Hi all. I am trying to narrow down the involvement of the 55th FG on August 3rd 1944. I beleive they carried escort duty to the 1st AD task force (1st, 40th and 94th CBWs) to the Alsace region of East France. Rendezvous with 1st AD task force 13.46hrs, Westhoofd/Dutch coast. Targets included Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Merkwiller. The 55th may not have conducted full escort, and may have engaged in 'Freelance' Op's, strafing T/O around the immediate area.
 
The 55th I am led to believe, allegedly, were still operating P-38 Lightnings at this point, although were in process of exchanging same for P-51 Mustangs. The Field Order 457 states the 55th flew '38s that day. Anyone have a Unit record-history that can verify this?
 
If anyone deeply involved in 55thFG history can offer some facts for me to check against what I have, I'd appreciate the help!!
 
Ian W

Ian White - 305th BGMA Hon. Life Associate, UK Contact and Organiser of next years 40th Combat Wing UK Reunion - May 21st-31st 2009

Ian - according to 55th FG History by John Gray - 55th had transitioned to P- 51s late July. There is no mention of the  mission August 3.
cheers

Hi
Thanks for replies ShooShoo. Its continuing to be a puzzle for me this one. I have the teletype Field Order copies, from the mission folders of all three BG's for the Merkwiller mission. It clearly shows four Fighter Groups, two of which the 20th and 55thFG's are listed as 'P-38s'. Mission narratives for the raid show the groups did observe P-38's on way home during withdrawl as partial escort.
 
I had previously check a few sources and yes indeed the P-51's were being brought in by August, and I cant reconcile therefore the words used on the mission documents!! Now you say the there's a source, John Gray written history, that shows 'no' mission for them, then thats begs the question who is right and who is not??!!!??!!?
 
I had an idea the 55th were flying new P-51's because the microfilms for month of August '44 show them putting up 49 planes (they had been shceduled to fly 55 fighters, but had several aborts) Microfilm narratives state they were led by Major Landers, rendezvous with 1st Air Div task force approx 13.46hrs at Dutch coast. On return after mission, they broke off escort at Westhoofd again Dutch coast at 17.13hrs. From the microfilms it would seem, allegedly, they gave support to the rear most formations of the task force, most likely escorting the 1st and 94th CBWs heading for Saarbrucken that afternoon. I suspect they may have been involved with those 'Freelance' Ops strafing Targets of opportunity in  the Saarbrucken area, between escorting on way back out to home base.
 
But of course it would be better for my project to be sure of exactly what they did during the mission August 3rd 1944, and of course what they were flying!!!!
 
Anyone else that can shed light on this would be most welcomed.
Cheers - regards Ian W

Ian White - 305th BGMA Hon. Life Associate, UK Contact and Organiser of next years 40th Combat Wing UK Reunion - May 21st-31st 2009

Ian           escort for the 1st. BD on FO 512 was by 200 P-51s . The P-38s were dive-bombing I believe; if the 55FG were escorting 1st. BD I believe they were in Mustangs; all fighter groups were operating anyway.
 
The 55th  flew their first P-51 mission on 19 July, the last P-38 lost was on 13 July. Their first few missions though after 19th were using both types. First P-51 loss was 20 July; and after the end of the month only the 479FG had P-38s. On  Aug. 3rd. the 7PG sent out some F-5s which may have been the Lightnings seen.
The 20th flew their first P-51 mission on 20 July but mixed with P-38s. By Aug. 3rd they had P-51s and I'm pretty sure the 55th did too.                                                Nick
                                                                                       
                                                                                         

Hi all.
I have gone back over the files I have containing Field Order 457, as sent out to the three groups flying 40th CBW on August 3rd 44. Within the pages of that lengthy teletype paper chain, It does clearly say the four Fighter Groups giving support to the 40thCBW that day, and to a greater extent the 1st Air Division task force, were 355th - P-51's, the 339th - P-51's, the 20th - P-38's (!) and the 55th - again P-38's(!!). Either there is a typo error from 1st AD and 40th CBW HQ, when the Field Orders were transmitted at 02.00hrs that morning, someone at HQ fouled up when issuing the Field Order details, or the two FG's in question were still, just, flying P-38's as mission support. In other words were in the mid-stages of exchanging the '38s for P-51's?
 
There are a number of comments from 40th CBW Bomber crews on return at debrief, that seem to confirm they had escorting P-38's on return leg on way home, from Reims area thru to coast. Several crews witnessed and noted this. They also appear to have picked up a number of P-47's belonging to the 56th FG also as escort , Zemke's Wolfpack. The 56th were strafing and bombing targets as a seperate mission over Strasbourg-Saarbrucken that day, but would seem gave 'area' support to the bombers as they headed for home NW of Strasbourg area. The 56th also duelled at the time with some of the secondary attacks made by the Luftwaffe, JG-3 'STURM', allegedly scoring one victory.
 
So, I still have a doubt on what the 20th and 55th were flying that day........ Perhaps a more detailed unit history out there might shed some light? Or, against all hope, there may be a former veteran that belonged to either unit that can recall the extent of use on P-38's the summer of 1944. I have read the 51's were coming in end of July 1944. But again I dont know whether some P-38's, enough for a mission, were still flying at beginning of August.
 
Welcome any comments!!
Regardes Ian W

Ian White - 305th BGMA Hon. Life Associate, UK Contact and Organiser of next years 40th Combat Wing UK Reunion - May 21st-31st 2009

Ian - The 357th FG flew close Bomber Support to the Target this day. Group Historian Merle Olmsted confirms this . The P - 38s and P - 47s probably escorted on ingress and egress of Bombers?
Cheers

Hi Mike.
Appreciate the extra info regards 357th. But, It doesnt exactly tally up with the Field Order 457 info! Does it now mean perhaps that although the field orders gave four dedicated groups giving escort support, in actuality the bombers received 'other' support in form of 357th?? I did find that the 56th, as said before, had become involved to a lesser extent in giving escort on way home, and probably to only part of the bomber formation. The papers from all three 40th CBW groups dont go into any details as such. Bearing in mind the 8th were flying a lot of planes on August 3rd to several targets, over 1100 bombers, with the Saarbrucken (1st and 94th A/B) Merkwiller (40th A/B/C/) Strabsourg and Mulhouse (1st and 94th C) amounting in excess of 300 B-17s alone, then I imagine the fighters were spread around all over the place, plus the additional strafing and fighter-bombing missions going on at same time etc.
 
This is a minefield and no mistake!!
 
Much appreciate the assistance though.
I'll have to dig into the 357th aspect I guess and see what I can find out.
Regards Ian W

Ian White - 305th BGMA Hon. Life Associate, UK Contact and Organiser of next years 40th Combat Wing UK Reunion - May 21st-31st 2009

Ian........I've been sounding out a few 55th pilots I'm in contact with; this is the concensus of opinion ( from Frank Birtciel CY--D "Miss Velma " ).....all P-51s on the 3rd and they escorted 1st Division to Mulhouse.
I'd go with this if I were you.................                                  Nick

Attached Image(s)

Ian,
 
From the 21st July 1944 all three squadrons were flying P-51's in combat...sorry no P-38's flew missions in August with the 55th FG.
 
Ed Giller remembers missions flown with both a/c, but the official records do not show this.  I suspect he remembers local training flights with both a/c being used.  I know the 55th had P-38's on charge until late July 1944, as they were flying mechanics around in the 'rear seat'.. in otherwords the radio equipment was ripped out.
 
Russ
www.55th.org

From 55th FG History :
July 21 , 1944 First Combat Mission in P - 51s.
Col. George Crowell Led A Group
27 A/C from 338th Sq. , 343d Sq.
Escort - 2d Bomb Division
 
Major John Landers Led B group
26 A/C from 38th Sq. , 343d Sq.
Escort - 3d BD
Cheers
 

Shooshoobaby,
 
Not strictly true re: the 21st July.  The 38th and 338th flew combat missions on the 19th and 20th July....but that's being pedantic.
 
The 343rd put up 9 P-51's for both the 'A' Group and 'B' Group for the 21st July mission.
 
Russ
www.55th.org