It also mentions that a rough landing on an icy runway caused some damage to the plane in 1942, and, following repairs, it was delivered to RAF Cosford, before being sent out to RAF Kenley to begin
bomber escort duties.
Eaker decided to move the 332nd Fighter Group from the Twelfth to the Fifteenth Air Force and give it a new
bomber escort mission.
In 1944, the P-51 replaced its fellow Heritage Flight fighter, the P-47, as the primary
bomber escort. While the Thunderbolt was a tough and capable dogfighter, it did not have the range to escort the B-17s and B-24s all the way to Germany.
The unit moved to England where it transitioned to P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, providing
bomber escort support.
Joining the US Army Air Force in 1942, Gilbert was posted to a squadron stationed in southern Italy in late 1943, from where he "ew Spit-res and later Mustang ghters on
bomber escort missions over Austria and southern Germany.
Joining the US Army Air Force in 1942, Gilbert was posted to a squadron stationed in southern Italy in late 1943, from where he flew Spitfires and later Mustang fighters on
bomber escort missions over Austria and southern Germany.
Ultimately, the Mustang would emerge as the air forces' dominant fighter because engineers at North American Aviation made the field modifications needed to make it work as a long-range
bomber escort before any of its competitors did likewise with their own models.
In an interview with the Ocala Star-Banner last year, he described how he had flown 250 types of planes and had a particular fondness for the P-51, which came into the war relatively late and was used as a long-range
bomber escort over Europe.
The squadron moved around to RAF Gravesend, RAF Tangmere, and finally ended up at RAF Church Stanton (later renamed as RAF Culmhead), where they were assigned to provide
bomber escort missions over France and Germany.
Holton told the Montgomery Advertiser that "well-meaning and highly placed speakers have beguiled audiences with the phrase 'the Tuskegee Airmen flew 200
bomber escort missions without losing a single bomber to enemy aircraft gunfire.'"
During the period from June 1944 through April 1945, the 332d Fighter Group flew primarily
bomber escort missions for the Fifteenth Air Force.
Mr Ayerst, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in December 1944, flew Spitfires on intruder sorties over France before and during D-Day and on
bomber escort duty against Germany's V-weapons sites and in support of mass daylight raids.