P-39 crash in Tunisia

I am researching the death of my uncle, Lt. John E. Swanson, on February 2, 1944, who was a member of the 93rd Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group, and was stationed in Tunisia at the time.  The information I have is that he and two other pilots, Lt. Rexrod and Lt. Watson, left Setif around 6pm heading back to their home field when they all crashed around Ain Drahm. I also have a copy of a letter to my Grandmother from a Lt. Read Rocap, Jr. outlining the days events.  I would appreciate any information on the crash or the other pilots mentioned or advice on further research possibilities. 

Did you perhaps mean 1943?  Lots of hot action in Tunisia then...the squadron moved to Sicily in August 43....or were the planes back in then well secured Tunisia in Feb '44 for some reason?
 
My father flew P-39s in the same area with the 346thFS/350thFG.  February '43 was Rommel's last big push.  My dad was shot down at Kasserine Pass and was able to hike out with the 1st Armored....we were losing back then.
 
Course, if it was 1944 then had to be some weird rear area accident... good hunting.
 
Ron

The date is correct. You will find the aircaft numbers on :-
www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Feb1944O.htm
 
Bob

Okay, that's weird to lose three in a rear area together.  Maybe a sandstorm?  But I see that Ain Draham is in the mountains of Tunisia, about 3,000 feet up.  So maybe a winter storm, fog...sad stuff.
 
Thanks for the site Bob.  Went looking for my father's crash but it wasn't there.  Perhaps because it was combat and we were getting our tails kicked and everyone was boogieing west in a hurry.  Would guess that my dad's plane was quickly chopped by the Kassarine locals.
 
Ron

Thanks, Bob, I will definitely start there.  From what I have found it appears that the group had some down time and were returning back from seeing some people they knew at other bases and fog began moving in, it is believed possibly a mid-air collision due to the weather conditions.  Again I appreciate the info.

My father-in-law was with the 81st for the entire Tunis campaign and the Sicily landings. As you probably know the 81st was made up of the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd fighter squadrons. He was a 39 pilot in both the 91st and 92nd.  I will be glad to ask him if he remembers anything about that incident. However he returned to begin training new pilots on the P 38 in very early 44.  I must admit the year 1944 sure sounds wrong for any of the 81st squadrons to be back in Tunis.  Either they were on some really unusual mission or the records may be marked incorrectly.  Even if 1944 is correct I suspect he would have some knowledge of the loss of 3 aircraft at one time.  He still talks about the day the 92nd sent 12 out and only 3 came back, that was why he was moved from the 91st to the 92nd.
 
Two books you might be interested in --- I am not selling books, however if one is interested in the role of the P-39 in Tunisia check with your library and see if they have a copy of "Flight Surgeon:the 81st Fighter Group in Tunisia" - it was written by the 81st  Group's Flight Surgeon.
The CO of the 92nd Squadron  Lt. Col Lester Lohse wrote a very short paperback about
his experiences "Now It Can Be Told".  I only mention these as they were short recollections of the men who actually lived the Tunis campaign.
 
I do have a group picture of the 81st Fighter Group in Tunisia that I would be happy to send to you if your interested.  They just had a reunion in Okla. City in March or April, although only 3 or 4 from the North Africa campaign were able to make it. 
 
 
 
 

To KilaueaLight
It would be great if you could check with your father-in-law.  If by chance he would remember anything I would really be interested in that.  Also I will check on those two books, I enjoy reading anything that has ties to that period in time. 
I would also be very interested in getting a copy of that picture.  Just let me know what type of arrangement we would have to make to get it to me. 
At this point in my research I welcome any information and pointers and greatly appreciate all the information I have already received from everybody that has replied to my post.  

What a find this group is.  My uncle, now 85 was a P-400 pilot in the 93rd FS (in think).  To this day he doesn't talk much about it.  But he flew from England to Morocco, across N. Africa, Sicily and Italy.  I was trying to find the message about someone who had a group photo of the 81st FG.  But I've never asked him who the reunion men are.  He's never been to a reunion.

Please reply

Hey SMC, my dad was with the 346thFS, 350th FG in Tunisia.  He also flew from England to North Africa in a P-39 and flew P-400s (Just another designation for P-39).
 
Know its a different fighter group, but the 350th just had their reunion in Albuquerque a couple months ago.  It was amazing.  lots of old pics.
 
Their next one is in New Orleans next summer.  Can hook you up if you think you/he'd be interested.
 
There's also a second generation emerging to keep the history alive.
 
Ron

Yes, I'd like the info.  My uncle lost his wife (my dear aunt) in March.  This would be good for him.  He was also in the 350th.  Then transferd to the 81st. 

Many thanks Ron (my older brother is name Ron)

Al

AckAck Designs. Terrific source for 81st Fighter Group hand painted leather patch for A-2 Jacket.  This guy Russell Lawrence did a wonderful reproduction of the dragon that was the 81st FG patch.  I'll try to get some pix.  FYI, there were no squadron emblems for the 91st, 92 and 93rd FS until the mid-fifties.  Also I've got a recent colorized high-quality pic of my uncle in his jacket with emblem.  I'll try to post as well. 

Be back soon.

My father was assigned to the 92nd Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter Group in North Africa getween 1942 and 1943. I believe that he flew 39's, 40's, and 47's. After his stint in North Africa he was then assigned as a P-47 flight instructor for Squadron 201 in Mexico. He trained Mexican pilots for duty in Europe.
 
For his 92nd birthday, I am in the process of making replicas of the planes that he flew with the 92nd Fighter Squadron. I have found camouflage and other details on the web that have helped me determine how the planes were marked for the 92nd FS between 1942 and 1943, but if you have actual color photographs of these aircraft (39's, 40's 47's), I would really like to see them.
 
You mentioned that you have a group photo of the 81st Fighter Group available. Does it contain members of the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd Fighter Squadrons from that period ('42-'43). If so, I would like to have a copy to give to him as a birthday present.
 
My father's name is (Capt.) Richard S. Moore and he was from Excelsior Springs, Missouri. He doesn't talk a lot about his service, but he was awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and received The Purple Heart as combat wounded. I'm very proud of him. I'm grateful for this website.
 
Looking forward to your reply,
 
Rick Moore, San Francisco, CA

Got the notification of your search.  Yea, I've got a scanned 81st Fighter group photo, and a scan of names on back.  Further, I've got a story written by John Wortham, who flew with my uncle Lowell (Bud) Sund.  I'll try to add the photo.  But e-mail me at smc@ipa.net.  I'll send all I've got.  Also www.ackackdesigns.com did a great leather 81st FG patch, yellow background for me.  Russell there is also doing one with a blue background, just like my uncle's patch on his A-2 jacket.  And no, my ucle dosen't talk about itmuch either, never has.
 
Allen Salzmann
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
 

[image]local://upfiles/7967/D0F5F44FDAC74CB5897B212B00DF9DAE.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

2 Feb 44, 42-8842,  Bell P-39N Airacobra, (as P-39N-3-BE), Swanson, John E, 93rd FS, 81FG,  Pilot killed, mid air collision, Ain Draham/ 3km NW, Tunisia,  (Ain Draham is in the mountains of Tunisia, about 3,000 feet up.)
 
81st FG Honor Roll
 
 

Sorry should have added;
 
2 Feb 44, 42-9367, Bell P-39N-1 Airacobra, Rexford, Henry D, 93FS, 81FG, 12AF, Pilot killed, mid air collision, Ain Draham/ 4km SW, Tunisia,  (Ain Draham is in the mountains of Tunisia, about 3,000 feet up.)
 
Rob
 

The 81st Fighter Group served in both the 12th and 14th Air Force, in Africa and the CBI, respectively.  Below are images of original patches from my collection that show how the construction of squadron patches reflect the theater of operation.  Here, 92nd Fighter Squadron's insignia in typical 12th AAF construction, painted on leather, and the multi-piece leather construction typical of the 14th AAF and CBI.

Rick

Attached Image(s)

Found some infor on Richard Moore can anyone supply a service number for him and a first name and service number for Salzmann?

Correction, I should have done more homework Salzmann is the last name of the fellow that posted the message about his Uncle.....who turns out to be Lowell C "Bud" Sund......I still need a Service number

Thanks for any help
Rob