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This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jack S. Jenkins, CO of the 55th Fighter Group, sits in cockpit of P-38 Lightning named "Texas Ranger" and talks to Lieutenant Russell F. Gustke, at Nuthampstead air base, October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Photo shows: Lt. Col. Jack S. Jenkins, of Levelland, Texas, the Commanding Officer of a U.S. air force station in Britain, in the cockpit of his Lightning P.38, gives last minute instructions to Lieut. Russell F. Gustke, of Fort Huron, Mich.: before the take off. Lieut. Gustke has served in North Africa taking part in 46 operations, destroying one enemy aircraft and probably seven others. He holds the Air Medal with three clusters and the D.F.C. And. October 1943. PN.'
Group
The 55th Fighter Group were the first P-38 Lightning Group to go fully operational from England. The pilots flew long-range escort missions for bombers flying over occupied Europe and racked up 'kills' of their own by destroying enemy aircraft in...
Military | Major General | Fighter pilot-1056 Twin engine/Deputy Group CO
Flight Leader 48th FS 14th FG MTO 1942-43
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Military | Colonel | Pilot
Prisoner of War (POW) crashed near Coulommiers on 10 Apr 44 in P-38 'Texas Ranger' #42-67825. MACR 3620.
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P-38 Lightning
Military site : airfield
Built during 1942-43, Nuthampstead was the nearest Eighth Air Force heavy bomber base to London. It had three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. It was first occupied from September 1943 to April 1944 by the 55th...
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 08 September 2014 15:23:37 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection |
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