HouseHobbit
Charter Member
I have sent the 56th fighter Group set out to be tested..
Here is a briefing for some of the missions:
ETO 1.40
ERA 3 (1943)
Random Spawns disabled
The Good, Bad and Ugly Mission set
I decided not to include the mission where the (Then) Rookie pilots shot down some spitfire's
while on a Ramrod mission
That was a Bummer..
*******************************************************************************************
June 12,1943 the 56th flew another rodeo, 20,000 feet above Pas de Calais. German Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 had made these skies so much its own that its pilots were known to Allied airmen as 'the Abbeville Boys,' named after the town where they were based. By flying 10,000 feet lower than usual, the group caught JG 26 by surprise. Over Ypres, Belgium, Schilling led the 62nd Squadron's 'Blue Flight' down after a Staffel (squadron) of Fw-190s, but as the Jerries scattered, a Schwarm (flight of four) moved around into kill position on Blue Flight's tail.
Still 'upsun,' Captain Walter Cook saw the trap and led 'Yellow Flight' down to the rescue. He opened fire on the trailing Focke-Wulf from 300 yards. 'Suddenly a big ball of fire appeared on his left wing and then black smoke poured out,' recalled Cook. 'He rolled to the left, went over on his back in a gentle roll, and then went into a violent spin, with smoke pouring out from the fuselage and wing. At no time did the pilot take evasive action, and I believe he was killed.'
*****************************************************************************************
26th November 1943
On a Ramrod to Bremen the 56th uses the 108 Gall drop tanks for the first time.
With a score of 23-3-9 the 56th sets a new ETO record.
Prior to take off, Lt Christensen's pet cat “Sinbad” was found in the parachute store. As the pilots attempted
to chase him out, he jumped from parachute to parachute. On return from the mission it was discovered that
every pilot whose parachute Sinbad had settled on scored a victory that day. After that day, Sinbad moved into
the parachute store, with Schilling supplying a comfortable pillow and a saucer of milk.
***********************************************************************************************
26th June 1943
The group stages to Manston for a Ramrod to Villecoublay and is bounced by Fw190s of JG26. Four P-47s are shot down
and ten more damaged. In addition to this another pilot is forced to bail out after damaged sustained
makes a safe landing impossible. After being blown out over the sea in his parachute Lt Ralph Johnson is quickly picked up
by a civilian fishing boat and returns to Horsham. All four pilots shot down are later found to have been killed.
During the action earlier that day, Lt Gerry Johnson spots a single P-47 flying straight and level being chased
by two Fw190s, one of which is covering the other as it fires on the Thunderbolt. Diving down to engage,
Johnson opens fire on the Fw190 attacking the P-47 which is still taking no evasive action.
The enemy aircraft explodes under the Thunderbolt's fire and Johnson sees the P-47 which it was attacking continuing to fly
straight and level in the direction of Manston, before the turns and attempts to locate the second Fw190.
Upon landing at Manston himself, Johnson finds another of the group's Johnsons, Lt Robert Johnson, telling how
a chivalrous German pilot, after continually attacking his already battle-damaged aircraft, had flown alongside and saluted
him before turning away. Not wanting to “spoil his glory” (Gerald Johnson's words in his book “Called To Command”)
Gerry Johnson says nothing at the time. The story of Robert Johnson and Half Pint has since
gone down in 56th FG history, helped most likely due to the account of the incident in Bob Johnson's book
“Thunderbolt”, written in the 1950s with Martin Caidin.
Charles Clamp and Robert Johnson become the 56th's first recipients of the Purple Heart.
Later in the month the group receives orders to prepare to move again.
Here is a briefing for some of the missions:
ETO 1.40
ERA 3 (1943)
Random Spawns disabled
The Good, Bad and Ugly Mission set
I decided not to include the mission where the (Then) Rookie pilots shot down some spitfire's
while on a Ramrod mission
That was a Bummer..
*******************************************************************************************
June 12,1943 the 56th flew another rodeo, 20,000 feet above Pas de Calais. German Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 26 had made these skies so much its own that its pilots were known to Allied airmen as 'the Abbeville Boys,' named after the town where they were based. By flying 10,000 feet lower than usual, the group caught JG 26 by surprise. Over Ypres, Belgium, Schilling led the 62nd Squadron's 'Blue Flight' down after a Staffel (squadron) of Fw-190s, but as the Jerries scattered, a Schwarm (flight of four) moved around into kill position on Blue Flight's tail.
Still 'upsun,' Captain Walter Cook saw the trap and led 'Yellow Flight' down to the rescue. He opened fire on the trailing Focke-Wulf from 300 yards. 'Suddenly a big ball of fire appeared on his left wing and then black smoke poured out,' recalled Cook. 'He rolled to the left, went over on his back in a gentle roll, and then went into a violent spin, with smoke pouring out from the fuselage and wing. At no time did the pilot take evasive action, and I believe he was killed.'
*****************************************************************************************
26th November 1943
On a Ramrod to Bremen the 56th uses the 108 Gall drop tanks for the first time.
With a score of 23-3-9 the 56th sets a new ETO record.
Prior to take off, Lt Christensen's pet cat “Sinbad” was found in the parachute store. As the pilots attempted
to chase him out, he jumped from parachute to parachute. On return from the mission it was discovered that
every pilot whose parachute Sinbad had settled on scored a victory that day. After that day, Sinbad moved into
the parachute store, with Schilling supplying a comfortable pillow and a saucer of milk.
***********************************************************************************************
26th June 1943
The group stages to Manston for a Ramrod to Villecoublay and is bounced by Fw190s of JG26. Four P-47s are shot down
and ten more damaged. In addition to this another pilot is forced to bail out after damaged sustained
makes a safe landing impossible. After being blown out over the sea in his parachute Lt Ralph Johnson is quickly picked up
by a civilian fishing boat and returns to Horsham. All four pilots shot down are later found to have been killed.
During the action earlier that day, Lt Gerry Johnson spots a single P-47 flying straight and level being chased
by two Fw190s, one of which is covering the other as it fires on the Thunderbolt. Diving down to engage,
Johnson opens fire on the Fw190 attacking the P-47 which is still taking no evasive action.
The enemy aircraft explodes under the Thunderbolt's fire and Johnson sees the P-47 which it was attacking continuing to fly
straight and level in the direction of Manston, before the turns and attempts to locate the second Fw190.
Upon landing at Manston himself, Johnson finds another of the group's Johnsons, Lt Robert Johnson, telling how
a chivalrous German pilot, after continually attacking his already battle-damaged aircraft, had flown alongside and saluted
him before turning away. Not wanting to “spoil his glory” (Gerald Johnson's words in his book “Called To Command”)
Gerry Johnson says nothing at the time. The story of Robert Johnson and Half Pint has since
gone down in 56th FG history, helped most likely due to the account of the incident in Bob Johnson's book
“Thunderbolt”, written in the 1950s with Martin Caidin.
Charles Clamp and Robert Johnson become the 56th's first recipients of the Purple Heart.
Later in the month the group receives orders to prepare to move again.
Hi Owen:salute: All 
