Olin C Everhart
MilitaryOn April 3rd [1945] Lt. Col. Cranfill again led the [368th] squadron, furnishing support for the 2nd ATF, 1st AD. The target was Kiel. There was 10/10ths overcast over the target area so we were unable to see the bombing results. At 1630 in the vicinity of Flensburg, Capt. George A. Doersch’s flight bounced a flight of two A/C later identified as P-51s with yellow noses and checkerboard red and white tails. As Capt. Doersch bounced these A/C, three E/A, believed to be Me 262s, camouflaged and with German markings, got on his tail. Lt. Olin C. Everhart, who was flying number 4 position, got in a burst at short range on one of these E/A and knocked it down. A silver P-51 was also seen to go into a flat spin at 25,000 feet and tumble to 20,000 feet. All our ships returned safely to base
359th Fighter Group collection
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian.
On his 12th operational flight on 3 April 1945, Everhart was flying as part of Yellow flight. Yellow Flight mistook friendly P-51s of the 3rd Scouting force for enemy aircraft firing upon them.
Everhart shot down the aircraft flown by Lt John Stein which went into a flat spin at 14,000 feet, before losing its right wing and then crashing.
After the mission Everhart claimed he had destroyed an ME 262, but this was not awarded. Everhart flew his 13th Mission the following day, 4 April 1945 but flew no more after that.
Feb. -July 1945
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-062487 / O-2005203
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19097377 / O-675661
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-826698
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Scouting Force 493rd Bomb Group 55th Fighter Group 862nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-755450
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot; Fighter Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Janet
- Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Wenatchee, Washington | ||
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Unit History