FRE 10014
IMAGECommanding officers of Fighter Groups of the 8th Air Force, 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORMAL PORTRAIT: They are, left to right, front row: Hub Zemke, 479th Grp, Roy Caviness, 361st Grp, Dave Schilling, 56th Grp, Everett Stewart, 355th Grp, Ben Rimerman, 353rd Grp, John Henry, 339th Grp, Tod Crowell, 55th Grp. REAR: James Mayden, 352nd Grp, WH Swanson, Unk, Joe McManus, 364th Grp, Claiborne Kinnard, 4th Grp, Philip Tukey, 356th Grp. Fred Gray, 78th Grp, Don Graham, 357th Grp. Date is unknown but it has to be from late August 1944 no later than 30 oct when Hub [Zemke] became a POW. On 12 Aug, Hub went to 479th and Dave Schilling took over 56th. Don Graham gave up 357th on 10 Oct, so it has to be before that. Missing are COs from 20th (Col Harold Rau, and 359th, Colonels Jacon or Randolph.) Now, one would guess that they were not available and maybe their deputy comdr sat in for them, whic would mean Swanson or Crowell. However, neither man is on the 30th Grp rosters (I have complete one) and I cannot find either name anywhere in the records. So that will remains a mystery for now. I have not used any ranks, but all would be Lt Col or Colonel. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do trying to solve these 50 plus year old mysteries!! PS Forgot to mention, I do not know location. I have a note that it might have been Bottisham, but I don't know where I got that.' Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Bushey Hall Library.'
Connections
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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (78th Fighter Group) Headquarters (361st Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: 14014820 / O-413041
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot - Group Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group Headquarters (55th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-398631
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 357th Fighter Group 363rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (357th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-25247
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Group Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 78th Fighter Group Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (78th Fighter Group) Headquarters (66th Fighter Wing)
- Service Numbers: O-22327
- Highest Rank: Brigadier General
- Role/Job: Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 45th Combat Bomb Wing 339th Fighter Group Headquarters (339th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: O-24107
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
Locations
- Site type: Military site
- Known as: Watford