42-103781 | American Air Museum

42-103781

Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel talk to Lieutenant-Colonel Oscar Coen of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Groupin the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt after a mission over Paris, 15 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Thunderbolt fighters are proving a terror to the German pilots (former members of the R.A.F.). Flying their high altitude fast diving fighters, that have accounted for many enemy planes. In the raid over Paris the fighters of this station accounted for 17 down, 5 probables and one damaged. 1

334th Fighter Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

Thunderbolt pilots of the 4th Fighter Group in the briefing room at Debden. The 4th Fighter Group flew P-47 Thunderbolts on missions between March 1943 and February 1944. In the centre of the image, looking straight at the camera is James A. Goodson. On the far right of the shot, wearing a garrison cap, is Lieutenant Paul S. Riley. The two men at the front of the shot, sitting on wicker chairs, are, left to right Lieutenant James A. Clark and Lieutenant Spiros S. Pisanos. Printed caption attached to print

4th Fighter Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Fighter

People

James W Ayers

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: O-706334
Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Places

Debden

Site type: Airfield

Aerial photograph of Knettishall airfield looking south, the bomb dump is bottom left, 13 March 1944. Photograph taken by 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, sortie number US/7PH/GP/LOC226. English Heritage (USAAF Photography).

Knettishall

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Crashed	Knettishall, Diss, Suffolk IP22, UK	1 March 1944
Crashed	Charlton Horethorne, Sherborne, Somerset DT9, UK	22 July 1944	Landing accident RNAS Charlton Horethorne Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt James W Ayers, 22-Jul-44. 334FS 4FG 8AF.

Revisions

Date7 Mar 2016 13:08:18

ContributorAl_Skiff

Changes

Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=42-103781&Submit4=Go
http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=113507
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=42-103781&Submit…