Following recent government announcements the museum is currently closed, there is plenty to explore in our online archive.
The American Air Museum is a charity - Find out how you can support us
By downloading this image, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions
This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.
Lieutenant George F. Perpente, Lieutenant Francis N. King and Lieutenant William Thistlewaite of the 353rd Fighter Group with a P-47 Thunderbolt before a mission, 28 November 1943. Not To Be Published 28 Nov 1943, Passed for publication Dec 4 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Fighters Now Carry Bombs. Photo Shows:- U.S. fighter pilots discuss their first fighter bomber raid while waiting for their Thunderbolts to be bombed up in readiness for further attacks on the enemy. Left to right: Lieut. George F. Perpente, of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Lieut. Francis N. King, of St. Petersburg, Florida, and Lieut. William Thistlewaite of Richmond, Indiana. G. November 1943. PN.' On reverse: Not To Be Published , Ministry of Information, Planet News, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
Group
The 353rd Fighter Group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 7 June 1943. The group flew P-47 Thunderbolts, and from October 1944, P-51 Mustangs, as escorts for bombing missions across occupied Europe and to strafe targets on the ground. Tactical...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot
DFC w/ Oak Leaf Cluster/ AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
2
Military | Lieutenant | Pilot
On return from escorting B17s, ran out of gas and made a forced landing near Oxfordness, Suffolk on Sept. 27, 1943
Military | First Lieutenant
Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot
Crashed into North Sea on 12 May 44 in P-51 42-76352 He had been seconded to the 365th FG/9th AF for a 7 day dive bombing mission according to Capt. Cornell who was the last to see him. He bailed out of his failing plane and got in his dinghy. It took...
