most decorated fighter?

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 11:34 am

The one that always made me scratch my head is the P-39 "Snooks 2nd" flown by Bill Shomo. That aircraft the last time I saw it was sitting in pieces unrestored out at MAPS in Akron Ohio. I always hoped the NMUSAF would get it and restore it. It is such a historic aircraft!

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 12:51 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

The one that always made me scratch my head is the P-39 "Snooks 2nd" flown by Bill Shomo. That aircraft the last time I saw it was sitting in pieces unrestored out at MAPS in Akron Ohio. I always hoped the NMUSAF would get it and restore it. It is such a historic aircraft!

I couldn't agree more, Chris.

But isn't "Snooks 2nd" on indoor display in Buffalo?

There seems to be some confusion in the Warbird Registry between this:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63r ... 19995.html

and this:

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/p39-p63r ... ks2nd.html

And yet every other surfed-for source of info recognizes the "Snooks 2nd" on display in Buffalo as the actual 42-19995. Is there some controversy I'm not aware of?

shepsair · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:43 pm

P47D-28-RA
42-22910
K4-S of 511FS, 405FG
(Dottie Mae).

First day of Battle of the Bulge 1944 until VE Day 8th May 1945.

Only 8th/9th Combat P47 Veteran. 90+ combat missions (damamged 3/4 times by Flak). 3 ground straffing victories.

regards

MS

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:00 pm

I'm sorry but you're all wrong. The question was "most decorated fighter" and only 1 aircraft was ever received a personal citation.
The famous "Ole 122", a CV F4U-1A of VMF-111, "Devil Dogs", completed 100 dive-bombing missions against Japanese positions of the Marshall Islands. The only official citation ever given to an aircraft in World War II was presented to P/Cs, Sgt's. Walter Eason and G.H. Miller by M/G L. E. Woods. The citation was then varnished into the cockpit. It logged more than 80,000 miles and 400 flying hours without having to return to base for mechanical trouble. Note the 100 missions markers under the cockpit. “Ole 122” was returned to the States because of age. Squadron FO, Capt William C Bickel from PA, was given orders to fly it around the country to the various plants that contributed parts to the finished Corsair.

Nathan · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:36 pm

Ha! This thread sure takes the cake!

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:58 pm

Jack Cook wrote:

I'm sorry but you're all wrong. The question was "most decorated fighter" and only 1 aircraft was ever received a personal citation.
The famous "Ole 122", a CV F4U-1A of VMF-111, "Devil Dogs", completed 100 dive-bombing missions against Japanese positions of the Marshall Islands. The only official citation ever given to an aircraft in World War II was presented to P/Cs, Sgt's. Walter Eason and G.H. Miller by M/G L. E. Woods. The citation was then varnished into the cockpit. It logged more than 80,000 miles and 400 flying hours without having to return to base for mechanical trouble. Note the 100 missions markers under the cockpit. “Ole 122” was returned to the States because of age. Squadron FO, Capt William C Bickel from PA, was given orders to fly it around the country to the various plants that contributed parts to the finished Corsair.

And "Ole 122" still survives to this day, as a pallet full of Bud Light cans on the way to Jersey.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:17 pm

The lace in Buffalo claimed it was the real one until it was proven by inspection that the real one is indeed the one at MAPS

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:34 pm

mustangdriver wrote:

The lace in Buffalo claimed it was the real one until it was proven by inspection that the real one is indeed the one at MAPS

A quick check at MAPS website reveals they don't even have the airframe listed as part of their collection...crazy!

Perhaps it's time for your warbird rescue group to find new foster parents! :wink:

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 4:48 pm

Quote:

And "Ole 122" still survives to this day, as a pallet full of Bud Light cans on the way to Jersey.

and here I thought it was a Airsteam Trailer :shock:

Maybe it was and how it's beer cans

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:50 pm

After talking with Rob, we remembered the drama that unfolded with Snooks. The plane in NY was in better shape so they took the data plate out of the real snooks. The real fuselage of the real deal is still out there

whistlingdeath77 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:07 am

So, as it stands right now it's tough to pinpoint a US world war 2 fighter that has maybe 5 kills still in exsistance? Is there a Confirmed F4U restored that has seen pacific combat during the war? Or maybe even Korea? Or are they all state-side aircraft.

k5083 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 8:57 am

mustangdriver wrote:

Kind of sad that so few US WWII combat vet fighters exist.

Well, yes, I understand the sense in which you mean that.

OTOH when looking at the big picture of why so few US WWII combat vet fighters exist, it is really a good thing. It is because the US never had to defend its home turf, didn't have to desperately throw every fighter basically from the factory right into combat, or indeed have the factories themselves subject to attack. And by the later stages of the war it had this huge armada of combat-ready planes in reserve. This is all very good stuff compared to what every other major combatant, other than Canada, went through. The fact that so few US WWII fighters are combat vets, whereas so many non-US types are, is part and parcel of this story and, when the context is understood, can help teach and explain that history of the very different impact of the war on various nations.

August

Django · **Posted:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 10:25 am

Baldeagle wrote:

http://www.uk-warbirds.net/warbirdhistories.html
-

Thanks for the link! 4 Spitfires, a 352nd Mustang and the Hellcat, all combat veterans!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 11:45 am

The GC F6F history is open to speculation.
To bad the Ike Kepford's famous #29 F4U-1A of VF-17 was
scapped in Clinton, OK in 1948.

k5083 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:05 pm

The surviving fighter with the most kills when flown by Americans might be NASM's SPAD XIII; 6 kills while with 22nd Aero Sqn; but of course not a US-built plane.

August

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