85th Fighter Squadron || 86th Fighter Squadron || 87th Fighter Squadron

New Arrivals in 'The Blue'

Short-tailed P-40Fs... 41-14287 & 41-1424?. Work is underway to prepare them for group
acceptance in North Africa, probably late 1942 or early 1943. The ship in the second shot
is interesting in that it appears to be finished in OD/Gray, something of a rarity in the MTO.


From: 'AIR COMBAT 1939-1945 Vol.2 No.5' - Larger Image


From: 'AIR COMBAT 1939-1945 Vol.2 No.5' - Larger Image

The Boss

Colonel Earl E. Bates is shown with his personal mount, 'LI'L JOE III' in this
heavily retouched photograph. Bates was the 79th's second commanding officer, serving
from November of 1942 to April of 1944. He replaced Lt.Col. Peter McGoldrick, who was
killed in November of 1942 while gaining combat experience with the 57th Fighter Group.


From: 'The Falcon - Combat History of the 79th Fighter Group United States Army Air Forces 1942-1945'

Old Hands

Here we see more of 'LI'L JOE III'... her code was 'X01'; fitting of the group CO's mount.
The caption from 'The Falcon' for this photo, taken at Palagonia, Sicily, reads:

"On Sicily, in July '43, some of the original pilots relaxed long enough for this shot with Colonel Bates."


From: 'The Falcon - Combat History of the 79th Fighter Group United States Army Air Forces 1942-1945' - Larger Image

Irmgard

One of the most well-known Luftwaffe aircraft captured by the USAAF during the
Second World War is this Messerschmitt 109 claimed by the 79th FG, named 'Irmgard' for
her German crew-chief's gal. She was passed around among the squadrons of the 79th, and
here bears the 87th FS emblem. She ended her days at Wright Field, Ohio, ultimately
being destroyed during load testing, if I recall correctly. A shame, but it was a
purposeful fate. A feature page for 'Irmgard' will be added in the future.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

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