Info on P-38J from 367thFG, "Little Buckaroo", flown by Maj. Robert C Rogers

[Drano]

Zemke's Wolfpack. His autobiography. Good read.

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[Vraciu]

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/12675




Colonel Hubert Zemke, Commanding officer of the 479th Fighter Group with his P-51 Mustang. Zemke has handwritten on the reverse: 'Zemke as Co 479 Fitr Group No particular insignia or canopy paint was put on this aircraft. In shot it was aluminium colour. This is the P-51D that did me in by shedding a wing.'


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https://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/11456



Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group on the wing of P-38J-15-LO, s/n 43-28823 coded J2-Z. Aircraft was later transferred to the 428th Fighter Squadron, 474th Fighter Group. This ship was lost to flak just south of Manhay, Belgium on 25 December 1944. The pilot, 1Lt. Bobby R. Rankin, was KIA (MACR 11900).


(I don't think it had J2 on it when flown by Zemke but I'm not where I can access my research files to confirm.)

[oboe]

can't even imagine how difficult it must've been to bail out of an aircraft that had lost a wing.

[Drano]

He took a good hit from the plane getting out.

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[Guppy35]

Bobbie Rankin, on the left of this image from the 428th FS, 474th FG history "The Geyser Gang".  He was a squadron favorite and his loss was hard on the guys who'd been flying with him since May of 44 when he joined the 428th.  Having been a 474th junkie for a long time, including the DGS Scenario where back in the day of large scenarios I had 36 P-38s in the virtual 474th, names like Bobbie Rankin were in my mind as we took the 474th skinned 38s into Germany.  Oh to get back to the days of scenarios like that.  During that scenario I corresponded with the man on the right in the photo, Lloyd Wenzel, and got the images of the P-38L that was skinned for the scenario from him.




From DGS.  My favorite photo as I can remember the conversation we were having as we headed out to rendezvous with the bombers.  Nothing but history.

[Vraciu]

Wow.  That's amazing.

[oboe]

One of the best AH experiences for me was DGS.   We had such a long sortie - bomber escort deep into Germany in P-38s with twin drop tanks.   We used it all and I remember landing at the end of the frame with empty tanks.  A real nail biter.    Was a great, realistic touch to have a mix of Js and Ls in our Group, just like the real thing.   

Think I see "Baby Shoes The Second" in that frame.   

[oboe]

This scheme was never skinned on the old P-38 shape, most likely because of the Swastika issue. I had assumed you were going to do the usual AH thing and replace them all with crosses, even the big one. I have my doubts about whether saying its a broken Swastika is really going to cut it with Hitech as anyone who sees it will still recognise it for what it is. I suggest you ask him if its OK before spending time doing it that way.

Just sent Hitech a message asking about this skin's nose art and whether it's acceptable as is for Aces High.  Thanks for suggesting this Greebo.

[Guppy35]

One of the best AH experiences for me was DGS.   We had such a long sortie - bomber escort deep into Germany in P-38s with twin drop tanks.   We used it all and I remember landing at the end of the frame with empty tanks.  A real nail biter.    Was a great, realistic touch to have a mix of Js and Ls in our Group, just like the real thing.   

Think I see "Baby Shoes The Second" in that frame.

I flew Baby Shoes the entire scenario.  Got a screenshot somewhere of you going upwards after a !09 and me going down after another where we both scored

[oboe]

I remember that one!

We'll have to pull together everything we have on 474th FG P-38s.  I intend to do at least one or two.  But the info I have on squadron spinner colors is contradictory, and I haven't looked at it since the P-38 3D model changed.

I recall we learned "Baby Shoes" had baby shoe nose art on the right side, and I do have a generic image of some baby shoes but don't have a reference photo...

Still playing with Dirty Nellie art also, I hope to make that work.

[Guppy35]

I remember that one!

We'll have to pull together everything we have on 474th FG P-38s.  I intend to do at least one or two.  But the info I have on squadron spinner colors is contradictory, and I haven't looked at it since the P-38 3D model changed.

I recall we learned "Baby Shoes" had baby shoe nose art on the right side, and I do have a generic image of some baby shoes but don't have a reference photo...

Still playing with Dirty Nellie art also, I hope to make that work.

Here are the Baby Shoes images.  It had yellow spinners. When we were hunting info back then, I'd found the photos in the 428th FS history.  Turns out it was in the 430th.  They were better at keeping the yellow spinners.  The right side can be seen in this photo



The others

[Guppy35]

And just for fun and nostalgia

That Dogfight. one going up and one going down.  Two 109s bought it


Covered Soulyss and his single engined 38L back home.  Nice formation landing.  Both 474th skins


Can you imagine two bomber streams in a scenario these days?  24s in one and 17s in others.  Both being covered by fighters and intercepted by mobs of LW fighters?  Ahh those were the days





And the taxi in and line up at the end of the frame routine.  Just one group.  Can't get that many planes on either side in a scenario anymore

[Drano]

Yeah was probably the last big one. Good times!

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[oboe]

Definitely a high-water mark for AH for me.  Hope we can get back to that someday.

Thanks for the photos!  Interesting, the burned out section of Baby Shoe's boom - that's near the battery compartment in the left boom.   Wonder if it was an electrical fire?   

[Guppy35]

There was some artwork done of Baby Shoes buy aviation artist Steve Tack.  Don't have this one, but it's out there signed by some 474th pilots in 2011.