Anthony Henry Goebel

Military
media-28560.jpeg UPL 28560 Miss Genny Cloud P-51D Mustang HO 414-819 G

Scanned photo.

Object Number - UPL 28560 - Miss Genny Cloud P-51D Mustang HO 414-819 G

With the World at War, Anthony H. Goebel (age 24) felt compelled to enlist in military service and reluctantly left his young, wartime bride to join the US Army Air Corps in 1942. After qualifying to become a pilot, Flight Cadet Goebel completed two years in Officer Candidate School/Flight training where he competed with the 'best of the best' and graduated (from Jackson Mississippi) to earn the highest possible (and most coveted) assignment – single-engine fighter combat.

Tony was then assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron ("Meyer's Maulers") of the 352nd Fighter Group (which Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering contemptuously called those “Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney”) within the 8th Air Force of the United States Army Air Corps.

He was immediately deployed overseas, steaming across the 'pond' (Atlantic Ocean) on the RMS Queen Mary (converted to a troopship), Anthony was first based at the airfield in Bodney England where he became good friends with William "Bill" T. Whisner Jr. and shared private Officers' Quarters re-purposed from an unused storage room.

He flew 36 combat missions in his North American P-51D Mustang: "Miss GENNY CLOUD" - named after his first wife Miss Genevieve Cloud. Having survived many deadly engagements with enemy aircraft in large dogfights (often called "fur balls"), the sum of his partial kills (credit shared with other pilots) totaled: two and a half Me 109's (Messerschmitt Bf 109) and one Me 262 (German jet).

Lt. A. H. Goebel flew numerous escort missions protecting bombers that attacked enemy factories, V-weapon sites, submarine pens, and other strategic locations on the Continent.

He also flew counter-air patrols, and on many occasions strafed and dive-bombed airfields, locomotives, vehicles, troops, gun positions, and various other targets.

After the Germans launched a counteroffensive in the Ardennes in Dec 1944, the group's planes and pilots were sent to Asch Belgium and placed under the control of the Ninth AF for operations in the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945).

During this time, while “Miss GENNY CLOUD” was under repair, military records document that Tony scored (2) 1/2 kills of Me 109’s while flying Bill Whisner's "Moonbeam McSwine" 44-14237 on December 27th, 1944.

The superior capabilities of the P-51D (in both range and performance in aerial combat) decimated the German offensive. In desperation, Germany launched Operation Bodenplatte (Baseplate) on 1 January 1945, as an attempt by the Luftwaffe to cripple Allied air forces. The goal of Bodenplatte was to gain air superiority during the stagnant stage of the Battle of the Bulge so that the German Army and Waffen-SS forces could resume their advance.

During that battle, action by the detachment earned for the group the Croix de Guerre with Palm: just as 12 of the detachment's planes were awaiting permission for take-off on an area patrol, the Aerodrome was attacked by approximately 50 German fighters; in the aerial battle that followed (now referred to as the "Legend of Y-29"), the 352nd shot down almost half the enemy planes without losing any of its own.

AWARDS: Distinguished Unit Citation with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal (3 OLC), Croix de Guerre, EAME Medal (4 Bronze Stars), WWII Victory Medal.

Post war: Anthony received a Presidential Citation and an Honorable Discharge - and finished his military career in the Reserves where he was offered a promotion to Captain upon re-enlisting (which he respectfully declined). After separation, he continued to fly as a private/commercial pilot.

He married his 2nd wife, Marianne, and had 3 children. He joined the Experimental Aircraft Association and flew aerobatic exhibitions of a home-built Benson Gyrocopter for over 10 years performing flight demonstrations at the Cleveland National Air Show, Oshkosh Wisconsin, and the Sun & Fun Fly-in in Florida.

As a master machinist, retired from Westinghouse after 25+ years of service in Cleveland Ohio, he has built/rebuilt a multitude of aircraft over the decades including: Taylor Craft, Stolp V-Star, Kit Fox, Lazair, etc...

Upon retiring to NC (for the warmer climate), Tony trained new pilots as an instructor of the Lazair Ultralight aircraft throughout his early nineties.

Until his death on July 14th, 2018 (at 101 years of age) Anthony remained active in VFW Post 9010 and participated in numerous Veterans' events to Honor his fallen comrades by sharing his personal experience as a P-51D fighter pilot (he was always grateful for his opportunity to serve at the time when it was needed most).

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 352nd Fighter Group 310th Ferry Squadron 487th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (352nd Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: T-190907 / O-886778
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Crew Chief "Miss GENNY CLOUD"
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-441842
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Lieutenant-Colonel John C. "J.C." Meyer, ace pilot of the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, which was stationed at Bodney air base between July 1943 and November 1945.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (352nd Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-396294
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 486th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-826755
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant General
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Moonbeam McSwine
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Miss GENNY CLOUD
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Miss Genny Cloud
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Bodney airfield, looking south east, the barrack sites are in the top centre of the image, 8 June 1945. Photograph taken by No. 542 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/369. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Royal Air Force Bodney
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Chièvres Air Base

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Ambridge, PA 15003, USA 7 July 1917

Enlisted

Baltimore, MD, USA 5 October 1942

Other

E/A destroyed

Germany 27 December 1944 2 Me109's destroyed in Germany. 27-Dec-1944. F/O Anthony H Goebel credited with (2) 1/2 kills, one at 10:55-12:15, and the other at 11:00-11:30 - Both while flying HO-W 44-14237 "Moonbeam McSWINE".

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD)

Bodney, Thetford IP26, UK 8 May 1945 Victory in Europe: May 8th, 1945 Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

Other

Discharged USAAF

25 December 1945 Honourable discharge.
Kernersville, NC 27284, USA 4 September 1980 - 14 July 2018 Moved to Clemmons/Kernersville NC after retirement to enjoy the warmer climate .

Died

Winston-Salem, NC 14 July 2018 Passed away peacefully in his sleep at Kate B. Reynold Hospice Home (Winston-Salem, NC), surrounded by loved ones.

Other

Promotion

England, UK Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

Other

Promotion

Bodney, Thetford IP26, UK Promoted to Flight Officer.
Pennsylvania, USA

Other

Promotion

Camp Kilmer, NJ, USA Promoted to Captain (contingent upon re-enlisting) and later divorced his 1st wife "Genny" due to her infidelity during their wartime separation.

Other

Graduated flight school

Graduated/Awarded wings.

Based

Bodney Assigned to 487FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Based Bodney, Asch and latter Chievres Begium.
Cleveland, OH, USA 3 September 1980 Met, and married, his wife Marianne in Cleveland Ohio where they raised 3 children.

Revisions

Date17 Mar 2022 17:13:08
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Re-arranged paragraphs.

Date14 Mar 2022 03:35:19
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Total kills updated to 3 1/2.

Date9 Mar 2021 19:35:31
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Date21 May 2019 12:48:51
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Updated 5/21/2019

Date22 Aug 2018 02:32:29
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Correction.

Date21 Jul 2018 16:53:31
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Clarification

Date21 Jul 2018 16:47:33
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Captain promotion was awarded to encourage re-enlistment - which he declined.

Date15 Jul 2018 11:13:32
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A.J. Goebel

Date14 Jul 2018 15:20:12
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July 14th, 2018

Date14 Jul 2018 15:15:39
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Updated June 14th, 2018

Date4 Jul 2018 06:04:02
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Re-worded.

Date4 Jul 2018 06:00:59
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Date4 Jul 2018 05:00:24
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Correction

Date3 Jul 2018 20:12:31
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Correction allowing for the possibility that "MISS Genny Cloud" and "Miss GENNY CLOUD" are the same aircraft after extensive repairs and a repaint.

Thank you, Lucy May

Date28 Jun 2018 09:47:57
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Punctuation

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Date28 Jun 2018 03:19:49
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Added Education.

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UN-Abbreviated

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Date26 Jun 2018 10:55:14
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Clarification.

Date26 Jun 2018 10:48:58
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Word choice.

Date26 Jun 2018 10:45:53
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Word choice.

Date26 Jun 2018 10:39:36
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Revision of Media Associations

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Jun 17, 2018

Date18 Jun 2018 02:24:57
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Added detail.

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June 17, 2018

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Grammer

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Abbreviation

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Typo

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Grammer

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June 17, 2018

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June 17, 2018

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June 17, 2018

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Correction

Date17 Jun 2018 04:03:33
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Embellishment

Date17 Jun 2018 03:58:32
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June 16, 2018

Date17 Jun 2018 03:56:35
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Correction

Date17 Jun 2018 03:50:12
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June 16, 2018

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Updated June 16th, 2018

Date17 Jun 2018 02:46:05
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Correction

Date17 Jun 2018 02:43:59
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June 16, 2018

Date17 Jun 2018 02:42:26
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Grammer

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June 16, 2018

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June 16, 2018

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June 16, 2018

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Gramer Correction

Date16 Jun 2018 13:06:54
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Date16 Jun 2018 11:47:56
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June 15th, 2018

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June 15th, 2018

Date15 Jun 2018 06:00:24
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Update June 15, 2018.

Date7 May 2018 04:19:23
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A.H. Goebel was promoted to Captain at the end of his combat assignment in Europe.

Date19 Jun 2017 19:24:53
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Corrected

Date19 Jun 2017 18:50:29
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Submitted by Son.

Date19 Jun 2017 18:32:43
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Submitted by son.

Date19 Jun 2017 18:11:51
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Son

Date12 Jun 2017 14:38:14
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Date12 Jun 2017 03:15:13
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Son

Date12 Jun 2017 03:10:46
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Son

Date12 Jun 2017 03:07:01
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Scanned photos.

Date12 Jun 2017 03:02:57
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Scanned photo.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:03:49
ContributorAAM
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Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Anthony Henry Goebel: Gallery (27 items)