42-8694 | American Air Museum

42-8694 Little Texan

media-22631.jpeg UPL 22631 P-47D 42-8694 OC-R “Little Texan”. The name “Little Texan” was used by Capt James B Smith who hailed from San Antonio, TX. It seems that this P-47 was reassigned to Lt. Alphonse following the loss and evasion of Capt. Smith on 8 June in 42-76168, but it is uncertain if the proposed new name “Gwen” or “Gwendolyn” was applied before Lt Alphonse was himself lost on 14 August.

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Object Number - UPL 22631 - P-47D 42-8694 OC-R “Little Texan”. The name “Little Texan” was used by Capt James B Smith who hailed from San Antonio, TX. It seems that this...

Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Capt James B Smith. Re-assigned to Lt Louis G Alphonse. Failed to Return (FTR) target support mission to Arras, France. Straggling behind the formation, A/C was shot down by Bf109 which bounced him from out of the sun. Pilot Lt Robert B Conroy abandoned A/C POW. 14-Jan-44. MACR 1967.

Connections

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Units served with

356th Fighter Group

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

359th Fighter Squadron

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

People

Louis Gordon Alphonse

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 356th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: O-737694
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Robert B Conroy

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 356th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: 13054776 / O-796661
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

James B Smith

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 356th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Squadron
Service Numbers: O-524194
Highest Rank: Captain
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot

Places

Martlesham Heath

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR)	Arras, France	14 January 1944	Failed to Return (FTR) target support mission to Arras, France. Straggling behind the formation, A/C was shot down by Bf109 which bounced him from out of the sun. Pilot Lt Robert B Conroy abandoned A/C POW. 14-Jan-44. MACR 1967.
Manufactured	Farmingdale, NY 11735, USA		Built at Republic.
Delivered	New York, NY, USA		Delivered to USAAF
Assigned	Martlesham Heath, Martlesham, Ipswich, UK		Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF.