I am looking for a good source of historical information on the 59th Fighter Sq, 33rd Fighter Group.  I have the information available on this web site, however would like more details on the unit.  I am doing an interview with a veteran and want some background info if at all possible .  I appreciate any help or suggestions.
 
Mark

James M. Cunningham
Son of Capt. James T. Cunningham
C-87 "Hump" Pilot killed in flight 01/25/1944

There are several books about the 33rd FG, unfortunately they can be hard to come by.  It took me several years, and a fair amount of money to get a couple of them.  Are you looking for something specific?  I'd be happy to look it up for you.  I have these books:
 
The War Diaries of Sgt. Robert L. Covington : 60th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group, U.S. Army Air Corps, November 1942-February 1945 by Robert L. Covington
 
Occasion Fleeting: The Story of the 33rd Fighter Group in WW II as told in the Diary of the Group Surgeon by John A. Woodworth
 
The Fighting 33rd Nomads during World War II: A diary of a fighter pilot with photographs and other stories of 33rd Fighter Group personnel (Volumes 1 & 2) by James E Reed

Anne

Proud Sister of a US Submariner

Proud Granddaughter of Sgt. Raymond R. Liguori, Airplane Armorer, 33rd Fighter Group

You did not say what theater this veteran operated out of.  Mediterranean or CBI.  Meeting the Fox by Orr Kelly has some good info about the MTO.  P-40 Aces of the Mediterranean covers some info on the 59th as does Tomasz Szlagor’s new book P-40s of the Mediterranean.  I have the Daily Operational reports for the 60th from November 1942 to December 1943.  From March 43 till Dec they pretty much flew from the same bases against the same targets.  George Dively is the group historian and can be reached at Gdively@trucking.org.  Good luck and contact me if I can be of any further help.   Gary

You did not say what theater this veteran operated out of. Mediterranean or CBI. Meeting the Fox by Orr Kelly has some good info about the MTO. P-40 Aces of the Mediterranean covers some info on the 59th as does Tomasz Szlagor’s new book P-40s of the Mediterranean. I have the Daily Operational reports for the 60th from November 1942 to December 1943. From March 43 till Dec they pretty much flew from the same bases against the same targets. George Dively is the group historian and can be reached at Gdively@trucking.org. Good luck and contact me if I can be of any further help. Gary

Thanks all and the theater was the CBI.  

James M. Cunningham
Son of Capt. James T. Cunningham
C-87 "Hump" Pilot killed in flight 01/25/1944

Was this plane assigned toa pilot?
 
Photo link: http://www.geocities.com/raf_112_sqdn1/allied_air_forces_middle_east_1942_1943.html
 
P-40L, 210511, (42-10511, condemned salvage Feb 5, 1944) note the large American Flag this maybe due to the ill feeling harboured by the French in Tunisia against the British for sinking their ships. Operating with the 59th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Group, flying over Tunisia, North Africa in January 1943. Some sources say 119944, (41-19944, shot down 01/02/43, 10 miles south of Maknassy)  USAAF 33rd FG, 59th FS, John Bradley, Tunisia, 1943, also carried the flag so it might have been a 33rd Fighter Group standard going by the USS Ranger, USS Chenango and HMS Archer photos.. Bradley, assigned to the 33rd Pursuit Group directly out of flying school in May 1941, was one of the senior pilots in the unit when it commenced combat operations in North Africa. It is believed he was flying this P-40F (119944), recently transferred in from the 325th FG, on the morning of 1st February 1943 when he shot down two Ju 87s for his first kills. Bradley’s airplane was hit during the fierce dogfight and he was forced to bail out when its engine quit. He landed safely ten miles south of Maknassy, and had returned to his base at Thelepte by the end of the day. Soon thereafter Bradley transferred to the 58th FS as its commanding officer and he went on to score three more times to become the unit’s only ace.

http://www.geocities.com/raf_112_sqdn/