Flier Shot Down in 1944 Was Escorted by Tuskegee Airmen

[B-29 Super Fort]

Ex-Pilot Confirms Bomber Loss


By Bob Johnson
Associated Press
Sunday, December 17, 2006; Page A18

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A bomber pilot from World War II says he was shot down while being escorted by Tuskegee Airmen, an account that supports a recent report by two historians that the famed black fighter group, contrary to legend, did lose at least a few bombers to fire from enemy aircraft.

Warren Ludlum, who lives in Old Tappan, N.J., said that his B-24 bomber was shot down by enemy planes over Linz, Austria, in July 1944, while he was being escorted by P-51 fighters piloted by the Tuskegee Airmen.

The 83-year-old Ludlum, in a telephone interview Thursday, made clear that he has great respect for the Tuskegee Airmen and liked being escorted by them because of their aggressiveness. He said he knew he was being escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen on the day he was shot down because one of them, Starling B. Penn, was shot down at the same time and ended up in the same German prison camp as Ludlum.

Ludlum's story supports the research of William F. Holton, historian for Tuskegee Airmen Inc., who said recently that the legend of the all-black fighter squadron never losing a bomber to enemy fighters was incorrect, according to Air Force records.

Ludlum's "information jibes with my preliminary look at the data I have here," Holton said.

The historian verified that Penn was a Tuskegee Airman, that he was shot down at about the same time as Ludlum and that they were apparently in the same German prison camp. Penn died in 1999.

Another historian, Daniel L. Haulman of the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base in Montgomery, also has concluded that at least a few bombers escorted by the red-tailed fighter planes were shot down. Their findings were reported by the Montgomery Advertiser.

Ludlum's daughter, Maerose Ludlum, assisted her father during the interview, frequently relaying questions, because he has trouble hearing on the telephone.

"He liked being escorted by Tuskegee Airmen because they were a black fighter group and were more aggressive and would stay with you longer," she said. Her father concurred with her statement.

She said she called the AP after reading a newspaper story about the historians' report. Some surviving members of the fighter group have said they were offended by the research and questioned the findings coming out more than 60 years after the end of World War II.

"I had no idea who was escorting me most of the time, but that day we were shot down I knew it was the Tuskegee Airmen because the black fellow and I ended up at the same camp," said Warren Ludlum, who was with the 15th Air Force, 461st Bombardment Group, 765th Squadron, flying out of a base in Italy.

Ludlum said on that day he was a second lieutenant and co-pilot of a B-24 Model J bomber on a mission to attack the Herman Goering Tank Works at Linz. He said his plane was flying at about 20,000 feet when it was hit so severely that it broke apart and began spiraling toward the ground.

He said the plane leveled off for a second and he was able to jump out. But he said he wore his parachute loosely because it was more comfortable that way.

"His parachute opened, but he had to hold on for dear life all the way down," Maerose Ludlum said.

Only four of the 10 crew members were able to parachute out when the plane was shot down, she said. Ludlum said he was captured shortly after landing.

Ludlum said other B-24s in his group were also shot down that day. He remembered the raid taking place on July 25, 1944; a Web site for the 461st Bombardment Group lists the date of the attack as July 26, 1944. Holton said Ludlum's account of being shot down helps confirm his research.

"I stand behind everything I said," Holton said

[Dennis7423]

All-

I once heard that the Tuskegee Airmen never lost a bomber to enemy aircraft, not necessarily flak, midairs, etc. I wonder if this is true or not...keeping flak off of a bomber isn't really something that a pilot can do, but keeping an enemy fighter off is another thing...perhaps others will know more. From the reports I have seen on this topic challenging history, I don't think I recall anyone stating that they were shot down by enemy fighters.

-Dennis S.
Greeley, CO

[mustangdriver]

I can't even begin understand why this is important to research. What are you going to say to a member of the 332nd if you get to meet them? "gee you guys did a really bad day that you lost that one bomber." There is no good that can come of this research. I say let these veterans rest, they fought for our freedom, and now as they are pushing their 90's people are tring to dishonor their accomplishments.

[Steve S]

I agree with Mustang Driver- at this point let it rest. The bigger picture here is that hte Tuskegee airman were exemplary officers, airmen, and human beings and that is what really matters. I would geuss that the legend was started by some hollywood types and then grew to take ona life of its own. At this point what anyone hopes to prove that is productive and meaningfull by digging this up and going after the reputation of some really good people I don't understand.

[Jack Cook]

people are tring to dishonor their accomplishments

History is what it is. Bring true facts to light isn't revisionism or bringing dishonor. Just like those 5 kills of the side of Kermit Weeks P-51B.
They want Lee Archer to be an ace so bad but it just isn't so. But they try hard.
A good example of actual revisionism is the MAAM B-25J Briefing Time. So much time a effort has gone into trying make this B-25 seem to be the actual bomber from WWII.

Here's a good example re Archer:

Lt. Colonel Lee Archer was a member of the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 322nd Fighter Group, also known as the “Tuskegee Airmen”. He shot down five enemy aircraft, including three ME-109s on October 12, 1944, thus becoming an Ace.

From the AF Air University
ARCHER LEE A 1st Lieutenant 302FTR 10-12-1944 Unknown Unknown WW2 Unknown 3.0
ARCHER LEE A 2nd Lieutenant 302FTR 07-18-1944 Unknown Unknown WW2 Unknown 1.0
[/b]

[mustangdriver]

I don't see it. All I can think of is that it is like they are saying, "You guys aren't perfect." History is what it is, and I do agree with you, but sometimes I think it is best to leave it alone after a while. You can destroy a legend, or you can leave it alone. I just think that soemtimes leaving it alone is better. VMF-214 "The Blacksheep" is the same way. I know that the real story is not like the TV show, but guess what I will tell my kids about?

[Mike]

VMF-214 "The Blacksheep" is the same way. I know that the real story is not like the TV show, but guess what I will tell my kids about?

Does anyone else cringe when they read this sort of thing? So is history to be based on a fictionalized TV series? Never mind the truth, let's burn all surviving copies of William Wyler's 'Memphis Belle' documentary, and leave the 1990 Hollywood version as a record for posterity.

I'm off now, to lie down in a darkened room for a while.

[Mike]

http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eaglebios/0 ... cher02.htm

On 18 July 1944, Lee "Buddy" Archer shot down a Messerschmitt Me 109 over Memmingen, Germany. He destroyed another on 20 July, and six more on the ground during a strafing mission in August. He added three additional victories in a single air battle over Lake Balaton, Hungary, on 13 October 1944. As one of the famous Tuskegee Airman, Lieutenant Colonel Archer's perseverance and heroic exploits helped open the way for future generations of blacks in the United States Armed Forces.

http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_tusk.html

Lee Archer scored his first that day; a credit which would later be officially changed to a shared kill. (Thus Archer left combat with an official 4.5 kills. It has been speculated that the AAF brass didn't want a Negro ace and the attendant publicity.) ..........Lee Archer scored his second in late July and three on October 12; then the first kill was retroactively changed.

[Jack Cook]

Mike,
Frank Olynyk throughly researched all AAF WWII claims including those of Lee Archer.
His notes on the supposed July 20 ,1944 ME-109 kill included a search through all the group and squadron records & mission reports which show no claims and even Archer's form 5 shows NO flight by him on the day in question The Air University at Maxwell AFB is the official final word with 4.0 kills. The rest is just smoke and mirrors.
Has for Pappy and the BS associated with him and VMF-214 I agree. I actually got into a serious discussion with a gent who was sure Pappy downed 5 Zeros over Vella La Cava and also never understood why Capt Gutterman wasn't on the list of Marine aces. But I have to know, did they really sink the Japanese carriers with captured Zeros, Kates and Vals then go home and shack up with Pappy's Lambs. What a bunch of super stars!

[mustangpilot]

I will stick up for Boyington. He is from Idaho and he liked to get drunk. Just like me in the 1980's. Heck I even got Brad drunk once or twice!
When my Corsair fly's again, we will all get drunk!

[SaxMan]

Whether they were perfect or slightly less than perfect really isn't the issue. Their CO, Benjamin Davis, made a practice of staying with the bombers, even when the approved practice was for the fighters to range out ahead of the formations and destroy enemy fighters. Had they adhered to this latter practice, I am sure that several Tuskegee Airmen would have achieved "ace" status, but I'm sure their bomber brethren would have suffered great casualties.

In addition, they would always detail a pair of fighters to stay with a cripple, instead of leaving it as "easy meat" for a Luftwaffe fighter. It was these practices that fostered the kind of loyalty to the Red Tails from their "Big Friends"...and that is the real legacy of the Tuskegee Airman, not the scorecard.

[tom d. friedman]

the tuskegee airmen's ww 2 reputation for bravery & stellar performance of duty is thoroughly etched in stone of ww 2 aviation history. if they lost 10 bombers defending them i'd say that's still a pretty damned proud achievment!!

[Jack Cook]

I will stick up for Boyington. He is from Idaho and he liked to get drunk. Just like me in the 1980's

Brian you're killing me here!
Ask John Lane want he knows about Pappy. His reply may surprise you!

[Jack Cook]

It was these practices that fostered the kind of loyalty to the Red Tails from their "Big Friends"...and that is the real legacy of the Tuskegee Airman, not the scorecard.

Exactly right! That's what the fellow said in the article. The fact he got shot down didn't change his opinion. The fact they can't really say they never lost a bomber doesn't deminish their accomplishments one little bit.
In the same note the fact that Lee Archer wasn't an ace doesn't change the fact that he was a skilled, agressive and respected pilot.

[mustangdriver]

Well you guys are in for a real shock. Funny you mentioned the Wyler Memphis Belle. Do you know that whole landing sequence in the movie was staged? Col. Morgan said that he had to circle out there for ever to then make their grand appearance over the field. So let's look at history to Hollywood. The Memphis Belle documentary also shows that the crew of the Belle all flew their 25 missions together. They did not. As a matter in fact, Jim verenis the co pilot, was given his own B-17 after just a few missions. You guys mention the Blacksheep. I know that it was nothing like the show, BUT they were rowdy, they liked to drink, a few of them were arrested for driving Jeeps down sidewalks on leave, they liked to wrestle and box, and they were misfits. They were not assigned to any units. Boyington did really steal the number VMF-214 that belonged to a unit that was coming out of service. Wow you guys are right that sounds nothing like the show. I know that we need to honor the real vets, but I think sometimes we get too wound up in finding out every little detail. We need to enjoy aviation's rich history, and not get so caught up on whether or not Archer had that 5th kill, or if the blacksheep squadron was really like that. if you want to get that technical the 214 flew three toned Corsairs, and the show used all blue ones, but we get the point. Certain things in history should be left alone. No matter what we do, and no matter what anyone says the Blacksheep will always be misfits, and soem of aviations great legends will stay around. Amelia Earhart was just an average pilot, but no one calls this aviation legend out. it just so happens she was married to a writter. Pancho barnes was just as good. Maybe I am way off, but this just seems crazy to me.