My Dad served in the 371st 405th FS. I cannot find any photos of that Fighter Group or the 405th Fighter Squadron can any one help?

I will look in the books they had 8n for identity on the aircraft. hopefully Lampie will have something for you.
Later,
Kelly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Bisterne

so far this is what I found.


This is Margie Mc--- taken Metz in late 44 pilot was Lt. Monty Davis the nose and name are in Medium Blue she is a P- 47D-26.
Later,
Kelly

Hi Edward.
Ive found a few 371st FG photos. Straight away I found 2 excellent colour photos and naturally, sods law applies and they are 404 and 406th FS. It will however give you a good idea of what your fathers plane looked like.
As Kelly said, 405th FS planes had a blue cowling.
Heres one from your fathers squadron.

It looks as though the P-47 Kelly posted a photo of is in the background.
This one is 404th FS

And this is a 406th FS example.


There are some good books about the 9th Air Force campaign in Europe that your father served in.
I can recommend Hell Hawks by Robert F. Dorr and Thomas D Jones, and Angels Zero by Robert Brulle.

Hope this helps and if I find anything else I'll add it to the thread.

Nige

Theres a book by former 371st FG pilot Jack Pitts called P-47 Pilots Scared, Bored, and Deadly.
Amazon are showing copies available.
Nige

Thanks Guys I'm getting ready to my second 1/32 P-47D with the works this time. My dad past away in 1984. I just wanted to honor him And the 371st FG 405th FS.

My uncle & namesake was CO. KIA 1-5-45. LtC JW Leonard.

Does anybody know the naming convention for P47s for the last letter? ie., 8N (insignia) X.?

Is it rank (don't think so), alphabet (don't think so) or random?

Would really like to know as I'm building a model.

Thanx

JWL

Hi.JW.
Welcome to the site.
Some of the earlier P-47 groups of the 8th air Force allocated the squadron codes relating to the pilots surname or nickname.
LM-F. 62nd FS Stan "Fats" Morrill
LM-S 62nd FS Dave Schiling.

Later in the war pilots of the 56th were just alloctated aircraft.
HV-J 61st FS Russell Kyler.
Long serving pilots continued to lay claim to "their" squadron codes. Schillings last P-47 (in Jan 45) was still coded LM-S.

As far as I know there was no "personal" squadron coding in the 9th, although no doubt if a particular pilot flew with a squadron code he would carry this on with subsequent replacement aircraft.
I've noticed in a cursury "google" to see if I can pick up a photo that another relative of your uncles, Rich Leonard, has been doing research into JWL and the 371stFG.
Perhaps Rich has managed to find the serial or squadron codes for your late uncles P-47?
If you find anything out please let me know and I will see what I have in my references.
Nige
:-H

please anyone help me to find my father,, his name is BUDDY SHOAF, he was one of the 405th fighter squadron on clark air base in the philippines,, thanks in advance

Hi Catherine.
You could try posting on the Clark Air Base site discussion forum.
CLICK HERE
Good Luck!
Nige