FRE 2773

IMAGE
Bill Davis and a pilot of the 78th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bill Davis on right.'
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Bill Davis and another pilot of the 78th Fighter Group, stand in the snow beside a P-51K Mustang, serial number 44-11625, coded HL-M of 83rd Fighter Squadron, in the winter of 1944-1945. This Mustang was assigned to Capt. Foy E Higginbottom, from receipt at Duxford until he completed his final mission in it on 11th April 1945. It was subsequently reassigned to Lt. Watson R Gabriel and finally salvaged on 21st September 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bill Davis on right.'

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units

People

Foy Higginbottom, Bill Davis and John Kirk of the 78th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Photo B. Flying Leg 2003, Twilight Tear. Left to right: Foy Higginbottom, Bill Davis, John Kirk.'

Hubert Davis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-806630
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Bill Davis and a pilot of the 78th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bill Davis on right.'

Watson R Gabriel

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-824615
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Left to right: Captain Foy E. Higginbottom, Lieutenant Hubert "Bill" Davis and Lieutenant John A. Kirk, all pilots of the 83rd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, drink Coca-Cola outside a Nissen hut at Duxford air base. 1943-1945.

Foy Edward Higginbottom

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 83rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-697200
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

Bill Davis and a pilot of the 78th Fighter Group with a P-51 Mustang. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bill Davis on right.'

44-11625

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 83rd Fighter Squadron

Locations

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'

Duxford

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Revisions

Date:
ContributorLucy May
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

Additional detail added to caption.

Date:
ContributorPyker
ChangesChanges to caption, unit associations and person associations
Sources

Updated caption to identify P-51 and made additional connections. Now required to add a/c serial to database and update Gabriel's entry to show transfer from 78th to 357th FG.

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection