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Lightning
Manufacturer : Lockheed
Designed by Kelly Johnson the P38 made its maiden flight on the 27th January 1939 and introduced into service in 1941. they cost $134,284 at the time each and a total of 10,037 were built. The Lockheed P-38 was introduced as a inceptor fighter but soon proved a valuable long range bomber escort for the 8thUS Air Force's B-17 and-24 bombers as they bombed targets further into Germany. |
Lightning
Lightning Artwork Collection |
Lightning Strike by Robert Taylor. | Mission Accomplished by Roy Grinnell. | Fork Tailed Devil (Lightning) by Ivan Berryman. |
Lt William J Dixie Sloan by Ivan Berryman. | Clipped Signature - Hub Zemke. | Clipped Signature - Robin Olds. |
Clipped Signature - Frank D Hurlbut. | Clipped Signature - William D Mitchell. | Clipped Signature - Jack Ilfrey. |
Clipped Signature - Perry J Dahl. | Clipped Signature - Joseph Forster. | Clipped Signature - Thomas Oxford. |
Clipped Signature - Arthur Jeffrey. | Clipped Signature - Travis Hoover. | Tactical Support by Richard Taylor. |
Richard Bong by Ivan Berryman. | Lightning Encounter by Nicolas Trudgian. | Bogeys Eleven O Clock High by Robert Taylor |
Hostile Sky by Robert Taylor | Coming In Over the Estuary by Robert Taylor. | Wide Horizons by Robert Taylor. |
Winter of 44 by Philip West. | Pacific Glory by Nicolas Trudgian. | Thunderbolts and Lightnings by Nicolas Trudgian. |
P-38 Lightning by Nicolas Trudgian. | Dawn Chorus by Nicolas Trudgian. (B) | Tribute to P-38 Lightning Ace Captain Joe Forster by Ivan Berryman. |
Lockheed P-38 Lightning by Michael OLeary. | Messerschmitt Country by Nicolas Trudgian | P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI. |
P-38 Lightning Aces of the ETO/MTO. | Doolittles D-Day, 6th June 1944 by Robert Taylor. | A Pair of Aces by Stan Stokes. |
Moonlighting by Stan Stokes. | Lightning by Stan Stokes. | Yamamoto's Last Flight by Stan Stokes. |
Lightning Strikes 7 Times by Stan Stokes. |
Squadrons for : Lightning | ||
A list of all squadrons from known to have used this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
Squadron | Info | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 14th Fighter Group | 14th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 1st Fighter Group | 1st Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 20th Fighter Group | 20th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 27th Fighter Squadron | 27th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 27th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron | 27th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 30th Photo Reconnissance Squadron | 30th Photo Reconnissance Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 332nd Fighter Group | 332nd Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 343rd Fighter Squadron | 343rd Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 355th Fighter Squadron | 355th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 367th Fighter Group | 367th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 38th Fighter Squadron | 38th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 393rd Fighter Squadron | 393rd Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 429th Fighter Squadron | 429th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 431st Fighter Squadron | 431st Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 434th Fighter Squadron | 434th Fighter Squadron Conducted air defense prior to flying duties overseas. Between 26th May 1944 and 25th Apr 1945 flew combat missons over the European Theater of Operations. Received Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for performance in aerial conflicts against the enemy on 18th August, 5th and 26th September 1944. Trained as fighter-day, and later, tactical fighter squadron, 1952-1962. In 1966, was reinstated as a squadron and began training F-4 crews for assignment in Southeast Asia. In Aug 1972, deployed to Thailand, where it served under operational control of 49 Tactical Fighter Wing. Engaged in combat over North and South Vietnam in October 1972. Redeployed back the USA. By 1975, provided combat aircrew training for US and Allied pilots. From 1977-1991, trained pilots. The squadron flew P-38 Lightning 1943 - 1944, P-51 Mustang from 1944 to 1945, P-47 Thunderbolt in 1945, F-51 Mustang from 1952 - 1953, F-86 Sabre from 1953 - 1955, F-100 Super Sabre from 1954 - 1959, F-104 Starfighter from 1959 - 1962, F-4 Phantom from 1966 - 1976 and T-38 Talon from 1977 - 1991. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 474th Fighter Group | 474th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 475th Fighter Group | 475th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 479th Fighter Group | 479th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 49th Fighter Group | 49th Fighter Group The 49th Fighter Group (FG), still an active combat unit today, first gained a reputation in World War II as a group that claimed many firsts, broke many records and gained much recognition as one of the key elements to many of the pivotal engagements of the war in the Pacific. Flying P-40 Warhawks, P-38 Lightnings and, briefly, P-47 Thunderbolts, the 49th FG entered the war in 1942 from the northern coast of Australia, and then began a steady and inexorable march north, that ended with the 49th FG based on the home islands of Japan itself. The missions flown by pilots of the 49th FG over the course of four years in the Pacific Theatre of Operations included interceptions, bomber escorts, transport escorts, strafing runs, dive-bombing, pursuits, fighter sweeps, long-range hunting and scouting for enemy incursions. Today the group, re-designated as the 49th Fighter Wing, is based at Holloman AFB flying F-22 Raptors. Among the decorations the group received are the Distinguished Unit Citation with three Oak Leaf Clusters, and two Philippines Republic Presidential Unit Citations. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 49th Fighter Squadron | 49th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 55th Fighter Group | 55th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 77th Fighter Squadron | 77th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 79th Fighter Squadron | 79th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 7th Photographic Group | 7th Photographic Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 82nd Fighter Group | 82nd Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 94th Fighter Group | 94th Fighter Group Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US The 96th Fighter Squadron, during World War Two flew combat missions in the both the European and Mediterranean Theatres of Operation from 25th of December 1942 to 6th May 1945. After World War Two the 96th Fighter Squadron flew fighter escort and a Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 96th Fighter Squadron | 96th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 97th Fighter Squadron | 97th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : US Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of 9th Fighter Squadron | 9th Fighter Squadron Full profile not yet available. |
Signatures for : Lightning | |||||
A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name. | |||||
Name | Info | ||||
Major Bill Allen Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Major Bill Allen
| Major Bill Allen Commissioned in November 1943, Bill Allen was posted to England, joining the 55th Fighter Group based at Wormingford, on May 15th 1944. Posted into the 343rd Fighter Squadron the following day, Bill flew his first combat mission on 14th June 1944. He flew both P38 Lightnings and P51 Mustangs through his tour, becoming an Ace in one day on 5th September 1944, when he shot down 5 German aircraft whilst flying his P51 'Pretty Patty II'. | ||||
Lt Colonel Roger J Ames Click the name above to see prints signed by Lt Colonel Roger J Ames | Lt Colonel Roger J Ames Roger Ames joined the USAAF for pilot training on 24th April 1941 and was assigned to the 12th Fighter Squadron. He first saw combat in December of the following year, and logged a total of 67 hours of combat flying in P39s and P38s. Selected for the Yamamoto mission, he flew in Mitchells top cover group, sweeping the sky above Bougainville at 18000 feet. He served in the South Pacific, Solomons, and Canal Zone during WWII. | ||||
Colonel Robert Baldwin Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Robert Baldwin
| Colonel Robert Baldwin Robert Baldwin was born on October 19, 1917, in Los Angeles, California. He entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on September 28th, 1939, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on June 22, 1940. Bob Baldwin took part in 75 combat missions in World War II flying P-38s and P-40s in Europe between 1943-45. After the second World War Col Robert Baldwin in 1948 served as a military observer in Palestine, and then served as Assistant Deputy for Maintenance and Chief of Flight Operations with Headquarters Oklahoma City Air Material Area at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, from December 1948 to July 1949. He attended Air Command & Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from July to December 1949, and then served as Commander of the 56th Maintenance and Support Group at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, from December 1949 to March 1950. Col Baldwin was Deputy for Operations of the 56th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Selfridge from March 1950 to June 1951, and then served on the staff of Headquarters Air Defense Command at Ent AFB, Colorado, from June 1951 to February 1953. Robert Baldwin joined the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing in Korea and was promoted to Commander after 3 missions. He flew a total of 85 combat missions, and has 800 hours on the F-86 achieving 5 arial victories plus 3 damaged in the Korean conflict. He was Base Commander of Kisarazu AB, Japan, from September 1953 to June 1955, followed by service as Commander of the 4750th Air Defense Group at Vincent AFB, Arizona, from June 1955 to November 1958. Col Baldwin next served with Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from November 1958 to June 1962, and then served on the staff of Headquarters Allied Air Forces Southern Europe from June 1962 to July 1965. His final assignment was as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans with Headquarters Air Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas, from July 1965 He flew many other jet fighters of the era and retired from the Service in June 1966. Robert Baldwin passed away on April 7th, 1994.
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Colonel Rex Barber Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Rex Barber
| Colonel Rex Barber Rex Theodore Barber was born in Culver, Oregon on May 6, 1917. Barber was accepted at Oregon State University and graduated from that University in 1940. In September of that year Barber enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and served as a private first class, prior to being accepted for flight training in March of 1941. Following graduation with Class 41-H from Mather Field in California in October of 1941, now Lt. Rex Barber was assigned to the 70th Fighter Squadron of the 35th Fighter Group. He arrived in the Fiji Islands with his new unit in January of 1942. Barber's only victory in 1942 was on December 28, 1942 when he downed a twin-engine Japanese Nell. Early in 1943 the 70th Fighter Squadron was integrated into the 339th Fighter Group, and converted to the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. The P-38 was an ideal aircraft given the long distances involved in combat in the Pacific. In April Rex got credit for downing two Zekes near Cape Esperance. On April 18, 1943 Rex participated in one of the most interesting missions of the War, the interception and destruction of the Betty bomber carrying Admiral lsoruko Yamamoto, the Commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet, and mastermind of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The mission was commanded by Major John Mitchell. While a total of sixteen aircraft were involved, only four were to actually attack the Betty. With Yamamoto noted for his punctuality, and American code-breakers having deciphered his intinerary, Mitchell's flight had a fighting chance of pulling off the mission. Yamamoto's flight arrived on schedule. There were two Betty bombers and only four escorting fighters. Barber, Lt. Frank Holmes and Captain Tom Lamphier got in the heat of the action. Barber got hits on both the Bettys and also bagged a Zeke. The Army Air Force decided after the mission to give equal credit to both Lamphier and Barber for downing the Betty which Yamamoto was a passenger in. Years later Tom Lamphier lobbied hard for getting sole credit for the Yamamoto victory. The Air Force's official investigation concluded that a shared victory was still appropriate. More recent evidence, including testimony from one of the Japanese Zero pilots and a survivor from one of the Bettys which was downed, were supportive of the thesis that Rex Barber should get full credit. A book published by noted aviation historian and author Carroll Glines favors this conclusion, and a recent review panel of the American Fighter Aces Association concluded that Rex Barber deserves the sole credit for downing Yamamoto's Betty. This unfortunate controversy tarnishes the fact that this mission was the longest successful interception of its kind, and all those who participated in all aspects of it deserve credit. Barber served a second combat tour in the Pacific with the 449th Fighter Squadron in China. Following the War, Rex commanded the 29th Fighter Squadron of the 412th Fighter Group. Later he would command one of the Air Force's early jet squadrons flying the P-59A Airacomet and the P-80. Rex retired from the Air Force in 1961. His numerous decorations include the Navy Cross, the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In January 1945, he returned to duty with 412th Fighter Group, 29th Fighter Squadron, testing the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. He flew jet fighters in the Korean War and retired as a Colonel after a full Air Force career. By the end of WWII, Barber had five confirmed aerial victories and three probables. Awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal and Veteran of foreign Wars Gold Medal of Merit, he died peacefully in his home on July 26, 2001. | ||||
Captain Larry Blumer Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Captain Larry Blumer
| Captain Larry Blumer Assigned to the 393rd Fighter Squadron, 367th Fighter Group, Scrappy, nicknamed after his Scrap Iron P-38, became one of the few fighter pilots to become an ace-in-a-day when he shot down five FW-190s in 15 minutes of aerial combat on 25 August 1944. Scrappy rose to command the 393rd and destroyed another FW-190 before returning to the States in January 1945. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 22 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. In 1946, he returned to the United States and became a contractor. Later in life, he purchased a P-38, painted it like his old plane, and flew it at air shows. Sadly Captain Larry Blumer died of Leukemia on October 23rd 1997 in Springfield, Oregon. | ||||
Colonel Gerald Brown Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Colonel Gerald Brown
| Colonel Gerald Brown Gerald Brown arrived in Europe in August 1943, completing his first tour with the 38th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, becoming the first P38 Ace in the 8th Air Force. Volunteering for a second tour, this time flying P-51 Mustangs with the 334th FS, 4th Fighter Group at Debden. In September 1944 he was forced to bail out of his burning P-51 over enemy territory, but escaped to return to his squadron, and completed his second tour in November 1944. Gerry Brown later flew in Korea, but was shot down, spending three years in captivity. Sadly, he passed away on 9th December 2007. | ||||
Colonel Hubert M. Childress Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Hubert M. Childress | Colonel Hubert M. Childress Hubert Childress was posted to England, joining the 27th Photo Recon Squadron, 7th Photographic Group flying the F5 - a specially adapted photo-recon version of the P38 with cameras and no guns. Hubert flew his first combat mission on New Year's Eve 1943, and was heavily involved in many reconnaissance missions prior to D-Day. He also flew the Spitfire MkIXs on several operations. He flew 58 combat missions and later commanded the 7th Photographic Group (R) | ||||
Wing Commander James Gordon Cole DFC Click the name above to see prints signed by Wing Commander James Gordon Cole DFC | Wing Commander James Gordon Cole DFC Wing Commander James Gordon Cole DFC joined the RAF in 1938 and had his initial training at Reading, Uxbridge and Montrose. He then went to France with No 13 Sqn, returning in May 1940. After a spell with 231 Sqn in Northern Ireland he then went by destroyer (HMAS Nestor) to Egypt to join 2 PRU until early 1944. He was then posted as Liaison Officer with P.R. Group, USAAF at Chalgrove, and subsequently flew P-38s (Lightning) on sorties over the D-Day beaches, La Rochelle, amongst others. | ||||
Col Perry J Dahl Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Col Perry J Dahl
| Col Perry J Dahl Born 18 February 1923, Colonel Dahl served in the 41st Infantry Division as an enlisted man in the early 1940s. He applied for aviation cadet training shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, was accepted and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in June 1943. Following transition training in the P-38 Lightning, Dahl was sent to Tumwater, Washington with the 55th Fighter Group, then on to the Pacific Theater as a replacement pilot in the 432nd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group Satans Angels. Starting in Buna, New Guinea, he fought through the Pacific, ending up at Lingayen Gulf, Philippine Islands. Lieutenant Dahl scored his first victory on 9 November 1943, a Zeke downed near Alexishafen, and destroyed another Zeke over Wewak three days before Christmas. He was credited with a third Zeke on 23 January 1944 and became an ace on 3 April when he shot down a Zeke and an Oscar near Santani Lake. He was credited with one more Oscar on 8 June before the group moved to the Philippines. Promoted to captain, Dahl continued to run up his score, downing a Tony on 10 November. Two weeks later he was involved in a mid-air collision and parachuted into enemy territory. He was captured by a Japanese patrol but was rescued by Filipino guerrillas. He returned to his unit thirty one days later and concluded his scoring in March 1945, credited with a Sally on the 5th and a Hamp on the 28th. Following World War II Dahl attended the University of Washington and Southern Colorado State University, where he graduated with a Batchelor of Science degree. He was employed with the Seattle Post Intelligencer when he was recalled to active duty in February, 1951. Following recall, his duty assignments included: Test pilot, Air Force Depot; Editor Flying Safety Magazine; Student, Air Command and Staff College; Commander 734th Aircraft Warning and Control Squadron; Air Staff, Pentagon, Washington DC; Vice Commandant of Cadets, United States Air Force Academy; Deputy Chief of Staff, North American Air Defense Command and Commander, 56th Special Operations Wing. Colonel Dahl flew two combat tours in Southeast Asia. He retired from the Air Force on June 30 1978.
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Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A Dobrowolski Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A Dobrowolski
| Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A Dobrowolski Enlisting in June 1942, Joseph Dobrowolski was assigned to the 367th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force, and arrived the European Theater, April 1944, flying P-38s out of Stoney Cross in England. He flew his first combat mission a month later. Flying throughout the whole D-Day invasion period he notched up 175 combat hours, the majority in the hazardous ground-attack role, chalking up many ground victories before returning to the U.S. in November 1944. He retired Lieutenant Colonel in 1967. Joe Dobrolowolski passed away on 1st February 2006. | ||||
Cpt Joseph Forster Click the name above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Cpt Joseph Forster | Cpt Joseph Forster Born in 1919, Joe Forster enlisted in the Army in 1940, being commissioned as a pilot in 1943, flying the P-38 with 432nd Fighter Squadron. On 3rd April 1944, he was credited with his first 3 confirmed victories, eventually finishing the war with 9 confirmed victories, three probables and one damaged. He retired from the air force in 1971, having one two DFCs among other decorations. | ||||
Captain Delton Goerke Click the name above to see prints signed by Captain Delton Goerke
| Captain Delton Goerke Almost two years to the day after joining the USAAF, Delton Goerke found himself selected to take part in the Yamamoto Mission. He had three combat tours to Guadalcanal with 339th Pursuit Squadron and saw action also in the Solomon Islands. He flew P39 and P38 fighters and completed a total of 78 combat missions. On the Yamamoto Missions he was part of Mitchells top cover flight. He died 23rd March 1999. | ||||
Lieutenant Colonel Bill Harris Click the name above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel Bill Harris
| Lieutenant Colonel Bill Harris Before joining the Army Air Force, Bill Harris had served in the US Navy for 4 years he got his flying wings and on 30th October 1942 was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Luke Field, Arizona and assigned to the 339th Fighter Squadron, 347th Fighter Group. Flying a P-38G, Harris scored his first victory on 7th June 1943 by destroying two Zeros over the Russells. On the 16th Harris shot down two Zeros over Guadalcanal during a noontime attack by the Japanese. On 4th October he claimed a Zero on a B-24 escort to Kahili to become an ace. After downing a Zero three days later, on the 10th he was credited with two Zeros on a morning mission to Kahili and that afternoon downed one Zeke confirmed and shared a probable. Promoted to captain, on 27 October Harris became a double ace when he destroyed a Japanese dive-bomber over Treasury Island. Flying out of the Treasury Islands on 9th February 1944, Harris was credited with three Zeros on a sweep over the Admiralties, followed by another pair of Zekes over Vanakanau Airstrip on the 15th. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, Harris was sent to the Philippines to command the 18th Fighter Group in the spring of 1945. On 22nd June he downed an Oscar over Mandai Airdrome to become the top P-38 ace in the Thirteenth Air Force. | ||||
Lt Colonel Besby F Holmes Click the name above to see prints signed by Lt Colonel Besby F Holmes
| Lt Colonel Besby F Holmes Besby Holmes was one of only 18 fighter pilots to get airborne over Hawaii on 7th December 1941. 18th April 1943 sw him in the Attack Flight on the Yamamoto Mission. After initial difficulty releasing long range tanks, Holmes, with wingman Ray Hine, joined Barber and Lamphier in the attack on the bombers and the dog fight with the escorting Zeroes. Besby Holmes was credited with 6 air victories in his 145 combat missions. | ||||
USAF Colonel Travis Hoover Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by USAF Colonel Travis Hoover
| USAF Colonel Travis Hoover Travis Hoover was born September 21, 1917 at Melrose, New Mexico. He graduated from Polytechnic High School in Riverside, California in 1938. He enlisted in the National Guard in 1938, and became a Flying Cadet in the Regular Army in 1939. By May of 1940 Hoover had earned his wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps. He was selected to participate in the first bombing raid on Tokyo in 1942, which was both planned and lead by Jimmy Doolittle. Hoover piloted the second B-25 off the Homet's deck and caught up with the aircraft piloted by Doolittle. They attacked Tokyo together. This was the first strike back against the Japanese homeland and occurred only four months following the Pearl Harbor raid. Hoover's B-25 headed west towards China following the attack, and as they reached the Chinese coast they ran out of fuel. They made a forced landing in Japanese occupied territory. They were able to evade the Japanese forces for several days, and eventually they contacted a Chinese student, Tung Sheng Lin, who guided Hoover's crew to safety. Undoubtedly Tung Sheng Lin's courage and valor, and his utter disregard for his own safety, prevented Hoover's crew from being captured and executed. Hoover made it back to America, and he continued to serve his country. He flew B-25s and B-24s out of England, North Africa, and Italy from September of 1942 until May of 1944. He then volunteered to fly P-38 Lightnings in the fighter and dive bomber roles in Italy for another few months. He flew a total of 73 combat missions in WW 11. Later in the War, Hoover instructed in air operations at the Command and General Staff School at Leavenworth, Kansas. His peacetime overseas service included tours in both Okinawa and Turkey. In 1949 he earned his B.A. degree from the University of California. Stateside assignments included Kansas, Washington, D.C., California, Texas, and Mississippi. He completed enough flying hours to earn his command pilot's wings. Travis retired from the Air Force with the rank of Colonel. His numerous decorations include the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leak Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Chinese Army, Navy, and Air Corps Medal, Class A V' Grade. Retiring in 1969 to San Antonio, Texas, Col. Hoover currently resides in Joplin, Missouri. Travis Hoover passed away 17th January 2004. | ||||
Lt Colonel Frank D Hurlbut Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Lt Colonel Frank D Hurlbut
| Lt Colonel Frank D Hurlbut Frank Hurlbut joined the National Guard in early 1940 before being activated following the Japanese Attack at Pearl Harbor. He was posted to the 82nd Fighter Group, 96th FS flying P38s in Europe. He became a P38 Ace on 10th July 1943 during a notable fighter sweep in which his Group was credited with 10 kills. Frank Hurlbut flew over 50 combat missions and scored nine confirmed victories, all in Europe, making him the second highest Ace in the 12th Air Force. In Italy, in the summer of 1944, where he flew P38s with the 96th FS. Attacking targets of opportunity and strafing trains, the squadron escorted the heavy bombers that attacked aircraft | ||||
Colonel Jack M Ilfrey Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Colonel Jack M Ilfrey
| Colonel Jack M Ilfrey Posted to North Africa with the 94th Fighter Group, Jack Ilfrey lost a belly tank transiting from England and force-landed at Lisbon. He avoided internment by conning some fuel and making an unauthorised take-off. He became one of the early P-38 Aces, and historians now say the very first P-38 Ace. Back in England in 1944 he commanded the 79th P-38 Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, at Kingscliffe, and ended his tow-tour war with 8 victories. Sadly, Jack Ilfrey died on 15th October 2004. | ||||
Major Julius Jack Jacobson Click the name above to see prints signed by Major Julius Jack Jacobson
| Major Julius Jack Jacobson Jack Jacobson joined the Service in March 1941, and flew his first combat missions in October 1942. Jack Jacobson was John Mitchells regular wingman, and flew in that position on the Yamamoto Mission. Flying P39s and later P38s he saw action at Guadalcanal and in the Solomons, flying a total of 111 combat missions. After leaving the Service in 1946 he rejoined to serve two years in the Korean conflict. Cracking the Japanese naval code, U.S. intelligence discovered the travel plans of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, architect of the Pearl Harbor attack. On April 18, 1943, sixteen Army Air Force P-38 fighters took off to intercept his aircraft. Flying at altitudes of 50 feet or less over 400 miles of open ocean while maintaining radio silence, they arrived at precisely the right moment"a phenomenal feat of navigation. Sixty-two years later, exactly which pilot shot down Yamamoto’s aircraft in the ensuing turmoil of aerial combat remains a controversy. “Jack” Jacobson, one of only three living Yamamoto Mission pilots, flew as wingman to mission leader Major John W. Mitchell. Jack Jacobson passed away on 8th April 2005. | ||||
Colonel Arthur Jeffrey Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Arthur Jeffrey
| Colonel Arthur Jeffrey Arthur Jeffrey WAS born in Brewer, Arkansas on the 17th of November, 1919. Arthur Jeffrey enlisted in the Army on August 18th, 1939, and two years later in September, he entered aviation cadet training and graduated at Kelly Field, Texas in April of 1942. Jeffrey was assigned to the newly-formed 479th Fighter Group flying P-38s, and after a training period, his group was sent to England to become a part of the 8th Air Force. The year was 1944, and eleven days after arrival, the group began flying operational missions. Arthur Jeffrey became the top-scoring P-38 Ace with the 479th Fighter Group, and later became the Groups leading scorer after they converted to P-51s. Jeffrey was a captain in the 434th Fighter Squadron, and scored his first aerial victory over a Fw-200K heavy bomber downed over the Chateaubernard Airdrome near Cognac in July. Jeffrey went on to command the 434th Fighter Group. Arthur had the distinction of being the first pilot to shoot down the Luftwaffes jet-rocket aircraft - the Me163. He flew 82 combat missions and was credited with 14 aerial victories. Arthur Jeffrey ended his tour as a lieutenant colonel in command of the 434th Fighter Squadron, with a list of combat awards including the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Air Medal with 16 Oak Leaf Clusters. Arthur Jeffrey remained in the Air Force after the war and retired from the Air Force in September, 1968. | ||||
William King Click the name above to see prints signed by William King
| William King P51 pilot who flew during the D-Day landings. Serving with the 355th Fighter Squadron, he scored 5.5 victories, including 3 Fw190s in a single day. | ||||
Lt Colonel Louis R Kittel Click the name above to see prints signed by Lt Colonel Louis R Kittel | Lt Colonel Louis R Kittel Lou Kittel joined the Service in 1939, seeing his first combat in March 1943 in the Pacific. He pioneered night-fighting techniques useing the P38, loitering at high altitude and pouncing on enemy aircraft caught in the searchlights. On one occasion he flamed two Bettys over Guadalcanal in a spectacular interception watched by half the islands population, returning to a heroes welcome. Lou Kittel flew 78 combat missions and recorded 4 air victories and 1 probable. | ||||
Captain James Kunkle Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Captain James Kunkle | Captain James Kunkle Before he was eighteen and could join up, Kunkle had a job with Lockheed assembling P-38 wing sections, but as soon as he was old enough he enlisted for pilot training. In May 1944 he joined the 401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group at Andover, England. His first mission was an armed reconnaissance across the Channel after D-Day. In July the squadron flew to an airfield on Omaha Beach, and flew air-support missions that devastated the German 7th Army at Falaise. He was shot down after a dog-fight with Fw190s and Me109s but managed to bail out over American lines. He later became a test pilot. Citation for the Distinguished Service Cross : | ||||
Lt Col John Loisel Click the name above to see prints signed by Lt Col John Loisel
| Lt Col John Loisel American air ace, credited with having shot down 11 Japanese aircraft during World War II. Passed away 20th January 2010. | ||||
Major Thomas E Maloney Click the name above to see prints signed by Major Thomas E Maloney
| Major Thomas E Maloney Maj. Thomas E. Maloney, the highest scoring ace in 27th Fighter Squadron history with 8 victories. By scoring five kills during the war, he became an ace May 31, 1944, and by August 15th he had racked-up eight air victories. On August 19th he was already on his second combat mission of the day, his 64th, and last. After the dive-bombing, Maloney's flight looked for targets of opportunity. Repeatedly strafing a German train, Maloney's bullets caused secondary explosions sending debris and rolling stock higher into the air than his attacking aircraft. One of his engines was hit. It started losing oil pressure and he shut it off. With an escort of three other 27th fighters he headed for the Mediterranean Sea. His other engine began failing, and he was down to 800 feet above the water, too low to bail out. He bellylanded the aircraft in the water. Maloney said his P-38 floated like a crowbar. It started to sink immediately, even before it had stopped moving forward, almost taking him to the bottom. The tall pilot squeezed into his inner tube-size dinghy and waved to his circling flight to let them know he was OK. He expected a quick rescue, but he actually spent 10 days evading enemy forces until rescued by French soldiers and returned to the U.S. As Major Maloney recovered from his wounds in the hospital, Col. R.S. Richard, 1st Pursuit Group commander, decreed that any 27th Fighter Squadron aircraft bearing the number 23 would permanently be known as Maloney's Pony, the colorful moniker Major Maloney chose for his P-38. After rehabilitation Maloney was medically retired as a major in October 1947. He went back to school, then went on to become president of his own oil and gas drilling company. On December 5th 2008 Maloney was inducted into the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame. Tom Maloney passed away on November 16th, 2008. | ||||
Colonel Charles McGee Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Charles McGee | Colonel Charles McGee Charles McGee graduated from flight school and shipped out to Italy in December 1943 as a flight Lieutenant in the 302nd fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. He flew missions in North Africa, Italy and Germany, and got his first victory on 24th August flying escort in the Ploesti oil field raid. After the war this outstanding flyer commanded fighter squadrons throughout the United States, Italy, the Philippines and Germany, logging up more than 6,100 hours in 409 combat missions spanning World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Serving in the armed forces for 30 years he holds the record of flying more combat missions than any other USAF pilot in history. Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1919, Charles MeGee, who was to become a Command Aviator who would fly combat missions in three different military conflicts, spent his childhood in Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa. Following two years attending the University of Illinois, WW 11 began, and McGee was sworn into the US Army enlisted reserves on October 26, 1942. He was accepted for pilot training in November and entered the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Training Program. McGee earned his wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in June 1943, as a member of Class 43-F at Tuskegee Army Air Field. He was assigned along with many of the other black pilots who had earned their wings at Tuskegee to the 332 nd Fighter Group in Italy. With the 302nd Fighter Squadron McGee trained in the P-40 and would later fly more than 82 tactical missions in the P-39. His fighter group was then transferred into the Fifteenth Air Force and he first flew the P-47 and several weeks later the P-51 Mustang. In this duty, along with other Tuskegee Airmen, McGee performed admirably surmounting many of the unfortunate hurdles placed in their path. The Tuskegee Ainnen became known for their superlative effort at protecting allied bombers from attacking German fighters. McGee is credited with downing one Fw- 190, and the destruction or damage of many others on the ground. He became a flight leader, was promoted to Captain, and after flying 54 more combat missions, returned to Alabama as a twin engine flight instructor. In 1950 McGee flew 100 more combat missions with the 67th Fighter Bomber Squadron of the 18th Fighter Group. He was then made Commander of the 44th Bomber Squadron flying out of Clark Field in the Philippines. Later he would serve with an F-89 Interceptor Squadron, and following a number of interesting operational and staff assignments he would serve as Commander of the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed in Vietnam. In his year in Vietnam, McGee would fly another 173 missions. Later assignments included Air Liason Officer for USAEUR and 7th Army, Chief of Maintenance for the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Director of Maintenance Engineering for AF Communication Service, and Commander of Richards-Gebaur AFB, and the 1840 Air Base Wing. He retired from the USAF in 1973 with 6,300 flying hours, including 1,100 hours flown on fighter combat missions. Col. McGee earned a BA Degree in Business Administration and worked for many years in the real estate business with ISC Financial Corporation. He also served as Director of Administration forthe city of Prairie Village, Kanasas, and as Manager of the downtown Kansas City Airport. Now fully retired Charles lives with his wife, the former Frances Nelson of Champaign, Illinois. The McGees have three children, ten grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. His numerous decorations include the Legion of Merit with one cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two clusters, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with 25 clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one cluster, a Presidential Unit Citation, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, to name only a few. | ||||
First Lieutenant Robert C Milliken Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Robert C Milliken
| First Lieutenant Robert C Milliken Robert C. Milliken joined the U.S. Army Air Force in June of 1942. After training he was assigned to fly P-38s for the 429th Fighter Squadron of the new 474th Fighter Group out of Warmwell England in late April of 1944. Second Lieutenant Milliken flew his first combat mission on April 30, 1944. During his participation in D-Day operations, and thereafter, he flew a great variety of missions claiming his first of several victories when he shot down a German FW-190 in an air battle fought between Chateaudin and LeMans. After having completed a tour of 69 missions by November 11th, 1944 he volunteered for two more missions during the Battle of the Bulge, and in a noontime dogfight shot down a German Me-109, a fifth victory which made him an ace. He returned to the United States in July of 1945 and, after the end of the war, was relieved from active duty in December 1945. He was awarded a Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal (16 OLC) for his five victories and four damages against German forces. | ||||
Lieutenant Colonel William Bill D Mitchell Click the name above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel William Bill D Mitchell | Lieutenant Colonel William Bill D Mitchell Receiving his pilots wings in 1942, Bill Mitchell trained on high altitude P38 Lightnings, to become a photo-reconnaissance pilot. Arriving in England in November 1943, he joined the 30th Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron, of which he was the commander for its missions with the Ninth Air Force. Bill flew a total of eighty-five operational missions, including three on D-Day. | ||||
Brigadier General Robin Olds Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Brigadier General Robin Olds
| Brigadier General Robin Olds After leaving West Point in June 1943, Robin Olds was posted to the 479th Fighter Group in England, joining 434 Squadron. Based at Wattisham in East Anglia, and flying P-38s, he was involved in heavy bomber escort duties and fighter sweeps until the Normandy invasion, soon after which his Squadron converted to P51 Mustangs. by early 1945 Robin Olds was in command of 434 Squadron taking part in the Battle of the Bulge, flying escort missions, and providing air support to the airborne attack across the Rhine. At the end of World War II Robin Olds had 24.5 victories, of which 13 were in the air. Later in Vietnam Robin Olds gained four more victories, flying F4 Phantoms and flew with the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. Sadly, Robin Olds passed away on 14th June 2007. | ||||
First Lieutenant Richard Ostronik Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Richard Ostronik | First Lieutenant Richard Ostronik Joining the service at the end of 1942, Dick Ostronik was posted to the 82nd Fighter Group in Italy, in the summer of 1944, where he flew P38s with the 96th FS. Attacking targets of opportunity and strafing trains, the squadron escorted the heavy bombers that attacked aircraft factories and industrial targets, and flew defending photo reconnaissance missions - once against a pair of Me262s. Dick flew over 30 combat missions, finishing his stint in Europe in May 1945. | ||||
Lieutenant Colonel William Pope Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel William Pope | Lieutenant Colonel William Pope Bill Pope flew P-38s with the 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group. He flew the first of his 73 combat missions on 29th April 1944, and was flying on D-Day. The 343rd Fighter Squadron later converted to P-51s. He retired in 1966. | ||||
First Lieutenant Mel Roasvig Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by First Lieutenant Mel Roasvig | First Lieutenant Mel Roasvig Already in the Reserves, Mel Roasvig was activated for full service in August 1941, and was posted overseas to join the 97th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, by then operating in Italy. Flying the P38 Lightning in its main role of bomber escort, he also took part in dive bombing operations in Czechoslovakia, and hitting targets of opportunity, including strafing an ammunition train which exploded, the debris seriously damaging his aircraft. | ||||
Lieutenant Colonel William Dixie Sloan Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel William Dixie Sloan
| Lieutenant Colonel William Dixie Sloan Born in 1921, he went to flying school in 1942. Flying P-38 Lightnings over North Africa, he became the top Ace in that theatre, with 12 victories. He stayed in the Air Force after the war. He died 30th January 1999. | ||||
Colonel Darrell G Welch Click the name above to see prints signed by Colonel Darrell G Welch
| Colonel Darrell G Welch Commissioned in 1941, Darrell Welch was assigned to the 27th Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group, which became the first squadron to be equipped with the new P38 Lightning. Arriving in England in August 1942, the 1st Fighter Group was part of a large American force despatched to Algiers in November for the North African campaign, where he made his first kill in January 1943 while escorting B17s over Tripoli. A few months later, whilst leading the 27th on a big intercept mission, Welch became an Ace when he notched up a further three victories in the space of just twenty five minutes, bringing his tally up to five confirmed victories. He later saw service in the Pacific, and retired the service in 1970. | ||||
Lieutenant Colonel William Willis Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant Colonel William Willis | Lieutenant Colonel William Willis William Willis joined the service in October 1942. Posted overseas to England, he flew P-38s with the 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group. Based at Wormingford, the Group was equipped with P-38 Lightnings, which they were flying over Normandy at the time of the D-Day invasion. Shortly after they were converted to P-51s, on which Willis went to Berlin on a strafing mission. | ||||
Colonel Richard Willsie Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Richard Willsie | Colonel Richard Willsie Joining up in 1942, Dick Willsie was posted to North Africa with the 414th Night Fighter Squadron, where he flew 31 missions on the Beaufighter. He transferred to the 96th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, flying the P38 Lightning on 82 day missions through to the end of hostilities in Europe. He notched up a large number of ground attack victories as well as three aerial victories in his P38 'Snake Eyes'.On one mission Captain Richard Dick Willsie's P-38 was damaged by flak near Ploesti, Romania. After both engines failed, Willsie crash-landed but was rescued from capture when Flight Officer Dick Andrews landed his P-38 on the field, squeezed Willsie into the cockpit, and flew back to base. Willsie would go on to serve in both Korea and Vietnam, and Willsie became the commanding officer of the 602nd Air Commando Squadron and retired in 1974. | ||||
Colonel Hub Zemke Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Colonel Hub Zemke
| Colonel Hub Zemke Best known as leader of the legendary Zemkes Wolfpack, Hub Zemkes famous 56th Fighter Group was the top scoring Fighter Group in the European Theather of operations. Zemke pioneered the use of the P-38 Droop Snoot as a bomb aiming aircraft which led the bomb-loaded P-47s on to the target with great accuracy and success. He later commanded the 479th Fighter Group P-38s. One of the outstanding fighter leaders of the war, Hub Zemkes personal tally 17.5 victories. Sadly, he passed awway on 30th August 1994. |
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