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The operation career of ‘29150 began on the 16
December when Lt Tobin flew K4-S on her first combat mission.
Interestingly, this was the day the German counter offensive in the
Ardennes began, later to be known as the ‘Battle of the Bulge’.
25.12.44
Field Order JXX-7 Mission No1 Air Support. K4-S Lt Kuhl. Twelve P47’s
found a convoy in Echternach area, which was
well protected by flak. Two aircraft damaged, including K4-S. Landed
safely back at Ophoven where damage was repaired.
14.01.45 Field Order
W-51-5, Mission No 1 Armed Recce. K4-S Lt Kuhl. Sixteen P47’s vectored
into the ‘Bulge’ M/T (motor transport) of all types. Light and heavy
flak all around. Kuhl nearly hit the deck in K4-S. K4-P Lt Torbet had
prop shot off and belly-landed. Listed MIA but returned later.
Around mid January, it is thought the Black/White
D-Day stripes were painted out to the lower fuselage of ‘29150.
16.01.45 Field Order
HEG-1. Armed Recce. K4-S Lt Boyer. Twelve P47’s found a large
concentration of M/T, 5 miles West of Prum. 130 M/T, 8 flak guns, 4
tanks destroyed, 65 M/T’s damaged.
17.02.45 405FG left
St Dizier where they had been happily based for nearly five months and
had become quite settled. Their move was to Belgium, Site Y-32 Ophoven.
It was located in a marshy area and all of the runways, taxiways and
hard standings were constructed from pierced steel planking and an
Aviation Engineer Unit had to remain to keep the airfield operation.
21.02.45 Field Order
V-89-3. Armed Recce. K4-S Lt Kuhl. Twelve P47’s to rail cutting between
Köln, west of Grevenbroch, track cut in eight places, Kuhl destroys a
locomotive.
23.02.45 Field Order
No V-89-2 Mission 4. K4-S Lt Kuhl. Twelve P47’s were on an Armed Recce
to Köln-Düsseldorf area. In the region of Siegburg, East of the Rhine Lt
Kuhl and Lt Spencer in K4-R destroyed a designated highway bridge.
25.02.45 Field Order
No V-89-2. Area support. K4-S Lt Boyer. Eight P47’s were on an armed
Recce when the met with some Me262’s for the first time. The whole
mission was spent chasing and shooting at Me262’s with Lt Yothers in
K4-D scoring hits on one but should have got two confirmed.
13.03.45 Field Order
V-89-3. Armed Recce. K4-S Lt Kuhl. Twelve P47’s patrolled Rhine River
North of Köln. Some heavy and light flak encountered by Sowalsky and
Kuhl, but both managed to sink a couple of barges.
24.03.45 Field Order
V-89-11. Armed Recce 2. K4-S Lt Torbet. Twelve P47’s headed to the Ruhr
Area. bombed factory at Weitmar. Strafed 40 M/T with heavy flak. Eight
P47’s received damage including K4-S. minor damage quickly repaired.
24.03.45 Field Order
V-89-11. Armed Recce 3. K4-S Lt Mohr. (1st combat mission). Eleven
P47’s. Attacked airfield at Dortmund, bombs dropped on edge of woods.
Eight aircraft seen on airfield.
25.03.45 Field
Order V-89-4. Armed Recce 2. K4-S Lt Mohr. Twelve P47’s. Attack Werf
A/F. Dive bombed, results not known due to very good camouflage.
25.03.45 Field Order
V-89-4. Armed Recce 4. K4-S Lt Kuhl. Twelve P47’s to woods NE of
Düsseldorf to bomb some M/T. Later flew to Breckerfeld area and
destroyed more M/T in woods.
26.03.45 Field
Order V-89-4. Armed Recce 1. K4-S S Lt Swiggum. Twelve P47’s to Recce in
Ruhr Valley. Marshalling yards. Five locomotives destroyed, nine
damaged.
30.03.45 Field Order
V-89-3 Armed Recce 1. K4-S Lt Cecil. Twelve P47’s flew to Gütersloh A/F
attacked aircraft and M/T. Destroyed eight aircraft (six Ju88’s and two
Bf109 as well as two of each damaged). 56 M/T destroyed. Four aircraft
damaged by flak including K4-S.
23.04.45 405FG moved
to Site R-6 at Kitzingen, Germany, a former Luftwaffe night fighter base
and were not in combat again until finally settled in on the 29 April.
At least they were back at a proper airfield with runways, hangers and
buildings and had the best facilities they ever experienced.
08.05.45
Field Order J-29-2 Aerial Demonstrations. Twenty P47’s flew aerial
demonstrations over the thousands of camp inmates at Ebensee Camp. Could
not see camp, flew low over Ebensee town and out over Traunsee. K4-S
hits water and becomes the last P47 combat mission loss in Europe.
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