Posted on 09/15/2015 8:04:49 AM PDT by Snowyman
He would be old now. I remember those men who were then in their twenties and early thirties. My Dad was a gunner in a TBF he would be 95 today. I remember him, and his buddies, in their early twenties.
I did, however, find it. It took place in 1945, not 1940 as I asserted.
It is in the book To Win the Winter Sky, by Danny S. Parker, found in the chapter entitled "Operation Bodenplatte: January 1st, 1945.
I reproduce it here:
The P-47s of the 387th and 388th Squadron returned just after the enemy fighters departed the field. Although they gave chase they soon returned to base; the Germans were gone. The returned to Metz-Frescaty to a scene of smoking and wrecked planes and absolute chaos. What a day! But convincing evidence that the "Hell Hawks" were not taken out by the German assault was not long in coming. Later Monday afternoon, 44 of their "Jugs" were back in the skies east of the battle zone claiming four locomotives, 25 rail cars and eight rail cuts.One of the German pilots shot down had baled out to be captured at the edge of the airfield. He spoke excellent English and "was a very cocky person" -- so insolent that the Luftwaffe pilot refused to be photographed until he had combed his hair and shined his boots. Maj. George R. Brooking, the commander of the just-devastated 386th Fighter Squadron, came over to headquarters where the pilot was being held. Brooking had been chased off the can from his morning constitutional when the fighters attacked. Pulling up his pants, he had crawled into an AA emplacement to direct the gun crew.
During his conversation with the Luftwaffe pilot the German strolled to the window and motioned to the still-burning planes on the airfield. "What do you think of that?" he asked. Brooking wanted to punch the German, but left the room instead. Over the next few days replacement planes quickly arrived at the Metz airfield. Maj. Brooking made a point of going back to visit the German pilot who was still being held at headquarters. Upon meeting, he motioned for the German pilot to look out the window. There sat ten new Thunderbolts where before had been smoldering wrecks of the burning aircraft. "What do you think of that?" Brooking pointed. The Luftwaffe pilot looked out and turned to Brooking. "That," he said thoughtfully, "is what is beating us."
I apologize for getting some of the facts wrong. I probably read it ten years ago. I did look for the story before my earlier post, but was unable to find it. Your comment prompted me to look more carefully for it. Thanks for that.
Never been a huge P-51 fan, for me the ‘38 is most iconic and the fighter that did the most work was the ‘47 which gets way to little credit.
Where did they find that many?
I though Hurricanes were all but extinct with only a couple surviving!
The ole 47 sure wasn’t purdy but it was like a truck, functional and tough.
I liked the 38 also, it was just so much bigger than the 51 and the lines were not as sexy. It did a hell of a job in the south Pacific with long range missions.
I had a friend who was an airplane mechanic in Europe in WW2. I suggested the P51 was the greatest plane in that conflict and he said he liked the Spitfire. He felt it to be the greatest single engine prop designed.
Many of those WWII planes were beautiful in design. Today aircraft design exhibits raw, cold power very little beauty.
Your story reminded me of this .
Galland flew 705 combat missions, he survived being shot down 4 times , and he was credited with 104 aerial victories, all of them against the Western Allies.
During the battle, the fighter pilots were criticized by Göring for the growing bomber losses. In a front line General Officer briefing Göring asked what his fighter pilots needed to win the battle.
Galland replied: “I should like an outfit of Spitfires for my squadron.” which left Göring speechless with rage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjz8pAGRvsg
My favorite is the P-40 in tigers livery.
I'm surprised to read this, as I'd heard that only one Spitfire is still airworthy. Is it 1+39, or what?
Google is your friend.
He was up there when I last saw him. A few months before he’d had a minor stroke and messed up his vision.
Great guy all around.
These sharp P-51s were at Oshkosh when I went for the first time a while back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbZ1qDIKi60
Tossup between Typhoon and Tempest.
The jug never really got it’s due.
If it were me then, I’d take one since it was built like a tank.
Thanks. My paper and balsa Corsair model cost $1.25.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.