P-38 Lightnings, CAS Battle Of Luzon, Manila

[Shay]

I was wondering what P-38 Units were operating in support of the 5 month long battle to liberate the Luzon province? Obivously including Manila.


The reason I ask is, I was talking with a member of the 7th Cavalry and Veteran of the Luzon campaign. He told me a lot of awesome and gruesome things about the campaign.

One in particular was where some of 7th Cav platoons were fighting on the outskirts of Manila when some men had gotten pinned down, behind fallen trees, in the middle of an open field. The rest of the platoon was unable to reach the men due to supressing Japanese fire. Several Japanese soldiers moved in from their cover towards the trapped men and got within 50 ft of the platoon members. At the last minute when the men were saying their prayers, a flight of P-38 Lightnings came in screaming at 30 ft (or so) off the deck and chewwed up the ground and the approaching Japanese troops with .50 cal and 20mm. Saving the stranded 7th Cav members.

The 7th Cavalry Veteran that I spoke with was my Grandfather. He always would get a little misty eyed when he'd see the Lightning on display at the NMUSAF, saying that that airplane saved his life.

I was wondering which P-38s squadrons were in the area of operations in this time frame?

Thanks

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Last edited by Shay on Thu May 03, 2007 9:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

That would be the 44th FS 18th FG.
The pilots still talk about those missions
and moving down 1000s of Japanese ground troops.

[Shay]

That would be the 44th FS 18th FG.
The pilots still talk about those missions
and moving down 1000s of Japanese ground troops.

Your the best Jack......I know this is a rough question to ask of you in light of your recent tragedy.

But do you have any pictures of the men and machines of the 44th. It would be nice to look at something related to the men that I quite possibly owe my existance to.

Thanks if you can and even if you can't.

My best wishes to you Jack

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[Jack Cook]

possibly
http://groups.msn.com/44thFighterSquadronTributePage

[Dan Johnson II]

Not so fast Jack

I think you are talking about the 44th FS when they supported the 40th division in that same campaign.

8th FG and their 38s with the 80th FS were flying ground support. 475th were flying ground support in ther 38s etc.

Lots of 38 drivers were hard at it during that campaign. The air to air had for the most part ended for the 38 drivers.

[Shay]

Thanks guys.

This is good information. Gives me a good start on doing some personal research. Well be interesting to see what I find regarding P-38s and the Luzon Campaign.


Shay
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Semper Fortis

[Jack Cook]

Could be Dan.
I'm not big on the gravel cruncher stuff
You're right about the air victories. The 44th from Jan 43
to Jan 44 in the Solomans has about 145 kills. in the PI
for the last 10 months of the war they had 15-20. Mostly
air-to-ground stuff.