Dale E Karger

Military
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 Karger's plane.' media-400924.jpg 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 Karger's plane.' Roger Freeman Collection

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

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 364th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-701176
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2059363
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Captain C.E. Weaver, of the 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang, 1945. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'P-51D Mustang, 357th Fgt. Gt., 362nd Fgt. Sqdn., Code G4, Pilot - Capt. C.E. Weaver. Munich, 1945.' On reverse: George J. Letzter [Stamp].
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 362nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-824593
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
First Lieutenant Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager of the 357th Fighter Group, with his P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Glamorous Glenn", 17 October 1944. Photo ref. no. 366010. Passed for publication 17 Oct 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Became Ace In One Day. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Stepping into his P-51 Mustang is 1st Lt. Charles E. Yeager, Hamlin, West Virginia, who recently destroyed five German planes in one dog-fight over Hanover... and brought his total to seven destroyed. He shot down the 400th plane
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-887005 / T-970 / 16076A
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot

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Event Location Date Description

Born

Templeton, Pennsylvania 14 February 1925

Enlisted

Enlisted

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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / self

Dale E Karger: Gallery (2 items)