David C Schilling

Military
Lieutenant-Colonel David C. Schilling, an ace P-47 Thunderbolt pilot of the 56th Fighter Group, holds an adapted hand gun. Schilling was Commanding Officer of the 56th FG between 12 August 1944 and 27 January 1945. media-377446.jpg FRE 202 Major David C. Schilling, an ace P-47 Thunderbolt pilot of the 56th Fighter Group, holds a heavily modified 1911 pistol. The addition of a forward hand-grip and the fact that three magazines have been welding together, likely providing a 21 round capacity, suggest the pistol was possibly modified for full automatic fire. Schilling was Commanding Officer of the 56th FG between 12 August 1944 and 27 January 1945.

Roger Freeman's writing on reverse of print: 'Dave Schilling with repeater revolver'.
Another print copy has a handwritten caption on the reverse written by ace Hub Zemke:
'Summer 1942. Then Major David C. Schilling CO 62nd Fighter Squadron, Bradley Field Conn., showing off his modification to an Army Colt 45. David was up to some engineering gadget all the time. In this case an extended clip was built for more ammunition capacity. A handle had to be built to hold the weapon as it sprayed ammunition all over the landscape. Many a barrel was burned out.' Roger Freeman Collection

1911 analysis provided by LTC J. Diamond (USA).

Object Number - FRE 202 - Major David C. Schilling, an ace P-47 Thunderbolt pilot of the 56th Fighter Group, holds a heavily modified 1911 pistol. The addition of a forward...

Schilling flew P-47 Thunderbolts and was one of the leading aces of the war. He was Commanding Officer of the 56th Fighter Group between August 1944 and January 1945, taking over from Colonel Hubert A Zemke.



Schilling became an ace in December 1944 when he shot down five German aircraft. He was the 8th highest ranked fighter ace in the European Theater. He helped the 56th Fighter Group become the first Group to destroy more than 1,000 enemy planes.



After the war he was a pioneer of long-distance jet flight, making the first non-stop fighter jet crossing of the Atlantic.



At age 37 he died in a car crash driving his sports car in a narrow lane between RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall (still US Air Force bases in the UK today).



Schilling Air Force Base, in Kansas, is named after him.

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Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Leavenworth, KS, USA 15 December 1918

Died

Eriswell, Brandon, Suffolk IP27, UK 14 August 1956 Died in a car crash travelling between RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall.

Revisions

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Contributordwgdallas
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Sources

From the Personal Collection of Lt. Billy J. Murray

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ContributorEmily
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Selected Key image

Date
ContributorEmily
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Aces and Wingmen II; Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45 / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Date
ContributorEmily
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Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_C._Schilling

Date
ContributorEmily
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Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_C._Schilling

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ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / www.56thfightergroup.co.uk/personnel.htm

David C Schilling: Gallery (43 items)

Colonel Hubert Zemke, Major Wilbur Watson and Lieutenant Colonel David Schilling of the 56th Fighter Group at a dinner party hosted by the Van Eck estate owners at Halesworth. Zemke has handwritten on the reverse: 'Halesworth- Jan 1944. left to Rgt- 1- Zemke Co 56th, 2- Mrs Van Eck- Swedish wife of Andrew Van Eck, 3- Major Wilbur Watson- Ground [illegible] 56th Ftr Group, 4- Andrew Van Eck- Promminent Landowner his estate encompassed the area of Halesworth and Metfield ar bases. 5- Lt Col David C Schillin

Object number: FRE 9924 - Colonel Hubert Zemke, Major Wilbur Watson and...

Colonel Hubert Zemke and Lieutenant Colonel David C Schilling, formerly of the 56th Fighter Group with a T-33 Shooting Star at a celebration after Schillign flew the aircraft across the Atlantic. Zemke has handwritten on reverse: 'Lt to Rt 1950 Summer, Col "Pete" Lucian Dade Opns Officer, 2nd Air Div, Landsberg Germany, Col John "Jack" Crostwaite Wing Co 36th Fighter Fursten Feldbruck, Germany, Lt Col Erwin H Degreny Flying Ex 56th Frt Group, Selfridge AFB, Michigan, Col Hub Zemke CO 56th Fitr Group Furst

Object number: FRE 9926 - Colonel Hubert Zemke and Lieutenant Colonel David...

Colonel Hubert Zemke and Lieutenant Colonel David C Schilling of the 56th Fighter Group with P-47 Thunderbolt. Zemke has hadnwritten on the reverse: '"Two of a Kind" probably saying "Up there is where the action is!" Once firm in their position with a bit of combat under their belts these two made an awesome team. Col Hub Zemke, Aerial victories 17 3/4 Ground victories 11 (with the 479th Fitr Grp also), Lt Col David C Schilling- Aerial victories 23, Ground victories 10 1/2. Schilling succeeded Zemke as gr

Object number: FRE 9983 - Colonel Hubert Zemke and Lieutenant Colonel David...

Lieutenant Colonel David C Schilling, Francis S Gabreski and Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 56th Fighter Group with Captain Fred Christensen after he shot down five aircraft in his P-47 Thunderbolt. Zemke has handwritten on the reverse: 'Seated: 1- Captain Fred Christensen. 2- Lt Col David C Schilling, Flying Executive. 3- Francis S Gabreski- CO 61st Ftr Squadron. 4- Col Hub Zemke, CO 56th Fitr Group. Christensen is seen explaining how he shot down (5) enemy aircraft on the same mission. Caught a string of

Object number: FRE 9985 - Lieutenant Colonel David C Schilling, Francis S...

Lieutenant Colonel David C Schilling of the 56th Fighter Group with his P-47 Thunderbolt. Hubert Zemke has handwritten on the reverse: ' Lt Col David C Schilling the Flying Executive of the 56th Fighter Group who later took command of the 56th Fighter Group after Zemke's departure to the 479th Fighter Group. This dapper, well educated officer became a staunch American fighter leader who continually lived his life to the full. Each and everyday was a new challenge to him. A slow doubtful starter beginning

Object number: FRE 9987 - Lieutenant Colonel David C Schilling of the 56th...

Object number: UPL 18338 - A visiting aircraft on the day of the Group...

Object number: UPL 26717 - This photo comes from my father, Lt. Billy J...