42-8381 - Little One

P-47 Thunderbolts (LJ-B, serial number 42-8381, "War Weary") nicknamed "Little One" and (LJ-D, serial number 42-7896, "War Weary") and RAF AT-6 Texans at East Wretham, home of the 359th Fighter Group. Assoicated caption:' P-47 "Little One" LJ-P 28381 dark green w/ white cowl band, tow target ship that TP Smith flew up to 39,500 ft.' media-388519.jpg FRE 6120 Four aircraft that have been re-assigned to the 3rd Gunnery and Tow-Target Flight at East Wretham, U.K.
They are two P-47C Thunderbolts. The one in the foreground was Major Don Bryan's LJ-B, serial number, 42-8381, designated "war weary", named, Little One, and the second one, LJ-D, serial number, 42-7896, also, "war weary", and an RAF Vultee A-35, and an AT-6 Texan.

- Associated caption that may be in error : "P-47 Thunderbolts, Little One, LJ-B, 28381, dark green with white cowl band, tow target ship that T.P. Smith flew up to 39,500 ft." Roger Freeman Collection

Punctuation, spelling changes. - Kickapoo

Object Number - FRE 6120 - Four aircraft that have been re-assigned to the 3rd Gunnery and Tow-Target Flight at East Wretham, U.K. They are two P-47C Thunderbolts. The one in...

The P-47C, 42-8381, was assigned to Major Donald S. Bryan and coded PE-B. Maj. Bryan named it in honor of his wife who was rather petite, as he did all of his personal fighter planes. The name was retained when the aircraft was reassigned to the 3rd Gunnery and Tow-Target Flight at East Wretham, after being declared "war weary". It retained it's standard ETO markings over the original Olive Drab/Neutral Grey paintwork. The name, Little One, on this P-47 came from Maj. Bryan when it was his plane with the 352nd Fighter Group, 328th Fighter Squadron at Bodney, U.K.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 328th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727398
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Places

Aerial photograph of Bodney airfield, looking south east, the barrack sites are in the top centre of the image, 8 June 1945. Photograph taken by No. 542 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/369. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Royal Air Force Bodney

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Roger Freeman photo.

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Details added for accuracy. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Clarifying existing information.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Removed association with the 359th Fighter Group on advice from Peter Randall of Little Friends: http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/.

Date
ContributorPyker
Changes
Sources

Updaed basic details but unable to correct associations as 3rd Gunnery and Tow Target Flight is not currently in the database. It was not part of the 359th FG although based at East Wretham.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Roger Freeman photo.

42-8381: Gallery (2 items)