I believe this is a P-38 named "The Burbank Blunder"   Don't know anything about it.  Does anyone recognize it?

Chess


[image]local://upfiles/15108/8A5EC8ABBFDD4C7DA505988639DE9D2F.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Hi Chess,
          This looks to be the P-38 that is pictured in the book " The Memory is Still Fresh"  ( now out of print), it is the recollections of the men of the 346th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group, 12th AF. According to the book, in June 1943, Lt. John Urban used ths P-38 to shoot down two JU-88's (on seperate missions). The 350th began operations in England as part of the 8th AF but was transferred to the 12th AF for the Nov. '42 invasion of North Africa. The group was primarily flying P-39 's then, but each of the 3 squadrons was issued 2 P-38's for high altitude interception, so I do not think the plane was assigned to any one pilot. The photo in the book is more of a close up of the same side but I can't see the s/n. I would guess the photo you have was made in 1943 in North Africa, possibly Algiers or Tunisia. In the summer of '44 the 350th began receiving P-47's, and I do not believe they kept the  P-38's.
                                                                                         Hope this was some help,
                                                                                                                           Clay

Son of Russell Crocker, P-39, P-47 pilot - 346thFS / 350th FG, 12 AAF, North Africa, Italy- April 1944 - June 1945.

Compared to the '39, I think I would have preferred to fly the "Blunder".  Maybe maintenance didn't have the equipment or experience to keep it in top notch shape since there were only two assigned.  Interesting.
Regards,
The ol Truck Driver

"Swords Forever"

Thanks for the info guys.  It makes sense because I have lots of pics from Tunisia and Algiers.

Chess

ORIGINAL: Minefield Two Eight
The group was primarily flying P-39 's then, but each of the 3 squadrons was issued 2 P-38's for high altitude interception, so I do not think the plane was assigned to any one pilot. The photo in the book is more of a close up of the same side but I can't see the s/n. I would guess the photo you have was made in 1943 in North Africa, possibly Algiers or Tunisia. In the summer of '44 the 350th began receiving P-47's, and I do not believe they kept the  P-38's.
                                                                                        Hope this was some help,
                                                                                                                          Clay

That's how I understand it as well, Clay. The 347th always kept a P-38 at the end of the runway at the ready, and would be scrambled and vectored in by radar. Usually the target was a high altitude recce flight. Pilots of the 347th scored a number of kills in this manner. Later, all of the P-38's in the 12th AF were transferred to the 15th AF, and the first P-47's were used in the same manner. Although the Red Asses did get some air-to-air victories in their Jugs, the 347th never was able to successfully intercept with the P-47's ("climbed like a truck" was the exact quote, if I remember correctly).

Another nice photo, Chess.

Grandson of 1st Lt. Bernell A. "Barney" Forster (1921-2007)
347th Fighter Squadron/350th Fighter Group

Here's a picture of 347th FS P-38 "Peggy Anne" and an inset of P-38 "3" (they may be the same plane).  This picture is also from Algeria or Tunisia, and like Clay stated, probably from 1943. [Note the national insignia (also on "The Burbank Blunder") -- white star in a circle with yellow outline, instituted in 1942 for Operation Torch. (Replaced by the red bordered "stars and bars" insignia in late June '43, which itself only lasted a few months).] 
 
 

[image]local://upfiles/13554/E5DF46E960F04CE18401F21AE3D821C6.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Grandson of 1st Lt. Bernell A. "Barney" Forster (1921-2007)
347th Fighter Squadron/350th Fighter Group

I have a book that list the victory credits for the MTO.
Here is a list of 350 FG pilots that are listed with victories while fling P-38's.
346 FS:
Lt. John Urban - 2 kills
Lt. Charles Reed-1kill
Lt.Lt.Ben Jones-1 kill
347 FS:
Lt./Capt.Kitt McMaster-3kills
F.O. Louis Klass -2 kills and 1 prob.
Lt.George Jameson-1 kill
Not bad for not flying the P-38 all the time.
Rick

Thanks for the info, Rick.  Evidently,  the 2 Lt Urban kills were the Ju88's Clay mentioned.

Chess

ORIGINAL: Skyguy5
Compared to the '39, I think I would have preferred to fly the "Blunder".  Maybe maintenance didn't have the equipment or experience to keep it in top notch shape since there were only two assigned.  Interesting.
Regards,
The ol Truck Driver

Skyguy --
Right you are. The 350th was famously behind the eight ball maintenance-wise for much of the war (and famously rose to the challenge). They did open air maintenance on aircraft with demanding flying schedules at dusty, remote strips in the desert, without the benefit of a service squadron for larger jobs (engine change outs, wing replacements, etc.).
The P-39's/P-400's needed three different types of ammo (with fussy delivery of that ammo in the P-39's 37 mm gun), and the 3 P-38's, in addition to having twice the engines, were unfamiliar (described as "a mass of tubes and pipes running into each other") and added two more ammo types for the armorers. In addition, parts were up to 250 miles away, with a truck making the trip daily.
When the radial engined P-47's with 8 .50 cals arrived in the squadron to replace the P-39's, there was much relief for armorers, mechanics and pilots -- most everybody but the Germans.

Grandson of 1st Lt. Bernell A. "Barney" Forster (1921-2007)
347th Fighter Squadron/350th Fighter Group

And right you are SRA, the 350th did rise to the challenge and keep what was considered an obsolete aircraft pressed against the enemy's nose ! The 350th Fighter Group was one of the most sucessful P-39 units of the war. (if not THE most in my slightly biased opinion). The pilots and ground crews pushed the old birds to and beyond what was thought to be their operational limits, even using the Airacobra to dive bomb, something it was never designed to do! As my father said " we did our best with what they gave us", indeed they did. Now, I should point out my father was no big fan of the P-39, preferring the P-40 he flew during training stateside. One of his last assignments before going overseas was to ferry P-39's to Fairbanks, Alaska, where they were picked up by Soviet pilots who seemed to love the plane. He did enjoy the P-38, but getting a P-47 was like getting a new Cadillac.   

Son of Russell Crocker, P-39, P-47 pilot - 346thFS / 350th FG, 12 AAF, North Africa, Italy- April 1944 - June 1945.

ORIGINAL: rickpeck2

I have a book that list the victory credits for the MTO.
Here is a list of 350 FG pilots that are listed with victories while fling P-38's.
346 FS:
Lt. John Urban - 2 kills
Lt. Charles Reed-1kill
Lt.Lt.Ben Jones-1 kill

347 FS:
Lt./Capt.Kitt McMaster-3kills
F.O. Louis Klass -2 kills and 1 prob.
Lt.George Jameson-1 kill

Rick

Hey Rick/Clay -- same guys getting the bulk of the kills in the P-38's. Do you suppose they were just the lucky ones, the good shots, or do you think that only a few were checked out on the Lightning and rotated through "P-38 duty"? 347th book doesn't say, anything about it in The Memory Is Still Fresh?

Grandson of 1st Lt. Bernell A. "Barney" Forster (1921-2007)
347th Fighter Squadron/350th Fighter Group

Hi Tom.
In the book John Urban state that each squadron was given 2 P-38 each by Gen.Quesada to chase photo recon Ju88 that were photographing the invasing fleet.
They were only a couple that were checked out in the P-38's.
They would sit in the P-38's for 2 hour alerts at the end of the runway.He state on the first Ju-88 he only had 1 hour 30 min. in a P-38 and had hard time finding all the right switches and gages.
Rick

My father flew with John Urban and mentioned him in letters home.  Also in an action report previously posted.
 
From the La Senia Airfield Oran, Algeria area 2/26/1943 to his mother
 
"The day after we arrived here Capt. Hoover and Urban and Van Reed and I barged off down to a place fifty miles south for three days.  We lived in the bar of the French Foreign Legion Officer's Club during the period and have now come back to rest from our rest."
 
From La Senia 4/10/43 to his sister,
 
"I am back to Scotch. Soda doesn't seem available in these parts.  Urban and Kelliher were up in Gibraltar a few days ago, or else I wouldn't have the Scotch.  Someone flys up there periodically specifically for this purpose."
 
From a personal note made on 4/15/43 at La Senia
 
"Kelliher, Urban, Walcott, and myself were on readiness, 1730 til an hour after sunset as usual."
 
"Urban and Walcott took off for dawn patrol at 6:30 and Kelliher and I sat in ops reading.  About seven the controller called to say that the weather was closing in and that he was recalling the patrol."
 
Ron
 
 
 

Son of Ron Macdonald Flying Sgt. 59th OTU RAF (Hurris & Spits, Dieppe raid), Lt. with 346thFS/350thFG North Africa (P-39s). Shot down at Kasserine. Instructor with the 1053 BFTS Randolph, 2138 BU Craig, 2532BU Randolph, & 2543 BU Waco (AT-6s & B-25s).

ORIGINAL: rickpeck2


They were only a couple that were checked out in the P-38's. They would sit in the P-38's for 2 hour alerts at the end of the runway.He state on the first Ju-88 he only had 1 hour 30 min. in a P-38 and had hard time finding all the right switches and guages.
Rick

Kind of funny -- he had more time sitting in stand-by than he did flying the plane! A reflection of the times... Gone are the days when they'd take a farm boy, and in 9 months turn him into a fighter pilot, send him off to war, plop his butt in a new planes with an "Aw, shucks, he'll figger it out" and turn him loose. Talk about your OJT...

Grandson of 1st Lt. Bernell A. "Barney" Forster (1921-2007)
347th Fighter Squadron/350th Fighter Group

rickpeck2


I have a book that list the victory credits for the MTO.
Here is a list of 350 FG pilots that are listed with victories while fling P-38's.
346 FS:
Lt. John Urban - 2 kills
Lt. Charles Reed-1kill
Lt.Lt.Ben Jones-1 kill
347 FS:
Lt./Capt.Kitt McMaster-3kills
F.O. Louis Klass -2 kills and 1 prob.
Lt.George Jameson-1 kill
Not bad for not flying the P-38 all the time.
Rick

Where any dates or details included with the above information?

Correct me if I am mistaken but wasn't Klass,Lewis J, T-190420, 347FS, 350FG, AP284, P-400, slightly damaged in landing accident, Reliance Airfield, Algeria Pilothas laterservice with 526FS, 86FG claiming 2 victories on 26 Aug 43

Also think Reed, Charles should read, Van Reed, Charles H, O-433429, 346FS, 350FG, 12AF, 28Jul 43, Claims 1victory

Thanks
Rob

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

Update with dates:
346 FS:
Lt. John Urban - 2 kills 6-26-1943 at 15:30 (JU88),7-08-1943 at ? (Ju88)
Lt. Charles Van Reed-1kill 6-28-1943 at 19:30 (JU88) and yes Van Reed.Thought it was his middle name.
Lt.Lt.Ben Jones-1 kill 8-8-1943 at ?( Ju-88)
347 FS:
Lt./Capt.Kitt McMaster-3 kills 6-19-1943 at 7:45 (Ju-88),9-7-1943 at 13:06 (2 ME109's)
F.O. Louis Klass -2 kills and 1 prob.8-26-1943 at 9:25 prob. (ME-109), 8-26-1943 at 17:25 (2 ME-109's)
Lt.George Jameson-1 kill 8-28-1943 at 9:31 (Me-109)
Rick

F/O Louis J. Klass was in the 347 FS far as I know.
The book for the claims I have been using has no Klass claims under the 526 FBS.
But do have the 86 FG book and it does have Klass claiming 2  on 8/26/43 but he is not in the rest of the book.
 The book states that the 86 FG squadrons changed to the 525,526 and 527 Fighter Bomber Sqadron during Sept.1943.
Was 309,310 and 312 Bomb Squadron(Dive) before that.
I think Klass was not in the 526 FBS.
Also some of the claims in the 86 FG book don't match up with Frank Olynyk claim book.
There is a mistake somewhere.
Hope this helps.
Rick

Thanks Rick.

I will update accordingly.

Rob

Klass was definitely in the 347th since the squadron's beginning in England.  Full name Louis J. Klass, apparently went by "Jo-Jo". 
Credited in the 347th book with:

Thanks Tom, That will allow me to add some explanations and confirmations to the 350FG page.


Rob

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