media-377506.jpg FRE 262 Lieutenant Peter Pompetti points out his latest "kill" to go onto the bulletin board of the 84th Fighter Squadron to Captain Harold E. Stump. Both are pilots with the 84th Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group, based at Duxford air base. October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'A visit to an American Fighter Station. This is a pictorial series depicting the various aspects of life of one of the oldest American fighter groups over in England - operationally speaking. The boys are seen lounging around between missions - they play cards, read and just plain "shoot the bull". But, when they fly against the Germans, you can see they'll come out way on top. - They have maintained about a four to one ratio of "kills" against their own losses. Photo shows: Young, 22-year-old, 2nd. Lt, Pete POMPETTI, of Philadelphia, Pa., points to the swastika painted on his squadron bulletin board signifying the destruction of a German plane. He's got four on the board now and needs one more to become an "ace" over here in the European Theater of Operations. Watching is Capt. Harold E. STUMP, another 22-year-old flier from Cody, Wyoming. Capt. Stump and Lt. Pompetti both destroyed Huns on their last big dog-fight on the 27th of September. That was the day their group got ten Jerries and lost not one single plane or pilot. U.S. Pool/SG/H. Keystone 9. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection