T-6 in the ETO?

Mark Nankivil · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:32 am

Greetings All!

I was not aware that the T-6 was used in England during the war - was it?! The image is from one of the photos I'm scanning for the Prairie Aviation Museum. Note the stylized 8th AF logo on the wheel.

Enjoy the Day! Mark

snj5 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:54 am

There were USAAF AT-6s (in addition to RAF Harvards of course) in England. Walt Ohlrich in his book T-6: The Pilot Maker I believe and also one of the definitively exhaustive "Mighty Eighth" series by Roger Freeman documents T-6s used in England by squadrons as hacks and instrument proficiency trainers. IIRC Mr Freeman as a photo of an AT-6 in England as a hack for a fighter squadron.

Mark Nankivil · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:59 am

Thanks SNJ5 - I guess I have had tunnel vision and have only focused on P-38s, P-47s & P-51s :-)

Enjoy the Day! Mark

Stoney · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:48 am

All USN carriers had SNJs on board at the start of the war

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:39 pm

AT-6s were also used by the two, IIRC, 8th AF Scouting Force units to transition experienced tour-completed bomber pilot volunteers into the P-51. 20 hours AT-6 and 20 hours P-51 and they were ready. Initially led and sheparded by 'real' fighter pilots (also volunteers), the bomber guys were of course much better versed in bomber ops and procedures.

The Scouting Force units were very successful - they did very important work in 'scouting' ahead of the bomber streams the route and target WX (WX was definitely a factor in the ETO), and they also did BDAs and even tangled with the enemy when necessary.

Wade

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 3:31 pm

If I recall correctly one of the crew chiefs in the 363rd FS was killed in a T-6 crash on a flight to the continent to repair a P-51 with a mechanical problem.

valdez25 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:22 pm

Jack. I think that was in "Anita Theresa", of the 357th, on their way to France with a tailwheel for Joe Cannon's "Little Joe".

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:54 pm

Yes,
It was Bud Anderson (asst?)crew chief (Zimmerman?).

CWBuff · **Joined:** Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:14 am **Posts:** 854

Here's a Texan used by the 55th FG.

Enhanced epay auction image

Fade to Black...

TEXANTOMCAT · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:38 am

If anyone has a copy of Ethell & Brodies War Eagles in Colour there are two colour pics of ETO based AT-6Ds - one at Mount Farm (bare metal with OD anti-glare panel) and one from Raydon - silver again but with a 45 degree black and chequer cowling.

According to the book, 20-25 T-6s were assigned as hacks to USAAF units based in the UK - however they only arrived in early '44.

I have the book but no way of posting the pics - sorry

TT

CWBuff · **Joined:** Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:14 am **Posts:** 854

TEXANTOMCAT wrote:

If anyone has a copy of Ethell & Brodies War Eagles in Colour there are two colour pics of ETO based AT-6Ds - one at Mount Farm (bare metal with OD anti-glare panel) and one from Raydon - silver again but with a 45 degree black and chequer cowling.

359th FG

353rd FG

Fade to Black...

TEXANTOMCAT · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:24 am

Thems the apples - thanks Peter!

ATB

TT

BennoT6 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:48 pm

Hi,

I do have the following T-6s which have served in the ETO :

40-2133 30FS 37FG 6 AF
41-34484 24FS 6 AF
41-34606 353FS 354FG 9 AF
41-34607 15TRS 67TRG 9 AF
41-34611 643BS 409BG 9 AF
41-34613 326FTS 31ATG 9 AF
41-34614 Hq 9 AF
41-34615 Hq 29TAC
41-34616 Hq AAD2 9 AF
41-34617 15TRS 67TRG 9 AF
41-34619 364FG 8 AF
41-34623 668BS 416BG 8 AF
41-34625 494Sr 30SrG 9 AF
41-34655 Hq 8 AF
41-34656 394FS 367FG
41-34657 338FS 55FG 8 AF
42-84583 645BS 410BG 9 AF
42-84591 55FS 20FG 8 AF
42-84593 363FS 357FG 8 AF
42-84594 31PRS 10PRG 9 AF
42-84602 45SrS 4FG 8 AF
42-85066 381SrS 7PRG 8 AF
42-85066 22PRS 7PRG
42-85163 BAD2 8 AF
43-13984 1BD 8 AF

"Anita Theresa" is reported as a AT-6F, 44-81723. Anyone who can confirm this is correct ? I only have this one as having served with the 33FG in the early postwar years.

Regards,

Benno

Swiss Mustangs · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:50 am

Goede Dag Benno

sent you an email with some more information on ETO T-6's

Tot ziens !
Groeten
Martin

Paul Patist · **Posted:** Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:33 am

Walter E. Corby and Ssgt Melvin Schueneman were killed in 42-84593 on January 27 1945 at Swingate near Dover.

(To War with the Yoxford Boys by the late Merle Olmsted)

http://www.cebudanderson.com/schueneman.htm

Regards,

Paul

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T-6 in the ETO?

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