Dale E Karger
Military
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
Object Number - FRE 3132 - A crew chief of the 357th Fighter Group with a P-51 nicknamed "Cathy Mae II" flown by Dale E. Karger. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew Chief of...
(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
Connections
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Units served with

- 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: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-740324
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-730324
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13154912 as Cadet / T-62595 as Flight Officer, O-2015206 when commissioned.
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18071288 / O-742962
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot ; Squadron Commander

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-403857
- Highest Rank: Brigadier General
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Theberton/Saxmundham
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Templeton, Pennsylvania | 14 February 1925 | |
Enlisted |
|||
Enlisted |
Revisions
son's verification
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / self