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tress and, above all, ensure accurate xing their location.
To improve the subsequent rescue procedures, the unit
was later equipped with PBY Catalina aircraft.
In terms of identication markings, the 65th FW
was characterized by greater variability and more fre-
quent dierences between individual groups than its sis-
ter units, the 66th and 67th FW, whose color schemes
were generally more distinctive and previously estab-
lished. This makes it interesting from both a modeling
and research perspective. The markings of the subordi-
nate ghter groups were less conspicuous and less rigid-
ly standardized in the 65th FW. The 65th Fighter Wing
was also characterized by a combination of older, high-
ly experienced groups (e.g., the 4th Fighter Group and
56th Fighter Group) and newer units (such as the 479th
Fighter Group), and it was this diversity that was one of
its dening features within the VIII Fighter Command’s
operations over Europe.
Sources:
- Maurer Maurer: Combat Squadrons of the Air Force – World War II,
Oce of Air Force History, HQ USAF, 1982
- Maurer Maurer: Air Force Combat Units of World War II,
Oce of Air Force History, HQ USAF, 1983
- Archive of the Museum of Air Battle over the Ore Mountains
on September 11th, 1944 in Kovářská, Czech Republic
- US National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland;
Unit Histories, Reports and Mission Orders
- Eight Air Force – Tactical development August 1942 – May 1945,
AAF Evaluation Board, 1945
- 2nd Air Division Memorial Library
- The Freeman Collection, IWM
- Roger Freeman: Airelds of the Eighth Then and Now,
Battle of Britain Prints International, 1978
- Donald L. Miller: Masters of the Air, Simon & Schuster, 2007
- Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
- www.boxted-aireld.com
- www.8thAF.org
- www.asisbiz.com
Photos: NARA, Fold3, IWM - American Archive (Roger A. Freeman Collection)
Schemes of the P-51 nose ID: by author
PBY Catalina aircraft from the 5th ERS were used for longer
patrol ights and to rescue “swimming” crews.
A pair of Thunderbolts from the 5th ERS escort-
ing Liberators from the 2nd BD across the water.
The aircraft have rescue equipment suspended un-
der their wings, which their pilots could drop in
an emergency to crews forced to land on the water.
A P-47 from the 5th ERS on the tarmac at its base.
The aircraft in the foreground is named ‘Primrose
Peggy‘ and originally served with the 359th FG.
It was transferred to the 5th ERS as “War Weary,”
which is marked by the letters “WW” beneath the
serial number on the vertical stabilizer.
HISTORY
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