'LUCKY WRIGHT'S ESCAPE' ...

[Mark Allen M]

Lt "Lucky" Edwin Wright, just over 19 yrs. old, just returned from his 39th mission- over Munster. He got hit by flak but continued on his mission dropped his bombs, did a spot of strafing and returned. When he got back he found a hole 8 ins. in diameter through his 11 ins. diam prop blade, caused by a direct hit from an ack ack shell. If the shell had deviated an inch and a half either side, his blade would have severed and he would have been brought down. This is the 6th. time that Wright has been hit by Flak and is now known as “Lucky Wright”. He has 5 and a half months of combat to his credit and 39 missions. He belongs to a Republic Thunderbolt Squadron commanded by Major J Sherwood. Roger LIFE' .


Lt. Edwin Wright of the 404th FG with P-47D 42-28794 examines some battle damage on November 1, 1944


Lieutenant Edwin "Lucky" Wright with the flak damaged engine of his P-47D-28-RA Thunderbolt Assigned to 506th FS, 404th FG, 9th AF USAAF (serial number 42-28794)

[Lon Moer]

Wow, blasted through right at the Curtiss label!

[Dan K]

Wow, blasted through right at the Curtiss label!

But of course it did. That's where we were aiming...


Never mess with the Flakexperten.

[6trn4brn]

"...caused by a direct hit from a flak shell..." Hmmm.....he must have been climbing straight up when that shell went through the propeller.

[Joe Scheil]

I think this was a Curtiss Wright logo/label failure that has been covered up to keep the spirits of the pilots intact. In fact I am sure that was the story....

[Duggy009]

I think this was a Curtiss Wright logo/label failure that has been covered up to keep the spirits of the pilots intact. In fact I am sure that was the story....

The photo's Mark posted, the damage was caused by flak, probably 20mm.
Same damage here- P-47N Pilot Lt. Ellis Wallenberg Of A 7Th Aaf Fighter Squadron In The Ryukyu Retto Was This Freak Hit By A Japanese 20 Mm.j

[AG pilot]

Has anyone ever seen a photograph of this kind of damage to an aluminum propeller blade, and fly home?