FRE 10014

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Commanding officers of Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force, 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORMAL PORTRAIT: They are, left to right, front row: Hub Zemke, 479th Grp, Roy Caviness, 361st Grp, Dave Schilling, 56th Grp, Everett Stewart, 355th Grp, Ben Rimerman, 353rd Grp, John Henry, 339th Grp, Tod Crowell, 55th Grp. REAR: James Mayden, 352nd Grp, WH Swanson, Unk, Joe McManus, 364th Grp, Claiborne Kinnard, 4th Grp, Philip Tukey, 356th Grp. Fred Gray, 78th Grp, Don Graham, 357th Grp. Date is unknown but it has to be from late August 1944 no later than 30 oct when Hub [Zemke] became a POW. On 12 Aug, Hub went to 479th and Dave Schilling took over 56th. Don Graham gave up 357th on 10 Oct, so it has to be before that. Missing are COs from 20th (Col Harold Rau, and 359th, Colonels Jacon or Randolph.) Now, one would guess that they were not available and maybe their deputy comdr sat in for them, whic would mean Swanson or Crowell. However, neither man is on the 30th Grp rosters (I have complete one) and I cannot find either name anywhere in the records. So that will remains a mystery for now. I have not used any ranks, but all would be Lt Col or Colonel. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do trying to solve these 50 plus year old mysteries!! PS Forgot to mention, I do not know location. I have a note that it might have been Bottisham, but I don't know where I got that.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bushey Hall Library.'

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Units

People

Lieutenant Colonel Roy Caviness, of the 376th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group in the cockpit of his P-51D Mustang. Handwritten caption on reverse: '13/3/44. Roy Caviness.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Caption attached to reverse: Photo ref.no. 311282. "Pilots of P-47s in the ETO. Associated Press photo shows: Maj. Roy B. Caviness, Oil City, La, has shared in bringing down a FW.190 and has damaged three locos."
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (78th Fighter Group) Headquarters (361st Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: 14014820 / O-413041
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot - Group Commanding Officer
Pilots of the 55th Fighter Group meet the Mayor of Colchester, 1944 - 1945. Left to right they are: Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti; Colonel George T. Crowell; Mr. Arthur W. Piper, Mayor of Colchester; unknown; Colonel Joe Huddleston.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group Headquarters (55th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-398631
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Colonel Donald W. Graham, commanding officer of the 357th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang (B6-W) 16 August 1944. Passed for publication 16 Aug 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S. Shuttle Boys. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Mustang group leader on the shuttle trip to Russia, Col. Donald W. Graham of Oakland, Calif. The Colonel celebrated his 27th birthday on the eve of the take-off. GLE 270716. 16-8-44-EM.' On reverse: Associated Press and SHAEF Field Press Censor [Stamps].
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-25247
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Group Commander
Commanding officers of Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force, 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORMAL PORTRAIT: They are, left to right, front row: Hub Zemke, 479th Grp, Roy Caviness, 361st Grp, Dave Schilling, 56th Grp, Everett Stewart, 355th Grp, Ben Rimermann, 353rd Grp, John Henry, 339th Grp, GT Crowell, Unk. REAR: James Maydon, 352nd Grp, WH Swanson, Unk, Joe McManus, 364th Grp, Calirborn Kinnard, 4th Grp, Philip Tukey, 356th Grp. Fred Gray, 78th Grp, Don Graham, 357th Grp. Date is unknown but it has
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (78th Fighter Group) Headquarters (66th Fighter Wing)
  • Service Numbers: O-22327
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer
Colonel John B. Henry, of the 339th Fighter Group, stands beside P-51 Mustang (6N-A, serial number 42-106676), known as "San Antone Rose" after Henry's home town of San Antonio, Texas. He is probably at Fowlmere air base, near Duxford, where the 339th Fighter Group were based between 5 April 1944 and 10 October 1945.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 45th Combat Bomb Wing 339th Fighter Group Headquarters (339th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-24107
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Locations

Revisions

Date:
ContributorLucy May
ChangesChanges to caption, person associations and place associations
Sources

Associated airmen from information in the image caption.

Date:
Contributorshabbyabbey
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

55th FG Records

Date:
Contributorshabbyabbey
ChangesChanges to unit associations
Sources

55th FG Records

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection