P38 / P51 Photo..need assistance

[blythsco]

Thanks Scherf

Please note that there was a lot of crossover in the 7th PRG from squadron to squadron. My father initially flew F-5s with the 22nd Squadron but wanted to fly Spitfire MK XIs so he moved over to the 14th Squadron which was flying mainly Spits. I haven't posted many photos of the 27th Squadron pilots but that would be another possibility. Check this out if you are interested in photo recce Spits:

www.dav32.com

All the best
Scott Blyth

[mbailey]

Im just floored at the responses, but more so for you guys helping out a complete stranger  

I think its probably safe to say that one of the Mustangs is Charles Batson, everything that has been found   makes complete sence, and all fingers point in that direction. I mean, whats the chance that another pilot named Batson died in a crash after the war ended,and was photographed in such means as this if not attached to a PRG. I think it all points to him.

 After seeing Sherfs example of a F5 photo i would think its safe to say that my photo was taken by a means similar.

Sherf, Im a bit confused by your question in misreading it.     I copied what was written on the front and rear of the photo word for word. My thoughts are, the Davidson in the photo was shot down, then whats to say that yes he was a POW (like your info states, but doesnt say it on the picture) , but then when released "returned to his base"( like it states on the back of the picture) Just my thoughts, and i think your absolutly correct in thinking its the Lt. Davidson you found. Again for the simple reason that alot these pieces fit. Attached to a PRG, and flying with someone that we can (probably confirm) is Batson, that died in a crash after the war (like it states on the pic) coupled with the type of photo ( taken from the nose of an F5 ). These PRGs listed all flew out of the same field also...Mount Farm, so interaction between them is almost guarenteed. I think that we can throw coincedence out the window........if the glove fits so to say. I think your dead on!! ( If this was Mythbusters id throw out the CONFIRMED sign.)

Scott, thank you for looking in to this, and posting all that info. Your Flickr acct is awesome!!  Theres no denying that this is a passion of yours. Id be glad to send you the photo if you would like to see it in R/L. (that goes for all you gents that answered) Like i said in my original post, its crystal clear (for its age that is ) and the markings on the planes are somewhat visible.  If any of you gents want me to send it to you, PM me your address. ( ask Guppy, ive burdened him with some,and plan on burdening him with some more if he want to see them LOL )

ABDCWOT, ill be working on getting these scanned and uploaded when i get some time, Im glad to share these with everyone. They look good where i keep them, but need to be enjoyed by everyone. Its just alot to do.
Any ideas on how I should do it? Maybe a Photobucket account with different albums?


To everyone that answered,Guppy,Soulyss,Fencer,smoe,Sherf,Scott and everyone else, words cant express my gratitude in your help in finding out more about this photo. Now to figure out how to find a living relative of one of these gents, it belongs to them more than me.

So......its time for an opinion poll, Is this them?


 

[Scherf]

Hiya,

My question was simply whether you know for sure that the F-5 pilot's name was "Wischoff", or whether that was hearsay, possible mis-spelling, or some such.

[mbailey]

Hiya,

My question was simply whether you know for sure that the F-5 pilot's name was "Wischoff", or whether that was hearsay, possible mis-spelling, or some such.

Ohh  rgr, sry it was a long day today. Very well may be a misspelling. Im working on that now. The person i bought it from is a friend and  avid collector of photos himself, and he is working on that end of it for me

[blythsco]

Lt David T Davidson of the 13th Squadron, 7th PRG was flying escort for a Lt Vanderpool on April 16, 1945. He was flying P-51K 44-11569 and called up Vanderpool to report that he was having engine trouble. He lost a lot of altitude and nothing more was heard from him. The mission was dangerously close to Munich where Galland's JV44 Experten were busy intercepting allied aircraft with ME 262s and their little known R4M rockets. He became a POW for a brief period and then returned to base. I don't know if he is still with us but that is definitely not beyond the realm of possibility. Capt Charles "Chick" Batson collided with Lt Robert J Howard on June 6, 1945 near Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK. Both were flying F-5s and were reported as KLOD. Batson was the operations officer of the 13th Squadron. Batson flew a number of escort missions in P-51s later in the war. The only remaining mystery seems to be the F-5 (P-38) pilot. As for the photo itself if it is a square roughly 8 x 8 inch print then it is very likely that it was taken from an F-5. The Spitfire MK XIs on the other hand produced a rectangular print roughly 7 x 8 inches.

Cheers
Scott Blyth