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THE ACES OF THE 56TH FIGHTER GROUP


Capt. Walter V. Cook C, 62nd Fighter Squadron, flying P-47C 41-6343 (LM-W Little Cookie), scored the first aerial victory by a 56th pilot on June 12, 1943, over Blankenberghe, Belgium, downing an Fw 190. The group's final victory was an Me-262 of JG 7 shot down on April 10, 1945, by 2nd Lt. Walter J. Sharbo, also of the 62d Fighter Squadron, in P-47M 44-21237 (LM-C Marion - North Dakota Kid), near Wittstock, Germany.

The 56th Fighter Group had 674½ claims credited by the Eighth Air Force for German aircraft destroyed in air-to-air combat. U.S. Air Force Historical Study No. 85 recognizes 665.5 aerial victories for the 56th. This total is the second highest among USAAF fighter groups in the ETO (behind the 354th Group with 701), the highest among all Eighth Air Force groups, and the highest among all P-47 groups of the USAAF. Eighth Air Force also credited the 357th Fighter Group with 311 German aircraft destroyed on the ground, making an overall total of 976.5, which is second among all Eighth Air Force fighter groups.

Of the air-to-air totals, 4 were Me-262 jets, all shot down by P-47M's (Maj. George Bostwick and 2nd Lt. Edwin M. Crosthwait, 63rd FS on March 25, 1945, over Parchim; and Sharbo and Capt. William F. Wilkerson, 62nd FS, on April 10), and 2 were AR 234 jet bombers (both March 14, 1945, by the 62nd FS, 1st Lt. Norman D. Gould shooting down one and the other shared by 1st Lt. Sandford N. Ball and 1st Lt. Warren S. Lear). 2nd Lt. Walter Groce of ther 63rd FS shared a credit on November 1, 1944, with a P-51 pilot of the 352nd FG for one of the first Me 262 jets shot down.

Among the various units of the 56th, the 61st Fighter Squadron had the most victories, 232 shot down by 68 pilots. The 62nd Fighter Squadron was credited with 219.5 kills by 79 pilots, the 63rd Fighter Squadron with 174.25 kills by 64 pilots, and group headquarters with 39.75 kills by 4 pilots. There were a total of 39 Aces in the 56th Fighter Squadron. The following table provides information abut each one of them.

# Photo Name Squadron Kills Aircraft
1 Lt.Col. Francis S. "Gabby" Gabreski
Status: POW 20 July 1944
Rank : Colonel
Service: 1940-1946 1947-1967

He was an Ace in the korean war (6.5 kills).
only one of seven pilots to achieve Ace
status in two wars.

Awards:
Distinguished Service cross
Distinguished Service Medal
silver Star (2)
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (13)
Bronze Star
Air medal (5)
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign medal
asiatic-Pacific campaign medal
European_African-ME campaign medal
WWII Victory Medal
National Defense service Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross (British)
Croix De guerre (French)
Legion D'honnour (french)
Croix de Guerre with palm (Belgium)
Krzyz Walecznych (Poland)
United Nations Service Medal
Korean War Service Medal

61 28
2 Major Robert S. Johnson
Status: None
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service: 1941 - 1946

The first fighter pilot to break Eddie Rickenbacker's
WWI score of 26 victories

Awards:
Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
Silver Star
Purple Heart
Air medal (3)
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
European_African-ME campaign medal
WWII Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal

61,62 27 All Hell, Lucky, Double Lucky, Penrod & Sam
3 Col. David C. Schilling
Status: None
Rank: Colonel
Service: 1939 - 1956

Awards:
Distinguished Service Cross (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross (10)
Air Medal (19)
Silver Star (2)
American Defense Service medal
American Campaign Medal
British Distinguished Flyign Cross
WWII Victory medal
French Croix De Guerre

Grp 22.5 Whack
4 Fred J. Christensen Jr
Status: None
Rank: Colonel
Service: 1942-1946, 1948-1970

Awards:
  1. Silver Star
  2. Distinguished Flying cross (6)
  3. Air Medal (2)
  4. American Defense Service medal
  5. European_African-ME campaign medal
  6. WWII Victory medal
  7. National Defense Service Medal
  8. Armed Forces reserve Medal
62 21.5 "Boche Buster"-Rozzie Geth, Miss Fire-Rozzie Geth II
5 Major Walker M. "Bud" Mahurin
Status: Evaded 27 March 1944
Rank: Colonel
Service: 1941-1956

the first American pilot to become a double ace
in the European Theater and the only ace to shoot
down enemy planes in both the European & Pacific
Theaters and the Korean War (3.5 kills).

Awards
  1. Distinguished Service Cross
  2. Distinguished Flying Cross
  3. Silver Star
  4. Purple Heart
  5. Air Medal (4)
  6. american Defense Service Medal
  7. European_African-ME campaign medal
  8. WWII Victory Medal
  9. Distinguished Flying Cross (british)
  10. Croix de guerre with Palm (France)
  11. Croix de guerre with Palm (Belgium)
  12. Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal
  13. Korean War Service Medal
  14. United Nations Service Medal
  15. National Defense Service Medal
63 19.75 "Spirit of Atlantic City, N.J."
6 Major Gerald W. "Jerry" Johnson
Status : POW 27 March 1944
Rank: Major
Service: Unknown

Awards:
  1. Distinguished Service Cross
  2. Distinguished Flying Cross
  3. Air Medal
  4. WWII Victory Medal
61,62 16.5 In the Mood — "Jackson County, Michigan, Fighter"
7 Col. Hubert A. "Hub" Zemke
Status: POW
Rank: Colonel
Service: 1936-1966

General Jimmy Doolittle praised Zemke as his
"greatest fighter group commander." He commanded
the 56th Fighter Group in England, which came
to be known as "Zemke's Wolf Pack."

Awards:
  1. Distinguished Service Cross
  2. Distinguished Flying Cross
  3. Air Medal
  4. WWII Victory Medal
  5. Prisoner of War medal
Grp 15.25 Happy Warrior — "Oregon's Britannia"
8 Capt. Joseph H. Powers Jr.
Status: None
Rank: Captain
Service: unknown

61,62 14.5 Powers' Girl
9 Capt. Felix D. "Willie" Williamson
Status: None
Rank: Captain
Service: Unknown

62 13 Willie
10 Major Leroy A. Schreiber

Status: KIA 15 April 1944
Rank: Major
Service: Unknown

61,62 12
11 Major James C. Stewart
Status: None
Rank: Major
Service: unknown

61 11.5
12 Major Paul A. Conger
Status: None
Rank: Major
Service: Unknown

Awards:
  1. Air Medal
  2. WWII Victory Medal
61,62 11.5 Hollywood High Hatter — "Redondo Beach, California"
13 Capt. Michael J. Quirk
Status: POW 9 September 1944
Rank: captain
Service: Unknown

Awards:
  1. Air Medal
  2. WWII Victory Medal
62 11
14 1st Lt. Robert J. "Shorty" Rankin
Status: None
Rank: 1st Liutenant
Service: Unknown

61 10
15 Sqd. Ldr. Boleslaw M. Gladych
Status: None
Rank: Squadron Leader
Service: 1939-1946

He was a Polish fighter pilot. He served with the
RAF before getting an unofficial secondment to the
56th fighter group.

Awards:
  1. Unknown
61 10 Pengie and four successors
16 1st Lt. Stanley D. "Fats" Morrill
Status: Died flying accident 29 March 1944
Rank:
Service:

62 9 Fats-Btfsplk, Debt Collector
17 Major Michael L. Jackson
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

62 8 Teddy
18 Major George E. Bostwick
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

Awards:
  1. Air Medal
  2. WWII Victory Medal
62,63 8 Ugly Duckling
19 1st Lt. Glen D. Schiltz Jr.
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

63 8 Pam
20 Capt. Robert A. Lamb
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 7 Jackie
21 Major Leslie C. Smith
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 7 Silver Lady
22 1st Lt. Frank W. Klibbe
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 7 Little Chief-Anderson, Indiana
23 2nd Lt. Billy G. Edens
Status: POW 9 September 1944
Rank:
Service:

62 7
24 1st Lt. John H. "Lucky" Truluck, Jr.
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

63 7 Lady Jane
25 Capt. Mark L. Moseley
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

62 6.5 Sylvia
26 Major James R. Carter
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 6 Silver Lady
27 1st Lt. Robert J. Keen
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 6 Ice Cold Kattie
28 Capt. Walter V. Cook
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

62 6 Little Cookie
29 Capt. Cameron M. Hart
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

63 6
30 1st Lt. George F. Hall
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

Awards:
  1. Air Medal
  2. WWII Victory Medal
63 6
31 1st Lt. Frank E. McCauley
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 5.5 Rat Racer
32 Major Donovan F. "Dieppe" Smith
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 5.5 Ole Cock, Ole Cock II
33 Capt. Joseph H. Bennett
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 5.5 Ann II, Lucky
34 F.O. Evan O. McMinn
Status: Killed in action 6 June 1944
Rank:
Service:

61 5
35 2nd Lt. Steven N. Gerick
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

61 5
36 2nd Lt. Joe W. Icard
Status: Killed in action 8 March 1944
Rank:
Service:

62 5
37 Major Harold F. "Bunny" Comstock
Status: None
Rank:
Service:

Awards:
  1. Air Medal
  2. WWII Victory Medal
63 5 Happy Warrior
38 Capt. Joseph L. Egan, Jr.
Status: Killed in action 19 July 1944
Rank:
Service:

63 5 Holy Joe
39 Capt. John W. Vogt, Jr.
Status: None
Rank: General
Service: 1941-1975

Awards:
  1. Distinguished Flying Cross (5)
  2. Air medal (4)
  3. Bronze Star
  4. Purple Heart
  5. Silver Star
  6. WWII Victory medal
  7. Legion of Merit
  8. Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
  9. Army Distinguished Service Medal
63 5 Lucky Little Devil
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