Strana 36
P-51D-10, 44-14787, Maj. Fred W. Glover, 336
th
FS, 4
th
FG, 8
th
AF, Debden,
United Kingdom, December 1944
P-51D-15, 44-15625, Col. Claiborne Kinnard Jr., CO 355
th
FG, 8
th
AF,
Steeple Morden, United Kingdom, early 1945
A native of Asheville, North Carolina, after
completing flight training, F. W. Glover was
assigned to England to the No. 310 Ferry
Squadron. He was completely dissatisfied
with this assignment because he wanted to be
a fighter pilot. Since his requests were
repeatedly ignored, he performed a steep dive
with an Oxford transport aircraft. The authorities
did not like the pilot’s insubordination, but
Glover got his way and on February 20, 1944,
he was sent to the 336
th
Fighter Squadron,
part of the 4
th
Fighter Group, to take part in
combat operations. On April 30, while strafing
the Lyon/Bron airfield, Glover’s Mustang was
hit by anti-aircraft fire and the pilot had
to bail out. He managed to avoid capture
and eventually returned to England on May
28. In August 1944, he became commander of
the 336
th
Fighter Squadron. During his wartime
career, he achieved 11 aerial victories and also
destroyed 13 aircraft on the ground. Among
his victories was a Me 163 Komet rocket plane,
whose pilot made a fatal mistake when he
decelerated to attack a formation of USAAF
bombers. Glover flew the Mustang shown here
in the fall of 1944. The extended red nose is
valid for the turn of 1944/1945. The anti-glare
panel, cockpit frame (indicating commander
status), and rudder were painted blue, which
was the distinguishing mark of the 336
th
Fighter
Squadron.
Claiborne Holmes Kinnard was one of the most
successful pilots in combat against ground
targets. After obtaining his pilot’s license in 1939,
he served as an instructor in the USA. He was
deployed to England in May 1943, then led the
354
th
Fighter Squadron from November 1943 to
June 1944. On June 12, 1944, he was entrusted
with command of the superior 355
th
Fighter
Group, which he led until the end of August.
In September, he was transferred to the
4
th
Fighter Group, which he also commanded
for a short time from November 3 to November
29, 1944. He then returned to the 355
th
FG, where
he served until May 1945. During his career, he
achieved eight victories in aerial combat and
destroyed another seventeen aircraft on the
ground. Kinnard flew the Mustang shown here
after returning to the 355
th
FG as its commander
in late February 1945. Like his previous Mustangs,
this one also bore the name “Man O'War” on
both sides of the engine cowling, this time in
a red lightning bolt. The 355
th
Fighter Group was
the highest-rated group in destroying aircraft
on the ground, earning the nickname “Steeple
Morden Strafers”. After the war, it was relocated
to Gablingen, Germany, and became part of the
occupation army.
KITS 04/2026
INFO Eduard36
April 2026