KITS 01/2022

44-13316, flown by Leonard K. Carson, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, USAAF Station 373 Leiston,

Suffolk, Great Britain, June 1944

The second top scoring Fighter Group of the 8th USAAF and the top scoring FG equipped with P-51D Mustangs was 357nd FG,

credited with 609 German aircraft destroyed in the air and 106 on the ground, with their own losses of 128 aircraft. The unit had 35

aces, led by Major Leonard „Kit“ Carson with 18½ aerial victories. He became 362nd FS CO on April 8, 1945. The key to the success of the unit was its fighting academy, called Clobber College, where the experienced pilots taught the newcomers the fighting

tactics. The 362nd FS received their P-51Ds just a few days before D-day. Most of the unit´s early Mustangs had upper surfaces

camouflaged Dark Green with Neutral Grey bottom surfaces, or Dark Green upper surfaces over the aluminium/natural metal

bottom surfaces with narrow border between green and NMF surfaces high on fuselage sides. The colors were probably RAF

paints overtaken from RAF stock. The “Nooky Booky II” wears full D-day stripes, as the aircraft was delivered to the unit probably

around June 6, 1944. The previous name of this plane was “Mildred”.

44-13317, flown by Capt. Donald R. Emerson, 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF, USAAF Station 356 Debden,

Essex, Great Britain, September 1944

The 4th FG was nicknamed Debden Eagles thanks to its home base and origins, as it was formed from RAF Eagle squadron (71st,

121st and 133rd squadrons). After the incorporation into 8th AF the squadrons were re-named to 334th FS, 335th FS and 336th FS.

As of April 1, 1943 their Spitfires were replaced by P-47s and in February 1944 these were changed for P-51s. Donald Emerson

joined the ranks of 4th Fighter Group on March 9, 1944 and during the following eight months of duty he flew 89 sorties during

which he was credited with 4½ enemy aircraft shot down. On December 25, 1944 he perished returning from the bomber escort

mission when he spotted six Bf 109s. During the ensuing combat he descended close to the terrain and was hit by the anti-aircraft

fire over the front. Pilot was probably killed, and his aircraft crashed nearby the town of Sittard in The Netherlands. However, he

had managed to shoot down two of his opponents. Capt. Emerson had the fuselage port side of his Mustang decorated with boxing

Donald Duck in resemblance to his first name. There are seven kill markings painted under the windshield. From the beginning of

September, the invasion stripes on the upper wings and fuselage sides surfaces of the allied aircraft were deleted and left on the

lower surfaces only.

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eduard

INFO Eduard - January 2022