FRE 225

IMAGE
Pilots of the 56th Fighter Group celebrate 800 victories and the second anniversary of their arrival in England at a party on 6 January 1945 at Boxted air base. Left to right the pilots are: Major James R. Carter, Lieutenant-Colonel Donovan F. Smith, Lieutenant Harold E. Comstock, Lieutenant-Colonel David C. Schilling, Major Lucian A. Dade and Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie C. Smith.
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Pilots of the 56th Fighter Group celebrate 800 victories and the second anniversary of their arrival in England at a party on 6 January 1945 at Boxted air base. Left to right the pilots are: Major James R. Carter, Lieutenant-Colonel Donovan F. Smith, Lieutenant Harold E. Comstock, Lieutenant-Colonel David C. Schilling, Major Lucian A. Dade and Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie C. Smith.

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Units

People

James Richard Carter

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-661188
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Harold Elwood Comstock

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19003371 / O-661288
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/Squadron Commander

Lucian A Dade

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-432184
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot/group commander
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.

David C Schilling

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 65th Fighter Wing 56th Fighter Group 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron 62nd Fighter Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (56th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-393204
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot; Commanding Officer; Assistant Director Intelligence
First Lieutenant Donavon Smith, of the 56th Fighter Group. Hubert Zemke has handwritten on the reverse: '4-12. 1st Lt. Donavon Smith. I could write here "They don't make them as young as they use to." On my interview of replacement pilots I stared at Lt. Smith and swore the U.S. Army was recruiting directly from the Boy Scouts. We didn't have to issue him a razor. Nevertheless Donavon went on to tally 6 air victories, go to college and become and Air Force Major-Gen. Deceased 1978. Zemke.'

Donavon Francis Smith

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 61st Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-665628
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer

Locations

Revisions

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection