I was leading Gunna Blue top cover for Fields in Gunna Red. We sighted eight Fw's and started to attack. About that time, we spotted Me's above us and my flight went into them - breaking them up and allowing the bottom flight of Guano to go unmolested. Fields got his sixth and others got a few damaged."
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Rodmyre, Floyd J	O-667107	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Overend, Walter J	O-885361	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Terry, Robert M	O-727584	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jan 44	.	.	Haberle, Frank J	O-797671	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 3 victories
	28 Jan 44	.	.	Haberle, Frank J	O-797671	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	On the humane side of war, a story reached 31 FG Headquarters on the 27th from the beachhead. German forces had returned to American forces the bodies of Lieutenants Haberle and Comstock, pilots that had been killed on 28 January and 24 February, respectively. Both men were buried at Nettuno, Italy. Hometown: Union County, NJ (After shooting down 2 Me-109s he collided with a British Spit killing both of them.)
.	29 Jan 44	.	.	Lipscomb, Lawson L	O-666964	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Jan 44	.	.	Skinner, William J	O-795656	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	30 Jan 44	JG197	Spitfire LF VIII	Information only Guarino, Lawrence Nicholas (Larry Guarino's book, (A POW'S STORY-2801 DAYS IN HANOI)	O-793488	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Coded HL-Z, named Missus Evelyn assigned to Larry Guarino at Pomigliano Feb.44. Plane details FF 18-9-43 9MU 19-9-43 47MU 2-10-43 Empire Marlow 7-10-43 Casablanca 19-10-43 NAfricanASC 30-10-43 USAAF 30-1-44 MedAAF 21-6-45 SOC 27-3-47
.	31 Jan 44	JF880	Spitfire LF VIII	Information only	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	FF 31-8-43 39MU 3-9-43 47MU 11-9-43 Ocean Rider 23-9-43 Casablanca 10-10-43 NAfricanASC 31-10-43 USAAF 31-1-44 MedAAF 21-6-45 SOC 14-3-46. Spitfire LF Mk VIII JF.880 of 417 Squadron (RCAF) at Venafro, Italy. April 1944. This aircraft had previously served with the 31st Fighter Group, USAAF before they converted to Mustangs.
.	1 Feb 43	.	.	Nelson, John T	O-752229	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	At day five, after the Allied landing, my squadron of fourteen pilots was ordered to land on the beachhead and provide fighter protection early morning and late evening when more distant fighter cover was not available.
.	.	.	.	Brown, Ron	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Our dirt landing strip, which reportedly the Army built in 4 days, required a difficult turn between two buildings which cost us a couple of Spitfires that landed too fast and couldn't make the turn. Also, we had to dodge the Navy's balloon barrage and their guy wires there to protect them from low flying enemy fighters. For the few days we were on the beachhead, the German big gun shelling never stopped. The guns were called, "Big Berthas." They were hidden in caves behind the German lines. You would first hear the eerie sound of their approach and then the explosion. After a while, you could somewhat predict that a shell had passed you buy. Again from Ron's diary: "Fields is now a Major. Our field is now ready for use, and we will move up there tomorrow weather prevailing. Took off in morning leading flight of four and landed on new field on Anzio beach and escorted transports back to Castel Volterno. In taxing out to take off, I damaged the wing tip of my ship when I hit a parked truck. Flew a patrol over the field in the afternoon giving me three sorties for the day. New field is very short and narrow - have to use a right hand traffic pattern, as there is a bolloon barrage to our left when landing to the north. The font lines in one direction are about six miles. To the north, they are a little further away. Yesterday, the field was shelled putting holes in our runway. Shellfire is very loud and distinct."
.	5 Feb 44	.	.	Caid, Robert N	O-666871	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	On the 1st of February, the 307th squadron moved to Nettuno, a dirt airstrip along the coast near Anzio. Scrambled from Nettuno on the 5th, four Spitfires of the 307th climbed up to a formation of ten plus FW-190s. Lts. Robert Caid, Elmer Livingston and FO Reginald Gilbert each shot down a FW-190.
.	5 Feb 44	.	.	Livingston, Elmer E	O-670944	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. Jerries shelled all last night. Half of the pilots, including myself, are down with the flu. So far today, we've had five dive-bombings and strafing. Just my luck to be in bed. Livingston and Caid each shotone down with Elmer getting his elevators shot off. He made it back to the field all right. Sure luck, that boy. Gilbert and Bell each got a probable. Things have really been happening. Huns started shelling our field early this afternoon - so far they've hit eight of our planes. Our front lines are falling back and the shellfire is incessant. Ammunition dump on the field was blown but none of the pilots were hurt."
.	5 Feb 44	.	.	Gilbert, Reginald G M	O-2056235	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Feb 44	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Feb 44	.	.	Tyus, Joseph H	O-793699	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. In the ensuing fight, Lts. Tyus and Moore each destroyed a FW-190. Major Alvan Gillem transfered from the 309th to take command of the 307th.
.	6 Feb 44	ER130	Spitfire Vb	Fields, Virgil Cephus Jr	O-727434	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Shot down & killed by a ME-109 over the Anzio beach-head. Prior service with, 58FG and 338FG. Hometown: Ventura, CA. Killed in action, Anzio, Italy HONORED BY Robert S. Cox. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. CREDITED WITH DOWNING TWO FOCKE-WOLF-190 GERMAN FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ON SUCCESSIVE DAYS, AND BRINGING HIS TOTAL KILLS TO 6. 38MU 18-10-42 82MU 25-10-42 SS634 4-11-42 Gibraltar 23-11-42 NWAfrica 28-2-43 SOC 29-2-44. Johnson flew down from the beachhead and told me that Fields (good friend of WC) had been shot down yesterday about dusk. Four of our fellows were bounced by 30 huns. The Me-109 that got Fields hit himin the cockpit and gas tanks. Field's ship blew up immediately. He was one swell person and everyone misses him greatly. He was a perfect example of a good pilot and officer. Moore and Tyus each got a victory yesterday."
.	7 Feb 44	.	.	Souch, Charles A	O-730643	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	7 Feb 44	.	.	Brown, Ron	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Flew a damaged ship back to Castel Volterno to get it repaired. Everything here seems so quiet. Staying with Stone and Ainlay of the 309th. Ten of the 309th ran into 40 huns, knocking down a few and loosing a few of their own men - one of which was supposed to come into our own squadron as a replacement - that was his first mission.
2220	7 Feb 44	JL253	Spitfire IX	Yocum, William Webster	O-808332	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Hometown: Montgomery County, PA. Location, Beachhead, Anzio, Point Of Departure, Castel Volturno Ad, Italy. CBAF, M63, 15MU 2-4-43 47MU 12-4-43 SS687 27-4-43 Casablanca 17-5-43 NWAfricanAF 1-11-43 12/31USAAF lost in Italy 7-2-44. Also mentioned in this report James A Benzing
2221	7 Feb 44	EP61	SPITFIRE IX (Should be EP615 )	Collins, Bruce W	T-060811	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Location, Beach Head, Anzio, Italy, Point Of Departure, Castel Volturno Ad, Italy. CBAF, M46, original aircraft crashed Willenhall 18-7-42 on test flt A Henshaw safe Serial reallocated VA Cv IX M63 39MU 16-6-43 CAC 22-6-43 ros 222MU 20-9-43 Empire Marlow 2-10-43 Casablanca 19-10-43 NAfrica 30-11-43 12/31USAAF 31-1-44 lost in Italy 7-2-44FO Collins, Collins, Bruce W (b. 2 Apr 1920 - d. 7 Feb 1944) Flight Officer, Air Force - Shot Down Over Anzio Beachhead, Italy. Air Force Insignia. 31st Fighter Group, 309th Fighter Squadron. Aircraft: Spitfire IX, AAF Serial Number EP615. Squadron Marking WZ-GG. We always had more airplanes than pilots and this was a continuous problem the last five months I was on operations. It often resulted in our having, to fly the new lads on missions the day they arrived and this was tragic. My journal records one mission over Anzio on which we lost a pilot flying his first mission and one flying his sixth mission. It was over before they knew what was happening. Where a full squadron effort should have been twelve or 16 airplanes we often had six or eight on a mission and more than once these were long escort jobs 100- to 150-mi behind the lines. We were lucky. Fifty-second Group was not so fortunate for we heard stories of some of their losses and decimation of whole flights on these long penetration jobs. This hit me hard as many of those lads were old friends of mine from 2nd and 5th Squadrons.
.	.	.	.	Strum	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	Again from Ron's diary: "We're getting a new CO - Major Gillen. Also, four new pilots are coming up to Anzio. Flew up to Anzio with the Major, and he seems to be a good sort of person. We've had almost a complete turnover in aircraft since our arrival here. Got a letter from Bill O'Brien saying he was a Captain and that he was in England flying P-51's. Strum cracked up on landing and is in the hospital and will probably go home soon. John Moore and Bell have been taken off ops. Jerries shelled the field again last night with more than one gun knocking down three buildings at the north end.
.	12 Feb 44	.	.	Skinner, William J	O-795656	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	13 Feb 44	.	.	Harmeyer, Raymond F	O-789907	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	16 Feb 44	.	.	Jared, Garth B	O-424960	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Feb 44	.	.	Blumenstock, Duane R	O-668547	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	19 Feb 44	.	.	Belmont, Robert T	O-1702890	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 Feb 44	.	.	Hurd, Richard F	O-670918	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 Feb 44	.	.	Schult, Lester R	O-667109	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 Feb 44	.	.	Johnson, George D	O-686639	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Feb 44	.	.	Hurd, Richard F	O-670918	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Feb 44	.	.	Molland, Leland P	O-667089	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	22 Feb 44	.	.	Thorsen, James G	O-401549	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Feb 44	.	.	Walker, Donald J	O-730677	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
2683	22 Feb 44	JF660	SPITFIRE, VIII	Hackbarth, Robert W	O-679734	308FS	31FG	12AF	POW	Location, Valletri Area, Point Of Departure, Castel Volturno A/D.North African Theatre: Italy. Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12. Hit, and went down streaming glycol and in flames. Attacked by three ME-109s as he was going down, the attack was thwarted by Lieutenant Brown, who dove on the enemy aircraft even though he was out of ammunition. , 4502, CHA, M63, FF 30-6-43 38MU 2-7-43 47MU 12-7-43 Casablanca 29-7-43 12/31USAAF 30-11-43 lost Italy 22-2-44
.	24 Feb 44	.	.	Comstock, Horace Nathan	O-687418	307FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	On the humane side of war, a story reached 31 FG Headquarters on the 27th from the beachhead. German forces had returned to American forces the bodies of Lieutenants Haberle and Comstock, pilots that had been killed on 28 January and 24 February, respectively. Both men were buried at Nettuno, Italy
.	27 Feb 44	.	.	Clark, John L. Jr.	O-666873	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. The 307th engaged 20 ME-109s on the 27th during a patrol over Anzio. Capt. Clark downed a ME-109. Lts. Gfeller, Vaughn and F/O Gilbert claimed damage to Me109s
.	29 Feb 44	.	.	Benzing, James A	O-792097	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Feb 44	.	.	Faxon, Richard D	O-440415	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Feb 44	.	.	Porter, John F	O-2056196	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
2728 incorrectly listed as 13 Sep 1944 on MACR	29 Feb 44	MA625	Spitfire IX	Nisbet, William George	O-885207	309FS	31FG	12AF	KIA	Plane coded WZ-NN, named Lady Ellen II. . From California. Location, 6 Mi, N E Of Cisterna, Italy, Point Of Departure, Castel Volturno, Italy. Plane details 9MU 28-6-43 82MU 8-7-43 Fort Nakesley 14-7-43 Casablanca 29-7-43 12/31USAAF lost over Italy 29-2-44. Before I left the hospital I was grieved to learn that Nesbit, only recently transferred to us from the RAF, had been shot down and killed over Anzio in my old Double N, Lady Ellen II.
.	March 1944	.	Details of the month	.	.	.	31FG	12AF	.	For the 31 FG, March would be the last month flying Spitfires. On the 11th, Colonel Charles Milton McCorkle, born 29 Jan 1915, (McCorkle had his initials " CM-M " on his 31FG Spits and Mustangs, and the name "Betty Jane") and Lieutenant Meador brought in the first two P-51B aircraft. During a mock dogfight over the field on the 14th, Colonel McCorkel in a P-51 paired up against Lieutenant Williams in a Spitfire IX. The Spitfire completely outmanoeuvred the new Mustang. On 21 March, Lieutenant Richard F. Hurd of the 308 FS destroyed two ME-109s to become the last Spitfire ace before the 31 FG was taken off operational status to transition to the P-51. Colonel McCorkle did get permission for a farewell 36-ship fighter sweep over Rome on the 29th. For the most part uneventful, 20 FW-190s were intercepted by one 4-ship of Spits, forcing the enemy to Jettison their bombs. Lieutenant Emery destroyed one of the FWs, the last enemy aircraft downed by a 31 FG Spitfire
.	13 Mar 44	.	.	Livingston, Elmer E.	O-670944	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. on the 13th Lts. Vaughn and Livingston downed ME-109s near Circeo.
.	13 Mar 44	.	.	Vaughn, Maurice G	O-795670	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Mar 44	.	.	Gfeller, John C	O-670881	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory. Things were heating up at Cassino and the 307th got into a number of scraps with German fighters over the Liri Valley on the 18th. Lt. Hardage nailed a FW-190 that crashed. Lt. John Gfeller got to within 24 feet and tore up a 190 that crashed into the mountains. Lt. Kenneth Haydis downed a FW-190 and Lt Pryblo blew the wing off a 190 which went in.
.	18 Mar 44	.	.	Hardage, Laurin R	O-665401	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	18 Mar 44	.	.	Haydis, Kenneth G	O-726233	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	18 Mar 44	.	.	Prybylo, Carroll A	O-795634	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory FW-190
.	18 Mar 44	.	.	Hurd, Richard F	O-670918	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Mar 44	.	.	Ricks, N H Youngblood	O-687397	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
3175 also mentioned in 15204	18 Mar 44	MH999	Spitfire IX	O'Brien, John	O-677118	307FS	31FG	12AF	POW	Details of 18 Mar 44. North African Theatre: Italy, Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11) 307FS, 31FG, Italy, CBAF, M63A, 39MU 5-9-43 222MU 29-9-43 Empire Marlow 7-10-43 Casablanca 19-10-43 218Grp North Africa 30-11-43 USAAF 31-12-43 lost Italy 18-3-44
.	19 Mar 44	.	.	Guarino, Lawrence N	O-798126	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Mar 44	.	.	Hurd, Richard F	O-670918	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	21 Mar 44	.	.	Jacobs, James A	O-688266	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Mar 44	.	.	Ricks, N H Youngblood	O-687397	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Mar 44	.	.	Roche, Henry A	O-667106	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	22 Mar 44	.	.	Dillard, William J	O-742849	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Mar 44	.	Spitfire	Fawcett. John	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Plane coded WZ-JJ, Then on 22 March it happened. Unexpectedly and without knowing it, I flew my last mission, which I learned later was my 182nd. Coming back in the gathering darkness from a last light mission I landed and had my first airplane accident. As I started to taxi off the mat into the dispersal area one wheel went into the sand and old Double J nosed right into the ground leaving me perched up there as on a stranded ferris wheel! The next day I was grounded. I think the feeling was one of immense relief that it was over and some pangs of guilt that I had survived and so many others had not. A week later the whole Group was taken off operations for conversion to P-.51s and transfer to the 15th Air Force at San Severo on the other side of Italy.
.	29 Mar 44	.	.	Emery, Lenord H	O-792009	308FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Mar 44	.	Information	.	.	307FS	31FG	12AF	.	For the rest of March patrols to Cassino and Anzio were routine and uneventful. Their last mission in Spitfires was a sweep to Rome on the 29th. They then parked their Spitfires. They were changing over to P-51s. Their time in Spitfires and the Twelth Air Force was over. The Spitfires had served the 307th well allowing the squadron to score 65 victories.
.	30 Mar 44	.	Spitfire	Fawcett. John	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	On 30 March, in a mass flight, we took all our Spitfires back to Naples and gave them back to the RAF. Jared stuck his neck out for me again and gave me special permission (for I had been grounded) to take my airplane and lead B Flight on this trip. We put our ships in the old dispersal area at Pomig and I had difficulty getting out of old Double J that time. With our parachutes over our shoulders we walked away and left our splendid Spitfires. Five days later the Group moved across Italy to San Severo. 'Apparently the rules were overlooked again when I was asked to fly the Klunker across the mountains. Coming in to San Severo right there in front of everybody I ground looped the Goddamned thing on landing! Fortunately no damage and an hour later I flew it back over the bloody mountains to Castle Volturno to bring back Maj. Hagey, the Group Engineering Officer.
.	1 Apr 44	.	.	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	The 307th spent the first week of April picking up their new P-51s from Africa and moving to San Severo.. On 1 April 1944, the 31 FG was placed under the command of Fifteenth Air Force (15 AF) for long-range bomber escort. Moving to a new airfield the next day, San Severo aerodrome near Foggia, Italy, the group continued transition training in earnest. On the 16th of that month, they flew their first P-51 combat mission, escorting B-24 bombers over Turnu-Severin in Rumania
Joined the 31FG	1 Apr 44	44-13500	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Coded, HL-N "Flying DUTCHMAN", Castel Voltumo, Italy
.	10 Apr 44	43-7041	North American P-51B-5 Mustang.	Bradley, Charles H	O-681598	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy, plane later (31st FG, 307th FS) crash landed near San Severo, Italy Dec 13, 1944
.	11 Apr 44	42-106537	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Hughes, George D	O-737789	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	11 Apr 44	42-106592	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Byrnes, Thomas W	O-424711	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Pilot had prior service with 350th Fighter Group, plane damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	16 Apr 44	43-7020	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Felton, John A	T-223045	309FS	31FG	15AF	W/o	Destroyed during take off, San Severo, Italy
Friendly Fire 4232	16 Apr 44	43-6459	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Baetjer, Edward	O-440398	309FS	31FG	15AF	B/o	Coded WZ-Q, Location, 25 Mi N N E Of Nis, Yugoslavia, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Hit by machine gun fire from B-24, pilot bailed out 30 miles West of Turnu-Severin, Yugoslavia
.	16 Apr 44	43-7151	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Rodmyre, Floyd J G	O-667107	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Ground looped, San Severo, Italy, plane later (31st FG, 308th FS) crashed at San Severo, Italy Sep 4, 1944.
.	16 Apr 44	42-106561	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Bradley, Charles H	O-681598	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	c/n 104-25343, damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	17 Apr 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
4230	17 Apr 44	42-106479	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Dameron, Raymond Lynn	O-802260	309FS	31FG	15AF	FOD	Hometown: Lowndes County, GA. Plane coded WZ-H. Location, Over Sofia, Bulgaria, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	17 Apr 44	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	.	42-106511	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	This was his assigned plame named "Betty Jean" coded CM-M
.	17 Apr 44	42-106596	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Penson, Harold H	O-751424	309FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed, plane destroyed in crash, Grottaglie, Italy
.	18 Apr 44	.	.	Byrnes, Thomas W	O-424711	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Apr 44	.	.	Tafton, Fredrick O Jr	O-885484	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Apr 44	.	.	Loving, George S Jr	O-799594	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
4227	18 Apr 44	42-106571	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Jared, Garth Burton	O-424960	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	FOD date 19 Apr 1945.Hometown: San Mateo, CA. Location, 20 Mi N E Of Trieste, Italy, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy Coded WZ-A
4375	18 Apr 44	42-106574	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Reynolds, Charles E	O-752238	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	FOD date 19 Apr 1945.Hometown: Wabash County, IL. Location, 135 Miles South Of Target, 30 Miles East Of Fano Over Adriatic Sea, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
4376	18 Apr 44	42-106546	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Ricks, N H Youngblood	O-687397	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	FOD date 19 Apr 1945. Hometown: Anderson County, TX. Location, 135 Miles South Of Target, 30 Miles East Of Fano Over Adriatic Sea, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
.	19 Apr 44	.	.	Johnson, Edward G	O-421750	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 Apr 44	.	.	Faxon, Richard D	O-440415	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 Victories
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Bohl, Fredrick L	O-796546	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Gilbert, Reginald G M	O-2056235	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Hughes, George D	O-737789	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Molland, Leland P	O-667089	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Tafton, Fredrick O Jr	O-885484	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Ainlay, John Mickey	O-730322	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Felton, John A	T-223045	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Harmeyer, Raymond F	O-789907	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Meador, John W	O-024017	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Wilhelm. David C	O-447454	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 44	.	.	Harmeyer, Raymond F	O-789907	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
4223	21 Apr 44	42-106499	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Williams, John Jay	O-808328	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, Ploesti Area, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Coded WZ-P. Middle East Theatre: Rumania
4373	21 Apr 44	42-106563	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Lyman, Edward Mc Lean	O-799596	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Plane also coded WZ-P, Location, Ploesti Area, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Middle East Theatre: Rumania,
4228	21 Apr 44	42-106532	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Jackson, Roland Height	O-681676	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	FOD date 19 Apr 1945.Hometown: Dallas County, TX. Location, Ploesti Area, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Coded WZ-V
.	22 Apr 44	.	.	Hill, Frank A	O-399962	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Apr 44	.	.	McRaven, Claude C	O-433381	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Apr 44	.	.	Payne, Carl W	O-433390	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	22 Apr 44	.	.	Rahn, Robert O	O-433396	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	23 Apr 44	.	.	Goodson, James A	O-885241	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	23 Apr 44	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Apr 44	.	.	Nelson, John T	O-752229	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory. We were suddenly flown to a sandy, dust covered farm field near Casablanca to pick up the new P-51 Mustangs. Our first flight to the Ploesti oil fields brought my first 109 Messerschmitt destroyed and another probable before I ran out of ammunition. We had switched from front line tactical support to long range missions into Germany, France, and the many Balkan occupied countries. I would soon be shot down in Yugoslavia. After a month evading the Germans, I would be flying again with my 307th Squadron, 31st Fighter Group unit.
.	23 Apr 44	.	.	Prybylo, Carroll A	O-795634	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Apr 44	.	.	Ainlay, John Mickey	O-730322	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Apr 44	.	.	Grose, Richard L	O-806663	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Apr 44	.	.	Mann, Harrison	O-799803	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
4225	23 Apr 44	42-106542	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Trafton, Frederick Osborn Jr.	O-885484	308FS	31FG	15AF	WIA	Location, Lake Balaton And Zalaegerszeg Area, Hungary, Point Of Departure, San Severo, A/D Italy. Ploetsi raid, Escort to Wiener Neustadt, plane damaged in dogfight with Bf 109s, injured, bailed out South of town due to blood loss, Bjelovar, Yugoslavia
4370	23 Apr 44	42-106537	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Hughes, George D.	O-737789	308FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, Lake Balaton And Zalaegerszeg Area, Hungary, Point Of Departure, San Severo, A/D Italy. Middle East Theatre: Yugoslavia, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
4372	23 Apr 44	42-106482	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Johnson, George D	O-686639	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Location, Koszeg Sarvar Area Hungary, Point Of Departure, San Severo, A/D Italy (update from Sandor Sarkady Jr, History Teacher and researcher, Sopron (Hungary) He did not crash and die near Sarvar-Koszeg era as stated in the MACR but crashed and died at Hungarian village FERTOBOZ ( He wrote a book about this in 2004)
.	24 Apr 44	.	.	Bohl, Fredrick L	O-796546	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 Apr 44	.	.	Gilbert, Reginald G M	O-2056235	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
MACR 15157 Page -2147483648	24 Apr 44	Blank	Blank	Linton, Harry G. Jr	O-806709	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Albemarle County, VA MACR 15157- Page -2147483648
.	24 Apr 44	.	.	Ainlay, John Mickey	O-730322	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	24 Apr 44	.	.	Grose, Richard L	O-806663	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	25 Apr 44	.	.	Meldeau, Lenord H	O-885242	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Apr 44	.	.	McAbee, William H	O-885167	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Apr 44	.	.	Schafer, Dale E Jr	O-433414	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Apr 44	.	.	Holloway, Arthur P Jr	O-416304	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Apr 44	.	.	Riddle, Robert E	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
4525	28 Apr 44	42-64873	Curtiss P-40K-1 Warhawk	Rostron, James L	O-795644	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Target was Piombino in the northwest of Italy and as usual I (Riddle) was flying as a wingman to my element leader, a boyish looking ex-Spitfire pilot named Junior Rostron. Hometown: York County, ME
.	28 Apr 44	.	.	Ainlay, John Mickey	O-730322	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	28 Apr 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	28 Apr 44	.	.	Harmeyer, Raymond F	O-789907	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Apr 44	.	.	Jacobs, James A	O-688266	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Apr 44	.	.	Molland, Leland P	O-667089	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Apr 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims1victory
.	29 Apr 44	.	.	McLaughlin, Murray D	O-445409	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1victory
.	30 Apr 44	.	.	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 May 44	.	.	Gillem, Alvin C II	O-023302	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 May 44	.	.	Caid, Robert N	O-666871	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 May 44	.	.	Livingston, Elmer E	O-670944	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 May 44	.	.	Faxon, Richard D	O-440415	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	Frazier, John A	O-742861	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	Gillem, Alvin C II	O-023302	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	McElroy, George D	O-751390	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	Shipman, Ernest	O-677143	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	Emery, Leonard H	O-792009	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	Ainlay, John Mickey	O-730322	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	Harmeyer, Raymond F	O-789907	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	McLaughlin, Murray D	O-445409	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 May 44	.	.	Wilhelm, David C	O-447454	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 May 44	.	.	Gillem, Alvin C II	O-023302	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 May 44	.	.	Nelson, John T	O-752229	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory Me-109
.	7 May 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesee	O-431846	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 May 44	.	.	Faxon, Richard D	O-440415	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 May 44	.	.	Harmeyer, Raymond F	O-789907	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 May 44	.	.	Wilhelm, David C	O-447454	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	11 May 44	42-106536	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Dustrude, Robert B	O-681624	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Crashed taking off plane destroyed, San Severo, Italy
4716	12 May 44	42-106608	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Mc Cubbin, Ralph D.	O-1702889	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	North African Theatre: Italy. Location, Pavullo, Italy, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	18 May 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 May 44	.	.	Dillard, William J	O-742849	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 May 44	43-7034	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Boatwright, Jack H Comstock		309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Pilot killed, plane destroyed crash landing, Lucera A/D #8, Italy
5755	20 May 44	42-106496	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Emery, Lenoard H	O-792009	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Cumberland County, ME. Location, Italy, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
.	24 May 44	.	.	Boyd, Dorris E	O-681597	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	Bradley, Charles H	O-681598	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	Dillard, William J	O-742849	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	Riddle, Robert E	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	White, William D	O-763801	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	Day, Joseph D	O-688994	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	Pensinger, Donn H	O-751423	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 May 44	.	.	Thorsen, James D	O-401549	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
5185	24 May 44	42-106582	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Knapp, Edwin F	O-763643	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	HOMETOWN, Canoga Park, CA, Location, 15-31 Miles Northeast Of Graz, Austria, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D. Italy HONORED BY, Mr. Edwin L. Hall, Cousin, P-51B PILOT, 308TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 31ST FIGHTER GROUP, 15TH AIR FORCE FROM SAN SEVERO, ITALY. SHOT DOWN ON MAY 24, 1944 ON HIS 8TH MISSION. DOWNED OVER GRAZ, AUSTRIA WITHIN A STONE'S THROW OF WHERE HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE BORN. Knapp crashed and died Annaberg West buried: 5/27/1944 Annaberg cemetery. Mission was Escort B - 24s to Muchendorf , Austria. 40 - 50 LW Fighters attacked near Graz. Lt. Knapp was MIA - Last seen in Graz area but no one saw him go down. Lt. Knapp was a New Pilot.
6316	24 May 44	42-106595	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Mann, Harrison	O-799603	309FS	31FG	15AF	FOD	Vis, Yugoslavia, Hometown: New York County, NY. Location, Near Island Of Vis, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	27 May 44	42-106493	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Stevens, George F	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged crash landing, San Severo AF/ 2mi N, Italy
.	29 May 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 May 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	29 May 44	.	.	Daniel, William A	O-024103	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories, assigned P-51 was named "Tempus Fugit" coded HL-L
.	29 May 44	.	.	Dorris, Henry W	O-662893	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3.25 victories
.	29 May 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 May 44	.	.	Greene, Claude E	O-681650	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 May 44	.	.	Jacobs, James A	O-688266	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	29 May 44	.	.	McKean, John A	O-683535	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.25 victory
.	29 May 44	42-103392	North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang	Lanyon, Donald J	O-799586	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged taking off, San Severo, Italy
.	29 May 44	.	.	McLaughlin, Murray D	O-445409	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	29 May 44	.	.	Dustrude, Robert B	O-681624	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1victory
.	29 May 44	.	.	Thompson, Robert D	O-763784	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.25 victory
4641	29 May 44	42-106497	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Leicht, Harold J (Not confirmed)	O-799590	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Location, Mi. So. Ille De Porquerolles, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
5645	29 May 44	42-106538	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Howell, Thomas H Jr	O-1327007	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Wood County, WV. Location, Wallersdorf, Germany, Point Of Departure, San Severo
5410	29 May 44	42-103424	North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang	Mansberger, Ralph	O-677083	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Plane coded WZ_I. Crashed in lower Austria, Hometown: Cook County, IL. Location, Winner Neustadt Austria, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	31 May 44	.	.	Thompson, Robert D	O-763784	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Jun 44	.	.	Carey, Albert J	O-801626	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Jun 44	.	.	Warford, Victor E	O-424588	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	8 Jun 44	.	.	Brown, Carl H	O-681601	307FS	31FG	15AF		Claims 1 victory
.	11 Jun 44	.	.	Walz, Leo	O-763863	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	PBY-5A No 959, piloted by Lieutenant , Charles F Eisman, O-739747, successfully completed another rescue, the twentieth for Flight “B”. Second Lieutenant Leo Walz, 0-763863, Age 25, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, is a member of the 307^th Fighter Squadron, 31^st Fighter Group, based near San Severo, Italy. He took off in a P-51 at 0730 this morning, in company with a Fighter escort protecting a B-17 Squadron, which had been assigned targets in the vicinity of Bucharest, Hungary. On his return, flying at an altitude of 23,000 feet, the oil system in his plane failed and the Fighter, catching fire, dove to the right in a spin. The pilot bailed out at 18,000 feet. His dinghy did not open immediately and it was necessary, while in the water to pare away the cheesecloth wrapping before it could be inflated. Lieutenant Walz “ditched” eight miles off the East coast of Italy, 420 00’ North and 180 45’ East at approximately 1230, and was in the water a total of one hour and ten minutes, before he was helped into the rescue plane. A B-17 circled over the raft until Lieutenant Eisman set the “Catalina” down on the open sea, whipped by gusty winds into six foot swells, and taxied up to the dinghy. One of the PBY’s from Flight “A” having arrived too late to make the rescue, turned back in chagrin. Sergeant Paulo, noticing that the thoroughly wet but uninjured pilot was clutching something in his hand inquired as to what it could be. The Lieutenant, grinning sheepishly, uncurled his fingers; exposing a pair of wet arch supports, “These,” he said, “Can’t be replaced and I’m taking darn good care of them”. PBY-5A No 959, piloted by Lieutenant , Charles F Eisman, O-739747, successfully completed another rescue, the twentieth for Flight “B”. Second Lieutenant Leo Walz, 0-763863, Age 25, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, is a member of the 307^th Fighter Squadron, 31^st Fighter Group, based near San Severo, Italy. He took off in a P-51 at 0730 this morning, in company with a Fighter escort protecting a B-17 Squadron, which had been assigned targets in the vicinity of Bucharest, Hungary. On his return, flying at an altitude of 23,000 feet, the oil system in his plane failed and the Fighter, catching fire, dove to the right in a spin. The pilot bailed out at 18,000 feet. His dinghy did not open immediately and it was necessary, while in the water to pare away the cheesecloth wrapping before it could be inflated. Lieutenant Walz “ditched” eight miles off the East coast of Italy, 420 00’ North and 180 45’ East at approximately 1230, and was in the water a total of one hour and ten minutes, before he was helped into the rescue plane. A B-17 circled over the raft until Lieutenant Eisman set the “Catalina” down on the open sea, whipped by gusty winds into six foot swells, and taxied up to the dinghy. One of the PBY’s from Flight “A” having arrived too late to make the rescue, turned back in chagrin. Sergeant Paulo, noticing that the thoroughly wet but uninjured pilot was clutching something in his hand inquired as to what it could be. The Lieutenant, grinning sheepishly, uncurled his fingers; exposing a pair of wet arch supports, “These,” he said, “Can’t be replaced and I’m taking darn good care of them”. The PBY landed at Foggia Main at 1500. The Pilot was taken, by ambulance, to the 51^st Station Hospital.
.	13 Jun 44	.	.	Dillard, William J	O-742849	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	13 Jun 44	.	.	Main, Dave W Jr	O-701127	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	13 Jun 44	.	.	Shipman, Ernest	O-677143	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5victory
.	13 Jun 44	.	.	Carey, Albert J	O-801626	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	13 Jun 44	.	.	McLaughlin, Murray D	O-445409	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	13 Jun 44	.	.	Wilhelm, David C	O-447454	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	13 Jun 44	42-103441	North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang	Shipley, Eugene F	T-002296	309FS	31FG	15AF	W/o	Destroyed crash landing, Italy
.	14 Jun 44	.	.	Antonini, Edmund M	O-432537	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	14 Jun 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	.	44-13464	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Brown, Samuel Jesse (Major)	O-431846	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Assigned plane coded MX-A
.	14 Jun 44	.	.	Daniel, William A	O-024103	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
5820 conflict	14 Jun 44	43-7074	North American P-51B-5 Mustang.	White, William D.	O-763801	307FS	31FG	15AF	B/o	Location, 45°48' N, 17°10' E., Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Vocin, Yugoslavia, Escort to Budapest, oil leak because of battle damage with Me 410s, safely bailed out , Returned To Duty, 17 July 1944. Plane also listed as crash-landing near Lake Varna, Italy Aug 10, 1944 with 332nd FG, 99th FS.
.	15 Jun 44	.	.	Dorris, Harry W	O-662893	307FS	31FG	15AF	MIA/Rtn	Mentioned in MACR 7067 so must have returned. Prior service with 86FG ? MACR 3169
.	16 Jun 44	.	.	Grose, Richard L	O-806663	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	16 Jun 44	.	.	Warford, Victor E	O-424588	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	16 Jun 44	43-6811	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Tuttle, Neil R	O-820364	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged by structural fire, San Severo, Italy, plane later (31st FG) lost Nov 20, 1944. MACR 9966
.	17 Jun 44	44-13516	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Surratt, Maurice D	O-748835	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged belly landing, San Severo, Italy
.	18 Jun 44	.	.	Dorsch, Fredrick J Jr	O-443765	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	18 Jun 44	.	.	Dustrude, Robert B	O-681624	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	18 Jun 44	.	.	Warford, Victor E	O-424588	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
	19 June 44	.	44-18510 Think this might be a typo in his narrative better possibility it was 44-13510	Riddle, Robert E.	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	On 19 June, 1944, I climbed out of our Group's battered B-25 onto the airstrip of the 332 Fighter Group based near the Adriatic coast of Southern Italy. The 332nd was the all-black Group built around the original 99th Fighter Squadron of Tuskegee University. They had only recently traded in their P-47's for olive drab P-51 B's and C's. Among their dunn colored old '51's sat several bright and shiny new P-51-D's with bubble canopies and natural unpainted aluminium skins. They were beautiful. A half-dozen of our 307th Squadron members surveyed the assembled aircraft under the hostile stares of black pilots and crews. Lugging my parachute and helmet I picked out a likely looking ship numbered 418510 attended by a sullen black mechanic who merely grunted when I asked if it was flyable. He offered no help as I threw my gear into the cockpit and buckled up. Mixture Full Rich, throttle cracked, a couple of shots of primer and emergency fuel pump ON; prop pitch full forward. The engine caught immediately and sounded sweet so I taxied out to the end of the metal Marsten mat and took off. Once in the air I found numerous minor discrepancies: no operable compass; radio frequencies not set; oil and coolant shutters required manual control; - little things. But since our 31st Group based near San Severo was only about fifteen minutes west, I stayed in the air for a while testing, particularly the manual supercharger override. As I shut down the new plane in my revetment, I reported to my Crew Chief, Staff Sgt. LaSalle, and he seemed pleased and should have been. My old Angel II had required a lot of night work to keep it flying. A few days later after some test flights my new ship was ready to go, complete with "Angel III" painted under the exhaust stacks, my name and my crews names in small block letters on the left side under the cockpit along with two modest black crosses signifying my victories to date. Perhaps because of my implicit faith in my armorer, I failed to take the ship out over the Adriatic for sight testing the six .50 caliber guns. Cleaning six guns was quite a chore and I thought I would save him some work. It was almost a fatal omission!
.	22 Jun 44	.	.	Grose, Richard L	O-806663	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Jun 44	.	.	Thompson, Robert D	O-763784	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Jun 44	.	.	Warford, Victor E	O-424588	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Jun 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	.	44-13382	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Assigned plane was named "February" coded MX-I, plane lost Sep 2, 1944. MACR 8267
.	23 Jun 44	.	.	Riddle, Robert E	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Jun 44	.	.	Surratt, Maurice D	O-748835	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Jun 44	.	.	Byrnes, Thomas W	O-424711	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	23 Jun 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	.	44-13500	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Assigned plane named "Flying Dutchman" coded HL-D
.	23 Jun 44	.	.	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	.	44-13494	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Assigned plane :Miss Mimi II" coded HL-M
.	23 Jun 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victories. Ploesti, Romania- FW-190, first victory (The Fw 190F of 4./SG 2 and II./SG 10 took the hardest punishment. 4./SG 10 lost three pilots (including the Staffelkapitän and ground-attack veteran, Knights Cross holder Hauptmann Günther Müller, who was killed in the Fw 190 F-8 white 13 on his 900th combat sortie). 4./SG 10 recorded four Fw 190 F-8 shot down with two pilots killed and one wounded. 31FG Lt. John J. Voll, who eventually would become the top scorer in the Fifteenth Air Force, scored his first victory (of 21 by the end of the war) with one of these Fw 190s, Rupert Weninger was shot down and killed by Mustangs on 24 June; four days later, Erich Gehring and Willi Dreyer were shot down and wounded. )
.	24 Jun 44	.	.	Main, Dave W Jr	O-701127	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 Jun 44	44-13476	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	307FS	31FG	15AF	W/o	Destroyed force landing, engine failure, San Severo/ 3mi S, Italy(Major Sam Brown also flew, 44-13464 coded MX-A)
.	25 Jun 44	.	.	Brown, Carl H	O-681601	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jun 44	.	.	McCorkle, Charles M	O-020239	HQ	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jun 44	.	.	Riddle, Robert E	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
6409	26 Jun 44	43-6921	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Byrnes, Thomas Wilson	O-424711	308FS	31FG	15AF	FOD	Hometown: Jackson County, MO. Location, 20-30 Miles South Of Bratislava, Czechoslavakia, Point Of Departure, San Severo, A/D, Italy
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Bradley, Charles H	O-681598	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesee	O-431846	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 4 victories
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Jay, Edward	T-123596	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Main, Dave W Jr	O-701127	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Byrnes, Thomas W	O-424711	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Bratton, Charles W	T-061666	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Loving, George G Jr	O-799594	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
6326	26 Jun 44	44-13478	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Main, Dave W Jr	O-701127	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Butler County, KS. Location, 48°00' N, 16°35' E, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Schanning, William H	O-799593	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Shipman, Ernest	O-677143	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	26 Jun 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories, Vienna, Austria- Escort mission- 30 Me 210's and 30 Bf-109's attacked the B-24's. Voll responded by downing an Me-210 and an Bf-109.
.	27 Jun 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	27 Jun 44	.	.	Sheehan, Joseph B	O-751460	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	27 Jun 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory. Budapest, Hungary- Escort mission- Bf-109 Victory
.	27 Jun 44	.	.	Cloutier, Maurice E	O-677028	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	27 Jun 44	.	.	McLaughlin, Murray D	O-445409	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	27 Jun 44	.	.	Shipley, Eugene F	T-002296	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
4232 & 6467 & 6393	27 Jun 44	42-106498	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Baetjer, Howard	O-440398	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 47° 30' N 18° 03' E, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy Coded WZ-U. European Theatre: Hungary. Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
6413	27 Jun 44	42-103553	North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang	Lamont, Neil Jr	O-399730	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 47° 10' N 18° 03' E, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Coded WZ-V. European Theatre: Germany. Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12 (Update aircraft crashed EGYED, Hungarian village, Lamont bailed out, and broke his foot, POW. PÁPA-Hospital and BUDAPEST (Hospital) and Germany Researched by Sándor Sarkady Jr )
.	28 Jun 44	.	.	Warford, Victor E	O-424588	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 Jul 44	.	.	Jay, Edward	T-123596	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	2 Jul 44	.	.	Shipman, Ernest	O-677143	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 Jul 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Budapest, Hungary- Escort mission- Bf-109 Victory
.	3 Jul 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	3 Jul 44	.	.	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	3 Jul 44	.	.	Wilhelm, David C	O-447454	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	5 Jul 44	42-106585	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Taylor, Donald "Don"	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Crash Lands, Engine failure. Plane coded WZ-I, Today is the fourth war-mission for Lieutenant Donald ‘Don' Taylor, who joined the 309th Fighter Squadron in March, belonging to the 31st Fighter Group, attached to the 15th US Air Force, the one which operates in the Mediterranean Operations Theater. That mission will end in the Bay of Ajaccio. Eight days later Taylor is back in mission. Although he had 50 missions to carry out, he will accomplish 57, to end the war a flight leader.
.	14 Jul 44	.	.	Bradley, Charles H	O-681598	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	14 Jul 44	.	.	House, Charles P Jr	O-763608	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	15 Jul 44	.	.	Riddle, Robert E	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Jul 44	44-13414	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Sheehan, Joseph B	O-751460	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Buck, George T Jr	O-024857	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Dillard, William J	O-742849	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Edler, Bradley L	T-061868	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
7071	18 Jul 44	44-13450	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Walz, Leo M	O-763863	307FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 47°15' N, 10°50' E., Point Of Departure, San Severo, ItalyEuropean Theatre: Germany. Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Dorris, Harry W	O-662893	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Kennedy, James A	O-763636	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Martin, Luther W	O-1595505	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	18 Jul 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Memmingem Aerodrome- FW-190 Victory
7067	18 Jul 44	43-6854	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Herman, Charles O	O-763596	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Lehigh County, PA. Location, Kempten, Germany, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
7118	18 Jul 44	44-13495	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Edler, Brady L	T-061868	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Location, 46°26' N, 12°35' E, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	20 Jul 44	.	.	Dorris, Harry W	O-662893	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	20 Jul 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Jul 44	.	.	Buck, George T Jr	O-024857	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Jul 44	.	.	Shipman, Ernest	O-677143	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Antonini, Edmund M	O-432537	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesee	O-431846	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Didear, Nowell O	O-682941	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Hendel, Charles W	O-817943	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	House, Charles P Jr	O-763608	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	McElroy, George D	O-751390	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Schanning, William H	O-799593	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Daniel, William A	O-024103	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Shipman, Ernest	O-677143	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Sprout, Dale E	O-818493	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Loving, George G Jr	O-799594	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Seib, Edward C	O-677137	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	25 Jul 44	.	.	Zierenberg, Rodger H	O-722201	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jul 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jul 44	.	.	Brown, Samuel Jesse	O-431846	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jul 44	.	.	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Jul 44	.	.	Molland, Leland P	O-667089	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	26 July 44	43-24256	Curtiss P-40N-25-CU Warhawk	Kratzer, Merle T	O-722113	FPTS	267Bu	N/A		Mid air collision, 4 mi S of Edith, OK. Point of departure, Woodward AAF, Woodward, OK (Mentioned here as he was KIA with 31FS 9 Feb 1945)
.	28 Jul 44	.	.	Edge, Jack D	O-681626	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jul 44	.	.	Hardeman, Thomas R	O-681656	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jul 44	.	.	Molland, Leland P	O-667089	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jul 44	.	.	Skelton, Willard R	O-814779	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	28 Jul 44	.	.	Smith, Jack R	O-803478	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Jul 44	.	.	Vogt, Tom D	O-820370	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	28 Jul 44	.	.	Dorsch, Fredrick J Jr	O-443765	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
7308	30 Jul 44	44-13446	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Shipman, Ernest	O-677143	307FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 47°25' N,18°32' E., Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. European Theatre. Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	31Jul 44	.	.	Antonini, Edmund M	O-432537	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
7465	31 Jul 44	44-13516	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Jones, Charles L	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	MIA	Location, 43°57' N , 25°05' E., Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	31 Jul 44	.	.	Bratton, Charles W	O-1695438	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Jul 44	.	.	Dorsch, Fredrick J Jr	O-443765	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	31 Jul 44	.	.	Grose, Richard L	O-806663	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	31 Jul 44	.	.	Loving, George W	O-799594	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	31 Jul 44	.	.	Shropshire, John W	O-1691646	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Jul 44	.	.	Vashina, Stanley J	O-1695440	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	31 Jul 44	.	.	Warford, Victor E	O-424588	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	2 Aug 44	.	.	Thompson, Robert D	O-763784	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 Aug 44	.	.	Zierenberg, Rodger H	O-722201	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	3 Aug 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Aug 44	.	.	Busley, John R	O-689201	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 Aug 44	.	.	Riddle, Robert E	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	7 Aug 44	.	.	Skogstad, Norman C	O-800057	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
14418	7 Aug 44	44-13454	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Richards, Harry	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	MIA	.
.	7 Aug 44	.	.	Hardeman, Thomas R	O-681656	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	7 Aug 44	.	.	Nauman, Hugh D	O-722141	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 Aug 44	.	.	Tuttle, Neil R	O-820364	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 Aug 44	.	.	Lanyon, Donald J	O-799586	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	7 Aug 44	.	.	Thompson, Richard D	O-763784	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	9 Aug 44	42-106566	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Stevens, George F	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	W/o	Destroyed taxiing, Bari, Italy
.	10 Aug 44	.	.	Cloutier, Maurice E	O-677028	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	10 Aug 44	.	.	Dorsch, Fredrick J Jr	O-443765	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	15 Aug 44	44-13420	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Wolven, Aubrey K	O-818063	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, Tarquinia, Italy
.	15 Aug 44	44-13276	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Sprout, Dale E	O-818493	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Destroyed landing, Tarquinia, Italy
.	17 Aug 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories, Ploesti Romania- Escort mission- On the return home, Voll spotted 3 Bf-109's at 3000'. He had followed Lt. Shipp down after he bailed out because of engine trouble. Voll surprised the 109's and downed two of them
7864	17 Aug 44	42-106455	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Shipp, Bennard A	O-814777	.	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, Lum, Bulgaria, Point Of Departure, Sansevero, Italy
.	18 Aug 44	.	.	Riddle, Robert E	O-677013	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Aug 44	.	.	Skogstad, Norman C	O-800057	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	18 Aug 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	18 Aug 44	.	.	Molland, Leland P	O-667089	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Aug 44	.	.	Beeman, Lyman A	O-804357	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Aug 44	.	.	Busley, John R	O-689201	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	20 Aug 44	43-7161	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Jones, Ralph I	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy, plane later (31st FG) lost Feb 22, 1945. MACR 11819
	21 Aug 44	44-13505	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Shea, James R	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged during ground loop, San Severo, Italy
.	21 Aug 44	42-103390	North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang	Higdon, Conway C	O-715539	309FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed bailing out after midair collision, Tortorella, Italy Hometown: Murray County, GA
.	21 Aug 44	43-6511	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Carney, James R	O-824414	309FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed midair collision, Tortorella, Italy
.	22 Aug 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Aug 44	.	.	Tuttle, Neil R	O-820364	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Aug 44	44-13269	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Antonini, Edmund J	O-432537	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Crashed, plane destroyed, engine failure, San Severo, Italy
.	22 Aug 44	.	.	Sandler, Sheldon	O-671775	.	31FG	15AF	POW	North African Theatre, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	22 Aug 44	.	.	Bratton, Charles W	O1695438	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	European Theatre: Germany, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11. Plane, fell near the Netcice village, two P-51 Mustang's crashed near here at 22nd of August 1944, one of this plane should be P-51B from 309th squadron 31st FG and his pilot should have bailed out, It was 2/Lt Charles W. Bretton. He was flying as a number two of Col. George G. Loving, Jr., Woodbine Red Leader, he flew P-51B coded WZ-D, prior to the Mustang he flew Spitfire coded WZ-S named Ginger
.	25 Aug 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	25 Aug 44	.	.	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Aug 44	.	.	Smith, Jack R	O-803478	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Aug 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Czechoslovakia- Escort mission- Fi-156 Storch, 1 damaged, 1 destroyed
.	25 Aug 44	.	.	Wilson, Lavelle R	O-1691695	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
7988 also mentioned in 5439	25 Aug 44	43-6821	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Quigley, Jess A	O-701158	307FS	31FG	15AF	FOD	Lost over Austria
.	28 Aug 44	.	.	Hendel, Charles W	O-817943	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Aug 44	.	.	Skogstad, Norman C	O-800057	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Aug 44	.	.	Surratt, Maurice D	O-748835	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	28 Aug 44	.	.	Goebel, Robert J	O-681645	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Aug 44	.	.	Goehausen, Walter J Jr	O-681646	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Aug 44	.	.	Lewis, Charles D	O-0421873	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	28 Aug 44	.	.	Skelton, Willard R	O-814779	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
8264	28 Aug 44	43-6851	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Jones, Ralph I	O-715546	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	From Pennsylvania. Location, 48°36' N-16°04' E.) (20 Miles North Of Vienna, Austria), Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
7964	28 Aug 44	44-13457	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Wheeler, Garrold E	O-752260	.	31FG	15AF	POW	Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15, 307FS, 31FG
.	29 Aug 44	.	.	Brooks, James L	O-681600	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	29 Aug 44	.	.	Wolven, Aubrey K	O-818063	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Aug 44	.	.	Smith, Jack R	O-803478	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Aug 44	.	.	Martin, Luther W	O-1595505	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	29 Aug 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Czechoslovakia- Escort mission- FW-190 Victory
.	31 Aug 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories, Czechoslovakia- Escort mission- (2) Ju 52 transports
8265	2 Sep 44	43-24782	North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang	Grose, Richard Leroy	O-806663	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Plane coded WZ-2. Location, 44° 29' N-22° 08' E. On Island In Danube 44 Mi S E Of Pozarevac, Yugoslavia, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Mission to strafe trains and barges near the town, hit by small arms fire from one of the boats and crashed on the island in Danube. Rescued. by chetniks after hiding from German patrols all day,
8266	2 Sep 44	43-25113	North American P-51C-10-NT Mustang	Nelson, John Travis	O-752229	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Location, Yogoslavia, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Mission to strafe motor transport, hit by anti-aircraft fire, crash landed, rescued by chetniks, Kragujevac, Yugoslavia . (Shot down in Yugoslavia. After a month evading the Germans, I would be flying again with my 307th Squadron, 31st Fighter Group unit.)
.	2 Sep 44	.	.	Galiotto, Charles A	O-071551	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	2 Sep 44	.	.	Skogstad, Norman C	O-800057	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
8267	2 Sep 44	44-13382	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Beckham, James D	O-721944	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Mission to strafe Kraljevo airdrome, lost oil pressure, crash landed rescued. and Returned To Duty, Kraljevo, Yugoslavia, D.MIlanovac, Yugoslavia (Brooks, James L, O-681600, Assigned plane was named "February" coded MX-I,)
.	3 Sep 44	.	.	Zimmermann, Sterling T	O-701232	307FS	31FG	15AF	MIA	Mission to Bucharest, (MIA over Yugoslavia)
.	3 Sep 44	42-106457	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Lockwood, James L	O-714459	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Pilot killed structural failure, San Severo, Italy
8343	6 Sep 44	43-24834	North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang	Allen, James R	O-664491	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	From Texas
.	13 Sep 44	.	.	Naumann, Hugh D	O-722141	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	13 Sep 44	.	.	Shelton, William E	O-681713	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	14 Sep 44	43-7151	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Fitzpatrick, Robert R	O-808247	308FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed in crash, San Severo, Italy
8760 Conflict	15 Sep 44	43-6859	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Walthman, Robert E	O-714545	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Lake County, IN, (363rd FG, 382nd FS) crashed near Coutances, France Aug 4, 1944. Also listed as lost with 31st FG Sep 15, 1944 MACR 8760.
8950	17 Sep 44	43-6847	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Boudra, Paul W.	O-721951	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Plane coded WZ-X. Location, 47°08' N 18°30' E, 9 Miles Se Of Szekesfehervar Hungary, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
	19 Sep 44	44-13422	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Hargrove, Dawson K	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged belly landing, San Severo, Italy
.	20 Sep 44	42-106456	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Shee, Parke E	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged taxiing, San Severo, Italy
.	23 Sep 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	1 Oct 44	JF470	Spitfire VIII (silver finish (no camouflage paint))	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	Was used as a hack a/c with full markings and coded white "HL-R". FF 3-5-43 38MU 5-5-43 82MU 22-5-43 SS702 2-6-43 Casablanca 15-6-43 NW Africa 1-7-43 Middle East 1-8-43 N African ASC 1-11-43 Damaged by flak and crashed on landing Fano 1-10-44
8741	24 Sep 44	42-106541	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Shropshire, John William	O-1691646	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Travis County, TX Plane coded WZ-7. Location, 39°50'N-18°57'E Over Adriatic, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	2 Oct 44	.	.	Holland, Howard R	O-670912	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	10 Oct 44	44-13278	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Lamont, Joseph A Jr	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged belly landing, San Severo, Italy (remains of the plane noted in 1989 in Yugoslavian National Aviation Museum, Belgrade)
.	10 Oct 44	43-7025	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Shee, Parke E	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy, plane later (31st FG, 308th FS) crashed at Serracapriola, Italy Nov 27, 1944.
.	11 Oct 44	.	.	Galiotto, Charles A	O-071551	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1victory
9315	11 Oct 44	43-24854	North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang	Kiggins, William L	O-1692808	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Location, Kromeriz, Czechoslavakia, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy Aircraft found and memorial made late 2007 near Brno, Czechoslavakia
9316	11 Oct 44	43-25087	North American P-51C-10-NT Mustang	Sellergren, Roy H	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Location, Kenyeri, Hungary, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
.	11 Oct 44	.	.	Vashina, Stanley J	O-1695440	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories. During a strafing mission near Vienna on 10/11/44 he ( Stanley J. Vashina, 0-1695440 ), had 2 FW109 kills while trying to clear the tail of his squadron CO, Lt. Col. Warford, who was last seen crash landing due to damage from FW190 hits.
9076	11 Oct 44	44-14853	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Warford, Victor E	O-424588	HQ	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 48 °40' N, 16° 10' E;30 Miles, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
.	12 Oct 44	42-106560	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Blank, Robert R	O-802978	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged belly landing, San Severo, Italy
.	13 Oct 44	.	.	Skelton, Willard R	O-814779	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	13 Oct 44	.	.	Werden, Curtis A	O-820619	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
9062	13 Oct 44	44-14457	North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang	Corp, Lynn J.	O-683526	.	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 47° 10' N 18° 30' E 5 Miles S E Szekesfehervar, Hungary, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11.
.	13 Oct 44	42-106557	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Longo, Hugh M		309FS	31FG	15AF	W/o	Take off accident plane destroyed by fire, San Severo, Italy. My father, Capt. Hugh M. Longo passed away on August 30, 2007 at the age of 87. He was with the 31st Fighter Group, 309th Fighter Squadron, 15th Air Force in WWII. He was injured in a takeoff accident flying a P51-B at San Severo, Italy on October 13, 1944. He spent 2-1/2 years in the Veterans Hospital in Valley Forge, PA, where he met my mother, who was a nurse there. He returned to his hometown of Mingo Junction, Ohio and raised three sons in Mingo and Steubenville, Ohio. If anyone knew him, has any information or stories or photos to share, please contact me at jlongo2517@netscape.net
.	16 Oct 44	.	.	Beeman, Lyman A	O-804357	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Me-109, 50-20N, 13-57E, 12:15, also claims a damaged Me-109
.	16 Oct 44	.	.	Buck, George T Jr	O-024857	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 3 victories, Me-109, 50-20N, 13-57E, 12:15
.	16 Oct 44	.	.	Dorsch, Fredrick John Jr	O-443765	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories, Me-109, 50-20N, 13-57E, 12:15
.	16 Oct 44	.	.	Hackney, Ernest D	O-826412	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Me-109, 50-20N, 13-57E, 12:15 and FW-190 damaged
.	16 Oct 44	.	.	Swing, Royal S	O-1692817	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory, Me-109, 50-20N, 13-57E, 12:15
.	16 Oct 44	.	.	Zierenberg, Rodger H	O-722201	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories, Me-109, 50-20N, 13-57E, 12:15
.	17 Oct 44	.	.	Skelton, Willard R	O-814779	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Oct 44	.	.	Voll, John James	O-705511	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 3 victories, Blechhammer, Germany- Escort mission- Voll aborted because of engine trouble. On return home, he saw (6) Bf-109's and attacked. He dove through them at 15,000' firing and headed for the deck. While pursuing him, 2 of the Bf-109's collided with each other and went down. Once back at altitude, Voll spotted a Do-217 5,000' below. He slipped in behind and destroyed it.
9446	17 Oct 44	43-7062	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Schmid, Howard S	O-704752	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Plane coded WZ-6. Crashed near Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (source Mike Mucha) Hometown: Dane County, WI. Location, 50°25' N 17°55' E, 17 Miles South Of Oppeln, Germany, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	17 Oct 44	.	.	Garlock, Hubert K	O-826406	.	31FG	15AF	POW	European Theatre: Germany, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	20 Oct 44	44-13492	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Karst, Herbert L	O-1692806	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Pilot killed in crash, San Severo, Italy
10712	24 Oct 44	41-18627	Douglas C-47-DL	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	c/n 4788 to USAAF Oct 26, 1942 - Cairo Feb 17, 1943 - 8th AF, UK Feb 27, 1944. Lost Oct 24, 1944 with 31st TCG. MACR 10712. Condemned Nov 10, 1944 (Missing)
.	25 Oct 44	44-13503	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Gfeller, John C	O-670881	307FS	31FG	15AF	W/o	Crashed, plane destroyed, engine failure, San Giorgio/nr Fano #25, Italy. force landed on sand Oct 25, 1944, swerved into water and demolished. Pilot OK.
9587, given on MACR as 106559 (Wz-T)	28 Oct 44	42-106559	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Dorsch, Frederick John Jr	O-443765	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Allegheny County, PA. Plane coded WZ-T, Location, 46°25' N 13°30' E, 28 Miles NE of Udine, Italy. Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy.
11064	30 Oct 44	43-48592	Douglas C-47B-5-DK	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	c/n 25853 lost Oct 30, 1944, France
.	6 Nov 44	.	.	Beckham, James D	O-721944	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	6 Nov 44	.	.	Ryder, John L	O-701808	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	6 Nov 44	.	.	Kennedy, James A	O-763636	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Nov 44	.	.	Smith, Jack R	O-803478	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Nov 44	42-106560	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Seib, Edward C	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged belly landing, San Severo, Italy
.	12 Nov 44	JF894	Spitfire VIII	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	FF 4-11-43 9MU 7-11-43 222MU 7-12-43 Fanad Head 24-12-43 Casablanca 8-1-44 MedAAF 31-1-44 USAAF 29-2-44 92S Missing on weather recce over northern Adriatic 12-11-44
.	16 Nov 44	44-15106	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Zierenberg, Roger H	O-722201	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged taking off, San Severo, Italy
.	16 Nov 44	.	.	Bush, Bobby J	O-715467	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	16 Nov 44	.	.	Voll, John James	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 5 victories, Returning from a mission, Voll spotted a Ju 52 and began the pursuit. While gaining on the Ju52, seven FW-190's and five Bf-109's bounced him. He downed the Ju52 and began the fight with twelve enemy fighters! When it was over, he had bagged (2) FW-190 and (1) Bf-109 while damaging several others, "it was just a matter of shooting everything that passed in front of me." This made him the top scoring ace of the 15th AF.
9891	16 Nov 44	44-13500	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Fuller, Jesse G	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	Lt Fuller, 31st FG, Escort to Munchen, hit by flak over Udine, tail section damaged, reported safe in Donji Zemunik, Yugoslavia
.	17 Nov 44	44-11239	North American P-51D-5-NT Mustang	White, William Dale	01003176	307FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed in crash, Foggia Main/4mi South, Italy HOMETOWN Porter, IN, HONORED BY F. M. White, Brother, CREDITED WITH SHOOTING DOWN 3 ENEMY PLANES BEFORE BEING SHOT DOWN OVER YUGOSLAVIA. UNDERGROUND GOT HIM BACK TO ITALY. LATER, CHECKING OUT A NEW P-51, HE CRASHED AND WAS KILLED NOVEMBER 1944. ARMY AIR CORPS.
.	19 Nov 44	43-7102	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Lockney, Ralph D	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy, plane later (31st FG, 308th FS) lost over Austria Mar 16, 1945. MACR 13058
9963	19 Nov 44	44-15148	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Beeman, Lyman A.	O-820446	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Plane coded, WZ-J, Hrubonovo, Slovakia , Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12, 309FS, 31FG, Hrubonovo, Slovakia (source, Peter Kassak ) http://www.airwarsk.sk/beeman.html
9965	19 Nov 44	44-13282	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Marquis, George E Jr.	O-352709	.	31FG	15AF	POW	Crash landed, near town Császár, Hungary. (source, Peter Kassak ), European Theatre: Hungary, Dulag Luft Grosstychow Dulag 12, 308FS, 31FG, 15AF, near town Császár, Hungary. (source, Peter Kassak )
9969	19 Nov 44	44-13459	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Hodkinson, Norman R	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Belly landed, Yugoslavia, source, Peter Kassak. Mission to strafe communications Budapest - Viena, hit by AAA, engine cut on return, force landed, 25 NE of Bugojno, rescued by partisans, Yugoslavia (source, Peter Kassak )
.	20 Nov 44	44-14468	North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang	Nelson, John T	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
9966	20 Nov 44	43-6811	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	.
.	24 Nov 44	42-106584	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Gumbert, Milton L Jr	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged crash landing, San Severo, Italy
.	26 Nov 44	44-14491	North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang	Nelson, John T	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged taking off, engine failure, San Severo, Italy
.	27 Nov 44	43-7025	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Coolman, Don O	O-721348	308FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed in crash, Serracapriola, Italy
10104	30 Nov 44	44-15459	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Ritter, William S	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	MIA	Plane coded HL-B named American Beauty on one side and Maggie May on the other side, Usually flown by Capt Voll. Location, 10 Mi. N. Of Ravenna, Italy Near Lake Comacchio, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
10103	3 Dec 44	44-15075	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Caughlin, Lawrence M.		307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Escort to Vienna, engine overheated on return, bailed out due to engine ceasing while looking to crash land. rescued. by partisans, Knin, Yugoslavia. Location, 44°02' N, 16°12' E., Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
.	3 Dec 44		.	Cater, William T	O-2057549	308FS	31FG	15AF	MIA	Returns later KIA 12 Mar 1945
.	4 Dec 44	42-106589	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Beams, Howard Lawrence	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	B/o	Pilot bailed out, mechanical failure, San Severo/ 4mi NNE , Italy, HOMETOWN, Oneonta, NY, HONORED BY, Glennee Falzareno, Daughter, FIRST LIEUTENANT. FLEW TWENTY-FIVE MISSIONS AS A P-51 FIGHTER PILOT IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN ITALY.
.	4 Dec 44	42-106583	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Hansen, Paul N	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged taking off, San Severo, Italy
.	5 Dec 44	44-13422	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Wilson, George F Jr	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged taking off, San Severo, Italy
.	6 Dec 44		Not confirmed correct Pilot	Wilson, Jack A	O-371961	308FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Hometown: Williamson County, IL
10365	8 Dec 44	44-13311	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Strange, Jack A	O-1692809	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	From Virginia. Location, 3 Miles Southeast Of Stainach, Aus., Point Of Departure, San Seero A/D, Italy
.	9 Dec 44	.	.	Loper, Warren M	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	Rtn	Escort to Brux, on return run into flak, started losing fuel rapidly and crash landed N of the town, rescued. by partisans, Vodice, Yugoslavia
.	11 Dec 44	.	.	Young, Lawrence J	O-821586	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	13 Dec 44	43-7041	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Agard, Alfred J	O-719241	307FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed forced landing, San Severo/ 1 1/2mi WNW, Italy. Hometown: Montogomery County, NY
10673	16 Dec 44	43-24898	North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang	Wilson, George F	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Plane named "Mildred", near Chomutov, Czechoslovakia (It was his first mission) The mission was to escort B-24's to targets at Brux, Germany (now Most, Czechoslovakia) and recorded Lt. Wilson as having been lost that day. Flying as Yellow #2 and in the target area he began flying erratically, and entered a spin at 25,000 ft. His flight leader watched the airplane continue spinning until it entered an overcast at 10,000 ft and disappeared. It was suggested that Lt. Wilson may have suffered an oxygen system failure and "blacked out". Location, 5 Mi. S W Of Komotau, Germany. Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Skogstad, Norman C	O-800057	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Weiler, Jerome C	O-714547	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Malone, Paul E	O-806484	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Smith, Jack R	O-803478	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Campbell, Kenneth C	O-805000	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Cowin, James	O-721349	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Gibson, George Jr	O-733872	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	17 Dec 44	.	.	Rask, Mannie E	O-704742	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	18 Dec 44	.	.	Zimmerman, Stirling T	O-701232	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	22 Dec 44	.	.	Mc Glauflin, Eugene P	O-820530	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	22 Dec 44	.	.	Scales, Roy L	O-2001451	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 0.5 victory
.	22 Dec 44	42-106548	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Henry, Oliver J	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
11290	25 Dec 44	43-7037	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	McConnaughey, Clarence R	O-721474	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Plane coded WZ-Z. Location, 44°52' N-14°49' E. , 34 Miles S.E. , Of Sisak, Yugoslavia, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. HOMETOWN, Lewisburg, OH, HONORED BY, Mrs. Jane S. Burnetta, Wife, 31ST FIGHTER GROUP, 309TH SQUADRON, 15TH AIR FORCE, PILOT P-51S. FORCED TO BAIL OUT INTO CHANNEL; ADRIATIC NEAR YUGOSLAVIAN COAST ON 12/25/44. DECLARED MISSING IN ACTION, LATER DECLARED KILLED IN ACTION.
.	26 Dec 44	.	.	Mc Glauflin, Eugene P	O-820530	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
	26 Dec 44			Bunn, William H "Bill"	O-813119	307FS	31FG	15AF	S/d, Rtn	Plane named Janey III, hit by Flak while Strafing Flak Positions bailed out into the Adriatic and after 2 Hours in the water was Rescued by Air/Sea Rescue " ( 1st & 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron's PBY-5A. One rescue and one assist today. Lt Charles D Millard, O-810919, picked up Lt William H Bunn--a P-51 pilot at 43 31fN 14 58fE. Lt Bunn is a member or the 307th Fighter Sq, 31st Fighter Group. Captain Ruckman flew a mission and spotted a fighter pilot in a dinghy. The water was rough and a landing could not be made. A signal was sent and a surface craft was dispatched to pick the downed flyer up. Lt Millard flew the third mission of the day without any results ) On March 23rd 1944 a P-47D serial number 42-75493 from the 448th FS, 83rd FG was involved in a take-off crash at Dover AAF, Dover, Delaware. "He had a brake failure and stuck a Jug in the mud next to the taxiway before going overseas. He had over 200 hours in the Jug when they sent him to a Mustang group, he had zero time in the Mustang" Going from a P-47 to a P-51 must have taken some getting used to just like that! A big difference in size.
10922	26 Dec 44	44-11252	North American P-51D-5-NT Mustang	Cowin, James Jr	O-721349	309FS	31FG	15AF	FOD	Hometown: Hennepin County, MN. Location, 43°30' N - 14°40' E. Middle Of Adriatic, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy, bailed out on way home.
10919	26 Dec 44	43-7104	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Durant, Clinton S	O-676763	307FS	31FG	15AF	FOD	Hometown: Chatham County, GA. Location, 44° 52' N, 14° 49' E., Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
10933	27 Dec 44	44-13427	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Moore, Jack A	O-725772	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	From Colorado. Location, 43°23' N-14°15' E Adriatic Sea, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
.	29 Dec 44	.	.	Ryder, John L.	O-701808	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Seeking details of the loss of 1st Lt. John L. Ryder of the 307st Fighter squadron 31st Fighter group. He was KIA on the 29th December 1944. Any details re his fate or the MACR Number, or aircraft serial number most welcome. (In Bad Weather , Lt. Ryder's P - 51 went into a Spin and Crashed at Larino , Italy. Possibly from Vertigo. No other Info.)
.	29 Dec 44	42-106446	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Bassett, Robert W	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy

1945

MACR#	Date	Serial#	A/C Type	Pilot	Service#	Sqdn	Group	AF	Status	Comments
.	5 Jan 45	44-15751	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Gibson, George W Jr	O-733872	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	5 Jan 45	44-15678	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Smith, William F	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Crashed belly landing, mechanical failure, San Severo, Italy
11291	15 Jan 45	44-15451	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Baldwin, Austin G	O-777982	.	31FG	15AF	POW	Escort to Vienna, bailed out over Drava River, Yugoslavia. Middle East Theatre: Yugoslavia, 308FS, 31FG, 15AF, Escort to Vienna, bailed out on return over Drava river, Yugoslavia. Location, 5 Mi. South-East Of Cakovac, Yugo, Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
.	28 Jan 45	44-15645	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Hansen, Paul N	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	1 Feb 45	44-13488	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Hodkinson, Norman R	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged landing, engine failure, San Severo, Italy
.	1 Feb 45	44-15404	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Mc Glauflin, Eugene P	O-820530	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged landing, Lesina, Italy
11816	2 Feb 45	44-15447	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Wagner, Frank B	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	S/d	Location, 10 Mi. S E Of Kurilovec A/D, Yugo. (45° 36' N - 16° 13' E). Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy. Maj.Wagner, shot down by AAA while attacking airdrome, Kurilovec, Yugoslavia
11817	2 Feb 45	44-13278	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Carlton, Harry S	O1692810	.	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 2 Mi. N E Of Sisak, Yugoslavia. (45°30' N - 16°25' E). Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy. European Theatre: Austria. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
11818, There are 2 serial numbers given for this MACR 44-15125 and 44-13504	2 Feb 45	44-15125	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Shaub, William F	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	Location, Kurilovec A/D, Yugoslavia. (45° 42' N - 16° 05' E). Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
11819	2 Feb 45	43-7161	North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang	Hall, Alton L	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	Location, 5 Mi. W Of Sisak, Yugoslavia. (45° 30' N - 16° 16' E). Point Of Departure, San Severo A/D, Italy
11820	2 Feb 45	43-25126	North American P-51C-10-NT Mustang	Gibson, Geroge W	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	MIA	Plane coded WZ-Q. Location, Kurlilovec A/D, 10 Miles S E Of Zagreb, Yugoslavia, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. Shot down by AAA while attacking airdrome, Kurilovec, Yugoslavia
.	2 Feb 45	.	.	Fields, Robert	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	.
11821	2 Feb 45	44-14483	North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	.
12666	2 Feb 45	44-15355	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Averett, Elbert R	T-004015	307FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Location, 48°00' N,11°20' E, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy
12667	2 Feb 45	44-15478	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Roraus, Talvin J.	O-693163	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Coded WZ-Z. Location, 48°55' N-11°55' E, 12 Mi S W Regensburg, Germany, Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. European Theatre: Germany, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11 309FS, 31FG
Conflict	2 Feb 45	42-103531	North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang	Ferrell, Robert D	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy, (103531 to RAF Apr 1944 as Mustang III FB381. Spun into sea 8 mi off Listerfjord Sep 3, 1944)
.	8 Feb 45	43-6753	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Walcott, John W	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	9 Feb 45	.	.	Kratzer, Merle T	O-722113	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Hometown: Delaware County, IA. From 31st FG history, 5, 308th Sq. Fighters dispatched to escort SAAF 60th Sq. Mosquito on, Recon Mission. Weather forced Abort of Mission, On return flight, in very poor Weather , Lts. Kratzer , Lynch , and Harward all crashed on the Italian Coast. All 3 KIA.
.	9 Feb 45	.	.	Lynch, James	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	From 31st FG history, 5, 308th Sq. Fighters dispatched to escort SAAF 60th Sq. Mosquito on, Recon Mission. Weather forced Abort of Mission, On return flight, in very poor Weather , Lts. Kratzer , Lynch , and Harward all crashed on the Italian Coast. All 3 KIA.
.	9 Feb 45	.	.	Harward, Lewis W., Jr	O-823067	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	From 31st FG history, 5, 308th Sq. Fighters dispatched to escort SAAF 60th Sq. Mosquito on, Recon Mission. Weather forced Abort of Mission, On return flight, in very poor Weather , Lts. Kratzer , Lynch , and Harward all crashed on the Italian Coast. All 3 KIA.
11818, There are 2 serial numbers given for this MACR 44-15125 and 44-13504	13 Feb 45	44-13504	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Lockney, Ralph D	O-714458	308FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 45°38' N - 12°48' E. Point Of Departure, Mondolfo A/D, Italy. Capture date given as 13 Feb 1945 European Theatre. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
.	14 Feb 45	44-13479	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Ftizsimmons, Glenn A	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged taking off, San Severo, Italy
.	15 Feb 45	44-15437	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Hildebrand, John C	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Pilot killed in crash, San Severo, Italy
.	16 Feb 45	44-13284	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Ellis, Emmon S,	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy, plane later (31st FG) lost Feb 28, 1945. MACR 12753
.	20 Feb 45	44-15703	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Bickford, Russell H	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged taxiing, San Severo, Italy
.	22 Feb 45	44-13440	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Blinco, Gerald E	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
.	22 Feb 45	44-15119	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Leonard, Raymond D	O-463856	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
12668	22 Feb 45	43-24797	North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang	Cravey, John T	O-668209	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Serial Number, 43-24797 (Plane coded W Z-L), Report Number, 12668, Location, Inesbruck, Austria Area. Point Of Departure, San Severo, Italy. European Theatre: Austria
.	25 Feb 45	44-15106	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Leighton, Kenneth M	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, San Severo, Italy
12753	28 Feb 45	44-13234	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Brown Delbert W	O-826377	307FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 46°21' N, 10°51' E. Point Of Departure, Rah Severo, Italy. North African Theatre: Italy. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
.	6 Mar 45	44-11230	North American P-51D-5-NT Mustang	Mitchell, John B	O-2059814	309FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed, structural fire, Italy
.	8 Mar 45	44-10938	North American P-51C-10-NT Mustang	Dooley, Eugene M	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, Mondolfo, Italy
.	9 Mar 45	44-63194	North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang	Harnden, Elbert C	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, Mondolfo, Italy
.	10 Mar 45	44-13490	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Denny, Howard E	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged belly landing, mechanical failure, Mondolfo, Italy
13006	12 Mar 45	44-13429	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Cater, William T	O2057549	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	From California. Location, 40 Mi. N Of Mondolfo Over Adeiatic S. (44° 00' N-13° 45' E ), Point Of Departure, Mondolfo A/D, Italy
13002	13 Mar 45	43-6700	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Gumbert, Milton L Jr.	O-774133	309FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	HOMETOWN, Portland, OR, HONORED BY, Douglas P. Rawnsley, Cousin, LIEUTENANT. SERVED IN ITALY AS A FIGHTER PILOT FLYING P-51 PLANES IN THE 309TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 31ST FIGHTER GROUP, 15TH AIR FORCE, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. KILLED IN ACTION temporary burial site at, St. Avold Cemetery, Metz, France, later moved at request of next of kin to Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, Virgina. Location, 49°18' N - 11°18' E, 12 Miles South-East Of Nurnberg, Germany, Point Of Departure, Mondolfo, Italy
.	16 Mar 45	44-63522	North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang	Shea, James R	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged landing, Mondolfo, Italy
13058	16 Mar 45	43-7102	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Harris, Robert R	O-2059294	308FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 48 Deg. 10 Min. N.-14 Deg.40 Mi. E, Point Of Departure, Mondolfo A/D, Italy. European Theatre: Austria
13057	16 Mar 45	44-14213	North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang	Carlton, Harry S	O-1692810	308FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Location, 47 Deg. 59 Min. N.-14 Deg. 08 Min. E, Point Of Departure, Mondolfo A/D, Italy. European Theatre: Austria
13056	16 Mar 45	44-15667	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Cox, Frank Jr	O-826389	309FS	31FG	15AF	POW	Coded WZ-M. Location, 43°06' N-15°37' Z, Two Miles West Of Wilhelmsbeg, Austria, Point Of Departure, Mondolfo, Italy. European Theatre: Austria.
.	18 Mar 45	.	.	Bunn, William H	O-813119	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	18 Mar 45	.	.	Schara, Robert E	O-824572	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	19 Mar 45	44-15654	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Ciminelli, Philip A	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged taking off, engine failure, Mondolfo, Italy
.	24 Mar 45	.	.	Daniel, William A	O-0024103	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 Mar 45	.	.	Keene, Forrest M	O-1285436	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 Mar 45	.	.	Leonard, Raymond D	O-463856	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 Mar 45	.	.	Smith, Kenneth T	O-727568	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	24 Mar 45	.	.	Wilder, William M	O-2057064	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Mar 45	.	.	Felt, Lowell W	O-2056931	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Mar 45	.	.	Skogstad, Norman C	O-800057	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Mar 45	.	.	VanWinkle, Donald D Jr	O-714537	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	25 Mar 45	.	.	Dillard, William J	O-742849	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	26 Mar 45	44-15733	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Weaver, Roswell H	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged taxiing, Mondolfo, Italy
14046	27 Mar 45	44-33163	Republic P-47D-30-RA Thunderbolt	Smyth, Wallace M	O-800604	.	31FG	15AF	KIA	From Michigan. Location, A A F-169, Point Of Departure, Grove, U.S. Army Air Forces, 325th Ferry Squadron, 31st Air Transport Group
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Ramsey, Woodrow W	O-413554	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Vernon, Olen E	O-763795	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Womack, Nelson T Jr	O-701224	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Barton, Rollin E	O-527729	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Blank, Robert R	O-802978	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Hackney, Ernest D	O-826412	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Johnson, Simon H Jr	O-025278	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Johnson, Arcola C	.	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Maze, Horace G	O-620897	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Moore, John E	O-778006	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 2 victories
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Shivers, Julius D	O-432253	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 3 victories
.	31 Mar 45	.	.	Wheeler, Philip G	O-810781	309FS	31FG	12AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	4 Apr 45	.	.	Varous, Milton J	O-714539	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	6 Apr 45	44-15442	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Naumann, Hugh D	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged, ground looped, Mondolfo, Italy
.	8 Apr 45	42-103520	North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang	Blinco, Gerald E	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged force landing, engine failure, Mondolfo, Italy, plane later condemned salvage Sep 2, 1945
.	16 Apr 45	43-25076	North American P-51C-10-NT Mustang	Hensley, George W	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, Mondolfo, Italy
.	17 Apr 45	.	.	Hall, Alton L	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Claims 1 victory
.	21 Apr 45	44-13259	North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang	Naumann, Hugh D	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged taking off, Mondolfo, Italy
13943	21 Apr45	43-48589	Douglas C-47B-5-DK	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	(c/n 25850) 31st TCG) lost Apr 21, 1945, Germany. Location, Near Bonn, Germany 346 Mi W S W Of Frankfurt, Point Of Departure, Grove
14026	22 Apr45	44-14458	North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang	Pokorny, Alvin J	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Coded WZ_C, Location, 45° 10' N-12° 05'E; 15 Miles East Of Rovigo, Italy, Point Of Departure, Mondolfo, Italy
.	26 Apr 45	JG123	Spitfire LFVIII	.	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	FF 27-8-43 39MU 31-8-43 82MU 8-9-43 Crawford W Long 22-9-43 Casablanca 10-10-43 N African ASC 31-10-43 USAAF 31-1-44 Med AAF 25-4-45 Engine cut on take-off belly landed Prkos, Yugoslavia FACE 26-4-45 (RAF 253 Sqdn was also there in early 1945)
.	26 Apr 45	43-6753	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Ault, William H	.	307FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged landing, Mondolfo, Italy
14057	26 Apr 45	43-6732	North American P-51B-5 Mustang	Leonard, Raymond D	O-463856	.	31FG	15AF	.	Location, 46 Deg 06 Min N. -13deg 08 Min E, Point Of Departure, Mondolfo A/D, Italy
.	23 May 45	44-15119	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Williams, Alvin R	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Damaged belly landing, fuel exhausted, Waldirchen/ 2 1/2mi NE, Austria
14549	30 May 45	44-15733	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Leighton, Kenneth M	O-719371	309FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Missing In Service, Lake Garda, Italy. Hometown: Muskegon County, MI
.	23 Jun 45	44-15363	North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang	Konders, John R	O-722112	309FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Pilot killed midair collision, Rimini/ 20mi S, Italy
.	24 Jun 45	.	.	Leonard, Raymond	O-463856	308FS	31FG	15AF	KIA	Killed in training accident
.	24 Jun 45	.	.	Mason, William	.	308FS	31FG	15AF	.	Killed in a vehicle accident
.	20 Jul 1945	44-11241	North American P-51D-5-NT Mustang	White, Clinton E	.	309FS	31FG	15AF	.	Severely damaged belly landing, San Severo/5mi S, Italy
.	5 Oct 45 ?	.	.	White, John Howard	O-440155	307FS	31FG	15AF	DNB	Hometown: White County, AR. FLEW 135 SORTIES IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE. KILLED WHILE TRANSPORTING SOLDIERS TO ARMY HOSPITAL IN AMARILLO, TEXAS IN 1945
Date	Unknown	.	to me	Tovrea, Edward A	O-418147	.	31FG	15AF	POW	European Theatre, Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
.	24 Jul 2007	.	.	Brunasky, John "Bruno"	.	.	31FG	15AF	.	I am the son of John "Bruno" Brunasky and I wanted to let everyone know that he passed away on July 24th, 2007 at the age of 87. He passed on very peacefully and had a very healthy life. He is survived by myself, my sister, two grand children and one great grand child. It was a honor and a privilege to have him as my Father and he always spoke very highly of the 31st FG, 308 FS. He was honored with a promotion to Captain and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He is the second from left in the photo. We are having a burial at sea on August 4th, 2007 in San Diego, CA

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