The first victory of the new year came on January 5, and saw Glenn Duncan blow up a 109 with strikes in its gas tank. Two days later, Lt. Gonnam destroyed three FW 190s (to become the Group’s third ace with 5 enemy aircraft destroyed) as the 353rd flew an outstanding mission which won the Group a Citation from General Kepner.

The mission took off from Metfield at 1107 hours with Major Rimerman leading 52 P-47s. Four aborted and the remaining 48 rendezvoused with B-24s in the Metz area, above a complete undercast, at 1225 hours, and 24,000 feet. The B-24s proceeded to fly a course of 265 degrees, taking the fighters far to the south of the planned withdrawal course and putting their fuel supplies in jeopardy.

At 1300, in the vicinity of Orleans, France, Rimerman gave the order for the fighters to return to base. Perhaps in deadly anticipation, shortly after the Slybird Fighters had to leave the bombers, 12 FW 190s and four Me 109s attacked the Liberators head on.  

Hearing the calls for help, yet fully conscious that their fuel supply was nearly depleted and the danger of forced landings in enemy territory was imminent due to fuel exhaustion, Major Rimerman and the entire Group, nevertheless returned to the aid of the bombers and engaged and dispersed the enemy.   At 1310 hours, Rimerman again gave the order to withdraw and the P-47s headed for home.

Twenty-seven landed at Metfield at 1444 hours, 6 came down at West Hampstead, 5 at Manston, 2 at Harrowbeer, 2 at Hawkinge, 1 each at Bungay, Martlesham Heath, Coolham, Bradell Bay and Hurn, and 1 crash landed at East Church. The destruction of the three enemy aircraft is well described in 1st Lt. Jesse W. Gonnam’s encounter report:

“I was leading Wakeford Red Flight (352nd FS) with Lt. Willits as my Number 2. When the Group left the bombers, Wake- ford White 3 called in 15 bogies starting to attack the second box of bombers. We turned to attack them but were too far away. The E/A made a head on attack and knocked down one of the bombers, which had already shot down one E/A. A big fight had already started below and ahead of my flight, and I noticed two 190s make a right turn and head south. They tried to out climb us but we out zoomed them, and I opened fire at about 375 yards. Hits were seen on both wings close to the fuselage and in the fuselage itself. Pieces from the tail flew off and the elevator came loose. This E/A spun down and crashed in a woods, causing a large fire and smoke. I closed on the second E/A and fired about two bursts. Strikes were seen in the left side of the engine and wing roots. This E/A rolled over and went straight down, burning and leaving a smoke trail. He crashed in the same wooded area about 3 miles from the first E/A.

“I made a left hand turn and an FW 190 crossed in front of me.  I turned inside him and fired, seeing strikes in the engine area. He straightened out and I closed, still firing.   Lt. Willits passed in front of the 190 almost head on, and the 190 did a half snap turn and turned to fire. I did a climbing stall turn and dropped in behind him, firing again. He went down, and I fired one more burst and saw my tracers behind him. I increased deflection and fired a short burst. The E/A did a slow half roll to the right and crashed near a small town. He crashed in a field, hitting it at about a 45” angle, and then slid into a wooded area where he burned. I recovered at about 6,000 feet and then called Lt. Willits and asked if he had seen the E/A crash, which he had.

“Climbing up we watched a bomber going down and counted eight chutes from it. The bomber crashed in an open field and burned. We then climbed to 23,000 feet and came home.”

It was exactly two weeks later when the Group registered its next claims. The mission for January 21st was area support for heavy bombers in the Pas de Calais area. North of St. Quentin, Wakeford White Flight came across four Me 109s and dove to the attack. Major Beckham got the first one, with its pilot bailing out, and then exploded a second 109, bringing his total claims to 13 destroyed. A third 109 was shot down by 1st Lt. William T. Thistlethwaite.

A few minutes later, near Albert, Lt. Col. Duncan saw two enemy aircraft and chased them into a cloud layer at 5,000 feet. Coming out below the clouds, he could not find them but did see an airfield with a silver Do 217 bomber on it. He pulled a quick bead on the 217 and scored many hits with 400 rounds.

Behind him, Lts. Johnson and Sperry also fired, and the three were credited with the destruction of this plane - the first enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground by the 353rd Fighter Group.

On January 24, 55 P-47s of the Group carried out an area support mission into Germany although the bombers were recalled due to weather. There was no contact with enemy aircraft until the mission was on its way home. What happened then dispelled the idea of the P-47’s low altitude inferiority as well as breaking the ban on low level attacks against ground targets in occupied countries. In so doing it foreshadowed developments which were very soon to come to pass.

Lt. Colonel Duncan

Near Tirlemont, Lt. Col. Duncan spotted five Me 110s with radar equipment (four black and one white) and led Pipeful White and Blue Flights (350th) in an attack at 5,000 feet. All five were destroyed in a swift paced fight with Duncan getting two (his 7th and 8th victories) and going after a third before his ammunition ran out. That third was a white 110 and was destroyed by Capt. Dewey Newhart. Duncan headed for home with Newhart and Lt. Zolner flying on either side of him, and then, in his own words:

“ I saw that we were southeast of Brussels. About this time we came on (Tirlemontl Gossoncourt Airfield) where we saw an E/A landing. Gosh, what I wouldn’t have given for a bit of ammunition and another tank of gas. Capt. Newhart, seeing an Me 109 landing, went down and shot him up taxing on the ground). I will confirm a destroyed for him. It was nice shooting.

"At the same time that Capt. Newhart went down,  I saw three FW 190s circling to the west of the drome at about 2,000 feet. As Lt. Zolner and I turned, I called Zolner and Newhart to come on and we should be getting out.   I watched in the mirror for possible pursuit by the FW’s and finally saw one chasing Newhart. I called for full throttle and a dive to the deck. The FW was firing explosive ammunition, but he was out of range and they were bursting about 300 yards to the rear of Newhart.   It is interesting to note that we three were pulling ‘balls out’ and indicating about 350 mph and easily out distanced the FW.   As soon as I thought that we had lost him completely I called for Zolner and Newhart to pull down to 2000 revs and 35 inches of mercury. We went along this way for about five minutes and were just beginning to pass over a town when the FW caught up with us and began shooting at me this time.   I took immediate violent evasive action. Lt. Zolner, being on my left at this time, turned right, into the FW and shot. The FW turned to the left, and Zolner came out on his tail.  Lt. Zolner managed to damage the FW then came on with Newhart and me. By this time the gas problem was really getting touchy. All that combat and chasing was no help in the conservation of gas.

“We were now pulling 30 inches of mercury and 1400 RPM and were below the trees. In fact, Lt. Zolner took the side branches of one tree without much damage to the ship. We knew that this low flying was a breach of flying regulations, and also we were tied down by orders not to shoot at anything in occupied territory, even flak towers. So this was our only hope against the flak that was kicking up dust all around us. We went across the center of Brussels, Ghent and Ostend as turning away from our course to go around the towns meant using more gas.”

"Blick"

From Wayne Blickenstaff’s diary of 24 January, he makes note of the mission from his vantage point::

“Trip was uneventful until we had withdrawn about half the distance to the coast, when Duncan went screaming down on a flight of 110s. I was flying his second element and fired at one of the boys but couldn’t hit him - too much deflection. I picked up Price and Chetwood somewhere along the way, and we came out at 10,000 feet. Claims: Duncan - two 110s Dewey - 110 and 109, Li’l Joe Furness - 110, Dinse and Stearns shared a 110, and - I fired my guns!”

The final mission and victories for January came on the 30th. The Group gave withdrawal support to the First Task Force of B-17s coming out from Bremen. Major Beckam shot down an Me 109 for his 14th victory, Lt. Tanner hit and then knocked the left wing off of an FW 190, and Lts. Newman and Jordan shared in the destruction of a Ju 88. Two Me 110s were probably destroyed and another Ju 88 was damaged.

Ch 11

Ch 13