44-63204 And Jeff
Object Number - UPL 31448 - Lt. Richard “Dick” Jacobson (L) and Capt. Edward Unger (R) both ex 486th Bomb Group, congratulate each other on being assigned to the 3rd...
Assigned to 343FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Given the nickname 'The Millie G' by Major Edward B Giller after his wife Mrs Millicent Giller.
Transferred to 3rd Scouting Force, 8AF USAAF. Nicknamed 'And Jeff' and flown by Lt. Richard Jacobson and Lt. Earl M DeGeneres.
Crew chief: S/Sgt Lester Compagnoni
Landing accident (class 2): Sunday, 8 April 1945 @ 1040 hrs (Maintenance error)
At RAF Wormingford (Runway 09), England
Pilot: 1Lt Edward J Hitt
8th AF mission: 932 / 55th FG mission: 293 (Germany - Scouting)
Left main landing gear collapsed on landing. After aircraft was jacked, maintenance discovered Landing Gear Pivot Shaft Nut Wrench (p/n T-46) lodged behind support casting; preventing the landing gear from fully extending. Left wing tip and aileron damaged.
Source: AAF accident report: 45-4-8-705
The AAF accident report gives the aircraft's unit as 862nd Bomb Squadron, 55th Fighter Group. This is because uniquely, the 3rd Scouting Force flew B-17s as well as P-51s and as a result was given a Bomb Squadron designation. However, even Vince Masters, a former bomber pilot, referred to himself as CO of the 3rd Scouting Force rather than of the 862nd Bomb Squadron. Its P-51s and their pilots are therefore generally described as belonging to the 3rd Scouting Force.
On 14 September 1945, P-51 44-63204, crashed on take off at Kaufbueren/R-70 (Germany) and sustained Cat 3 damage. Pilot was Lt John A McIntosh or Lt James J Elwood.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 97th Service Group 315th Service Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39685867
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew Chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Scouting Force 487th Bomb Group 55th Fighter Group 836th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19056706 / O-764675
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (55th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-659459
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Scouting Force 55th Fighter Group 96th Bomb Group 337th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-822719
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot; Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Scouting Force 486th Bomb Group 834th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-771037
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Fighter pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground
Missions
- Date: 8 April 1945
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Mutt
- Unit: 3rd Scouting Force 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Wormingford, Colchester CO6 3SD, UK | 8 April 1945 | Landing Accident Wormingford (Sta 159) Cat M damage Lt Edward J Hitt, 8-Apr-45. P-51D 44-63204 - 3SF 8AF |
|
Crashed |
Kaufbeuren, Germany | 14 September 1945 | Crashed on Take Off Kaufbueren/R-70 Cat 3 damage Lt John A McIntosh or Lt James J Elwood, 14-Sep-45. P-51D 44-63204 - 343FS 55FG 9AF |
|
Manufactured |
Inglewood, CA, USA | Built at North American. | |
|
Delivered |
Edwards AFB, CA, USA | Delivered to USAAF. | |
|
Assigned |
Wormingford, Colchester CO6 3SD, UK | Assigned to 343FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. | |
|
Assigned |
Wormingford, Colchester CO6 3SD, UK | Transferred to 3rd Scouting Force, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Correspondence with Peter Randall of Little Friends website: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/
Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
AAF accident report 45-4-8-705, accessed by user 'terveurn', Dave Gansz: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/user/16605
