i'm looking for information about two planes (may be P-47 of 350th fg) crashed at SORBOLO (north italy) on february 27, 1945. Witness says name pilots is Asbury and Southard. Any comments? Many thanks [signature]

Hi :-) There were six P-47s donwed on February 27,1945 two from the 57th Ftr Grp 12 AAF and two from the 350th FTR Group 12 AAF, one from the 1st FTR Grp 15 AAF and one from the 35th FG 5th AAF (Pacific). The 12 AAF and 15 AAF were both in th eMediteranean Theater, so the two downed P-47s could possibly be 57th FG P-47s as well as 350th FG P-47s I attempted to trace the 350th FG and it became the 112th Ftr bomber Wing, and then it appears to have become the 1st Ftr Interceptor Wing...this is acording to [url "http://www.ggogle.com"]www.ggogle.com[/url] and it seems to have faded intu the woodwork as I cannot find a trace at the present time. A contact for the 57th Fighter Group is : B/G Arthur E, Exon USAF (Retired) 21197 Vandenberg Ave. March AFB,CA, 92508-2865 Ph *714-697-2388 *(Note Prefix 714 may have changed) Jim :-) [signature]

thanks, your information have been appreciated [signature]

  12572 27 Feb 45 42-75725 Republic P-47D-15-RE Thunderbolt Anderson, William H O-2057523 65FS 57FG 12AF KIA [class=pfont1]Hometown: Rio Blanco County, CO. Location, A-7309, Point Of Departure, Grosseto L. G. Italy   12507 27 Feb 45 42-76022 Republic P-47D-16-RE Thunderbolt Hughes, Paul W O-2059783 65FS 57FG 12AF KIA [class=pfont1]Hometown: Fairfield County, OH. Plane named *Harsh Hit*  Location, G-2371, Point Of Departure, Grosseto L.G. Italy     12563, 27 Feb 45, 42-29006, Republic P-47D-28-RA Thunderbolt, Southard, James C., O-2057041, 345FS, 350FG, 15AF, KIA, Squadron mission #45 Entered the Service from: Michigan, Buried at: Plot D Row 9 Grave 17, Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France, Awards: Purple Heart Location, X-562021, 10 Miles West Of Spittal, Austria, Point Of Departure, Pisa
12562 , DOR lists plane as 44-19581, 27 Feb 45, 44-13582, Republic P-47D-28-RE Thunderbolt, Asbury, Maurice L, O-692636 , 346FS ,350FG , KIA , Squadron mission #382. Plane coded 6A6, named "CURLY MOHAMMED". Hometown: Tulsa County, OK. Location, F-463494 Northwest Of Villafranca, Point Of Departure, Pisa, Italy 

   

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

Nice how you are linking to the DORs Rob.

350th FG is 12th AF rather than the 15th as you listed.

Southard joined the 345th on 24/Nov/44 in Tarquinia. I have him listed as being shot down by AAA on a dive bomb mission against the rail marshaling yard at Spittal, Austria. Crashed on a Mountain side next to the target. (inexplicable that Southard was buried at Lorraine France, instead of Florence Italy.
 
Asbury joined the 346th on 10/Apr/44 in Elmas Sardinia. After Cratering the airfield at Ghetti, he sought targets of opportunity. While strafing an ammo bunker, a resulting explosion blew the tail off his P-47, sending his aircraft spinning into the ground.

I was just reviewing your post yesterday Micky.

Keith