(Under construction)

Dale E Karger, from McKee’s Rocks, Pennsylvania was in one of the first groups of fighter pilots to be trained without the requirement of a college education. He took an series of tests in early 1943 and was one of the 300 applicants selected. After flight training in (to be edited later ) he was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lt. and arrived in England in August 1943. He was assigned to the 357th Fighter Group, 364th FS ( the Yoxford Boys ) at Station #373 at Leiston, Suffolk.

Call sign Greenhouse 48 he flew B and C models until he was awarded his own aircraft P-51 D C5*U, 44-15026 named Cathy Mae (L)/KARGER'S DOLLIE (R) which was lost 1/10/45 with pilot Lt. Fred McCall while strafing Paderborn airdrome.

Then flew P-51D C5*U, 44-42313 CATHY MAE II until the end of the war. Was credited with 7 1/2 air to air victories and 4 ground kills. He shot down an Me-262 on 1/20/45 north of Munich 3 weeks prior to his 20th birthday. This made him the youngest ace of the 357th, youngest surviving American ace of WW2, and 3rd youngest American ace overall.

List of victories

15/05/44 2 Fw190s

12/24/44 1 Me109

01/14/45 1 Me109

01/20/45 1 Me262

03/02/45 ½ Me109 Shared with Capt. Robt. Schimanski

2 Mistels, Fw190 “piggy backed “ on top or He-111s for 4 total ground kills

03/24/45 2 Me109s

AM w/ 9 Oak Leaf Cluster/ DFC/ ETO/ 2 DUC