61st Fighter Squadron

Squadron
The insignia of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Designed by Walt Disney, based on the Squadron's bull dog mascot 'Buddy'.

Object Number - FRE 5240 - The insignia of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Designed by Walt Disney, based on the Squadron's bull dog mascot 'Buddy'.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Boxted

People

Andrew J Allen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Role/Job: Enlisted Man

Albert A Asplint

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Role/Job: Enlisted Man

Bruce Theron Benton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11103885 / O-823004
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Albert Biales

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 27th Air Transport Group 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 310th Ferry Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15071213 / O-661268
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Burton Olsen Blodgett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16114254 / O-823007
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Aircraft

41-6235

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Half Pint
  • Unit: 36th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron

41-6267

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron

41-6322

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Little Butch
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron

41-6620

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Powers Girl
  • Unit: 6th Fighter Wing 495th Fighter Training Group 56th Fighter Group 552nd Fighter Training Squadron 61st Fighter Squadron 1st Gunnery & Tow Target Flight

42-22456

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Liberty Belle
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date12 Nov 2015 20:08:19
ContributorL'il Poison
Sources

Tanya Kelley, daughter Solon Chester Kelley III

Date12 Nov 2015 20:06:21
ContributorL'il Poison
Sources

Tanya Kelley, daughter Solon C. Kelley III

Date9 Apr 2015 21:55:32
ContributorEMBLEMHUNTER
Sources

my photo

Date13 Mar 2015 16:42:30
Contributorrossingtonj
Sources

Type added.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:42:50
ContributorAAM
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

61st Fighter Squadron: Gallery (157 items)

A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-P, serial number 42-23278) of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group after the end of the war. Handwritten on slide casing: 'P-47, 56th F.G.'

Object number: FRE 10757 - Restored P-47 Thunderbolt serial number 42-23278...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418) of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group after the end of the war. Handwritten on slide casing: '56th F.G.'

Object number: FRE 10758 - A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418)...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418) of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group after the end of the war. Handwritten on slide casing: '56th F.G.'

Object number: FRE 10759 - Restored P-47 Thunderbolt, FAA registered N444SU...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418) of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group after the end of the war. Handwritten on slide casing: '56th F.G.'

Object number: FRE 10760 - A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418)...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418) of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group after the end of the war. Handwritten on slide casing: '56th F.G.'

Object number: FRE 10761 - A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418)...

A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418) of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group in flight after the end of the war. Handwritten on slide casing: '56th F.G.'

Object number: FRE 10762 - A P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-A, serial number 42-26418)...

Pilots of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group walk as a group towards their P-47 Thunderbolts. Left to right the pilots are: Dick H. Mudge, Leslie C. Smith, Joseph R. Curtis, Kirkby N. Tracy, Joe H. Powers, Major Francis S. Gabreski, Norman E. Brooks, Donald D. Renwick and Loren G. McCollom. Passed for publication 10 May 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'The "Thunderbolt" in Britain - and the men who fly it. Associated Press photo shows: Fighter pilots who are now flying "Thunderbolts" n

Object number: FRE 171 - Pilots of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter...

Ground crew members of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, stand beside their P-47 Thunderbolt, named "Buckets of Bolts", at Boxted air base, 1944.

Object number: FRE 172 - Ground crew members of the 61st Fighter Squadron...

P-47 Thunderbolt pilot Lieutenant Frank W. Klibbe of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, stands beside his P-47 named "Little Chief". 'G. J. Letzter' stamped on reverse of print.

Object number: FRE 175 - P-47 Thunderbolt pilot Lieutenant Frank W. Klibbe...

Ground crew of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, at work on P-47 Thunderbolt (HV-D) named "In The Mood".

Object number: FRE 179 - Ground crew of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th...

Lieutenant Victor F. Bast of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, talks to ground crew beside a P-47 Thunderbolt with UN markings of the 63rd Fighter Squadron.

Object number: FRE 185 - 1st Lieutenant Victor E Bast of the 61st Fighter...

Major Gerald W. "Gerry" Johnson and ground crew of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, stand beside P-47 Thunderbolt, named "In The Mood", which was also painted with "Jackson County Michigan Fighter", 1943-1944.

Object number: FRE 188 - Major Gerald W. "Gerry" Johnson and ground crew of...