Lt. Glenn Webb and (newly promoted) Capt.

Frank Roark bathe in the Adriatic Sea having

completed the second leg of Frantic VI from

the Soviet Union to Italy.

At some point in late 1944 44-13535 was fitted with the extended

fin fillet to improve lateral stability. It also received camouflage

on its upper surfaces and the 20th Fighter Group’s new unit

identity colours of black and white “piano keys” on the nose.

The camouflaged green upper surfaces may have been linked to

the plan to relocate some of the Eighth Air Force Fighter Groups

to the continent. The green was later removed and the aircraft

returned to its natural metal finish.

44-13535 was then assigned to Lt. Richard Black who renamed the

aircraft from Wilma to Black’s Bird. The aircraft had a disappointing

end to 1944. No more successes in combat was compounded by

a series of early returns and failures to take off due to mechanical

issues. This period of frustration came to an end on 44-13535’s 61st

mission on the 14th January 1945. Lt Black flying as Red One on

an escort mission to Magdeburg “Before the target we saw 75 plus

enemy aircraft at 30,000 ft. We

were at 27,000 feet. We dropped

tanks. I led my flight on a bounce

of three enemy aircraft and I got

a 90° deflection shot at one. I saw

no strikes. I ended up on the tail

of the third enemy aircraft in the

group. I gave him a half second

burst, 200 yards, 10° deflection.

Saw strikes. My outboard right

gun didn’t fire. This pulled me off

the target. The enemy aircraft

pulled up and chopped his throttle.

I did the same and slipped in

behind him again and fired

a two second burst, 0° deflection

from 50 yards. I got many strikes

on both wings. Smoke poured

out from what appeared to be the

engine. He rolled over and started

to auger towards the ground.

I followed him down to 18,000 feet

during which period I gave him

several more one second bursts.

I pulled up when I saw another

bogie which proved to be friendly.

In pulling up to 25,000 feet,

sharply, I lost my flight. Off my port side I saw 5 Me109s in a left

turn. I bounced the number two man which dispersed the formation.

I gave him a one second burst, 30° deflection from 200 yards.

There were hits on both his wings. In clearing my tail I saw that

the number five man positioning himself on my tail. Consequently

I broke away.” Lt Buller claimed one Me109 destroyed and

a further one damaged.

The 14th February saw Capt. John Taylor’s first mission with

the Group. Returning in 44-13535 from a mission to targets

in Dresden accurate flak punched a hole through the tail of the

Mustang. Capt. Taylor was able to make it back to King’s Cliffe in

the damaged plane which was repaired and available for action the

following day. Shortly after this incident the aircraft was assigned

to Lt. Edward Pogue. Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee

Lt. Pogue had 44-13535 renamed “Chattanooga Choo Choo”

Lt. Walter Bullers (seen here with

44-14365, MC-E Bud’s Comet) who

claimed a He 115 as destroyed on

6th October 1944 whilst flying

44-13535.

INFO Eduard - August 2019

eduard

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