Boyd Newman Adkins Jr
Military
Photo courtesy of Marvin Boussu. Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association. Posted by Janet Fogg, Author.
359th Fighter Group collection
359th Fighter Group Association
Object Number - UPL 38346 - Earning two aerial victories, Lt. Boyd N. Adkins Jr. of Stiltner, WV, flew with the 368th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, from September 1944...
Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF, and earning two aerial victories, Lt. Boyd N. Adkins Jr. of Stiltner, WV, flew 69 combat missions with the 368th FS, 359th FG, from September 1944 through April 1945. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).
1 January 1945 mission: "On January 1st we furnished ramrod support for the 1st Force, 1st Air Division, Capt. Ralph L. Brown leading. The target was Magdeburg. Rendezvous was made by “A” Group at 1145 in vicinity of Ratzburg, but we lost the bombers at 1150 when an Me 109 attacked Lt. Billy D. Kasper. In the dog fight that followed Lt. Kasper destroyed this enemy aircraft. We followed the bomber course but were unable to pick up our assigned bombers. “B” Group made R/V with assigned bombers at 1115, East of Meldorf, but immediately lost them when the formation was attacked by two Me 262s and six+ Me 109s. Another Me 262 made a shallow diving attack at “A” group at 1200, in vicinity of Hamburg. All our ships landed safely. Capt. J.B. Hunter’s flight landed on continent at Laon/Couvron airdrome, but returned to home base same day, at which time we learned that Lt. Leonard D. Carter and F/O Boyd N. Adkins Jr. got into a “dog fight" with a FW 190 in vicinity of Havelberg, Germany at 1155. Lt. Carter attacked the enemy aircraft and observed several strikes on him, his canopy clouded up, and F/O Adkins came in and knocked the enemy aircraft down." ~ Excerpt from the 368th Fighter Squadron report dated 31 January 1945.
On 3 April 1945 Adkins was part of a friendly fire incident where yellow flight engaged and fired upon P-51s of the 3rd Scouting Force, after mistaking them for enemy aircraft.
Awards: AM (8OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x1/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=Ep4NzugZ)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter

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

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-808244
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
Places
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x1/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=Ep4NzugZ)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Logan County, WV, USA | 8 July 1921 | Son of Boyd Newman and Bessie [Clark] Adkins. |
Enlisted |
Charleston, WV, USA | 17 August 1942 | Charleston, West Virginia |
Other Assigned |
Wretham, Thetford, Norfolk IP24, UK | 9 August 1944 - 24 April 1945 | Assigned to 361FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Promotion |
Wretham, Thetford, Norfolk IP24, UK | 26 January 1945 | Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. |
Other Promotion |
Wretham, Thetford, Norfolk IP24, UK | 29 March 1945 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 24 April 1945 | Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). |
Died |
Huntington, WV, USA | 3 November 2011 | |
Buried |
Docks Creek Cemetery and Mausoleum Kenova Wayne County WV | 6 November 2011 | Docks Creek Cemetery and Mausoleum Kenova Wayne County West Virginia, USA. |
Stiltner, WV 25512, USA |
Revisions
Information and friendly fire narrative report provided by Pyker
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Unit History, Jigger, Tinplate & Redcross, The 359th Fighter Group in World War Two