Ernest Edward Bankey Jr

Military
media-23310.jpeg UPL 23310 Major Ernest E Bankey of the 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, poses on the wing of his North American P-51 'Lucky Lady VII' P-51D 44-73045, coded 5E-B at an 8th air force base in England. 23 March 1945.

NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12352-71777AC

Object Number - UPL 23310 - Major Ernest E Bankey of the 364th Fighter Group, 67th Fighter Wing, poses on the wing of his North American P-51 'Lucky Lady VII' P-51D 44-73045,...

Assigned to 383FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 385FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF. ETD#1. Transferred to HQ Sqn, 364FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 385FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to HQ Sqn, 364FG, 8AF USAAF.

An Ace in a day, he was finally credited 10.5 kills[air], 1 x probable, 5 ground kills, also 44 trains destroyed.

ETD#2.



"This is Sunkist Two. I've got 50 Jerries cornered over Bonn. Will share same with any P-51s in the vicinity. See me at smokestack level. Over and out."

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Lucky Lady VI
  • Unit: 364th Fighter Group 385th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Lucky Lady VII
  • Unit: 364th Fighter Group 385th Fighter Squadron

Places

Aerial photography of Honington airfield looking south, the technical site with four C-type hangars and bomb dump are at the top, 21 June 1946. Photograph taken by No. 540 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1589. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: RAF Honington

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, CA, USA 20 August 1920

Enlisted

Wilberforce, OH, USA 1 April 1941 Wilberforce, Ohio

Other

Transferred

Honington, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31, UK 30 April 1944 Transferred to 385FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF.

Based

Honington 17 December 1944 Transferred to HQ Sqn, 364FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

E/A Destroyed

Bonn, Germany 27 December 1944 Destroyed 5.5 Fw190's becoming an ace in one day.

Based

Honington 5 February 1945 - 21 July 1945 Transferred to HQ Sqn, 364FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Promotion

Honington, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31, UK 21 May 1945 Promoted to Major.

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD) (2)

England, UK 21 July 1945

Died

Ventura County, CA, USA 10 June 2009

Buried

Conejo Mountain Memorial Park Camarillo Ventura County CA 15 June 2009 Conejo Mountain Memorial Park Camarillo Ventura County California, USA.

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD) (1)

England, UK

Other

Promotion

Honington, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31, UK Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Toledo, OH, USA

Based

Honington 30 April 1944 Assigned to 383FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF.

Based

Honington 5 February 1945 Transferred to 385FS, 364FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Promotion

Honington, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31, UK Promoted to Captain.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Ernest Edward Bankey: Gallery (1 items)