History of the 348th Fighter Group

Hum, not sure but I think the outside gun is flush with the wing. That 'might' place them behind the head of the aircrew? Doing some checking, I guess some P-47's did have only six MG's. This link mentioned a six 'or' eight gun mount but I can't find any other reference. http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Republic_P-47
The picture is a P-47N just to show the flush edge barrrel position.

 

The following describes some of the ‘lessons learned and knowledge gained’ from the few months the 348th had been in theater. It was found out, later in the War, that a few of the Japanese pilots were not as intimidated by the "Head-On" attack as they were in late 1943, early 1944.

HEADQUARTERS 348TH FIGHTER GROUP
OFFICE OF THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
APO 322
2 February 1944
The following information has been taken from Individual Combat Reports.

ENEMY TACTICS - The most common tactics used by the enemy fighters are:

1. Steep climbing turns - both to the right and left with majority of the turns to the left. This is especially true of the Zeke.

2. Split “S” - this evasive action is almost invariably taken by the Tony.

3. Tight Luftberry - This is not as common as the above mentioned maneuvers, but has been used by the enemy several times - usually to the left.

4. Dives have been used occasionally, especially by the TONY, and to a lesser degree by the Val.

5. Enemy Bombers usually stay in formation and the only change they make in their formation, when attacked, is to tighten it.

OWN TACTICS

1. Get all possible altitude advantage.

2. Use tremendous diving speed of the P-47 to full advantage.

3. Attack enemy fighters from stern, if possible, and from a dive. Pilots try to attack from 4 O’clock and 8 O’clock positions, in case of enemy bombers.

4. No attempt is made to dog fight. Usually make one pass and keep going. This has been especially true of the 4 ship flights to WEWAK.

5. Head-On attacks are occasionally necessary and it has always been noticed that the Jap has no stomach for such attacks, and is always the first to break away.

Our pilots regard the TONY as by far the best enemy fighter plane, and the BETTY as the best enemy bomber, of those that we have encountered.

Another interesting fact is that we have never had a report from our pilots of having ever been fired at by the rear gunners of the VAL. In one case a pilot reported that he was able to see in the VAL, and that there was no rear gunner in the plane, and that the guns were sticking straight up into the air. We are of the opinion that the VAL’s we have encountered have had no rear gunners.

JOHN M. MILLER
Capt. Air Corps,
Group Intelligence Officer
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
COMBAT OPERATIONS

Operations of the P-47 type airplane with 305 gal. fuel internal tanks;
200 gal. fuel external belly tanks

Patrol Missions (4-4 ½ hrs) 16 or more airplanes.

1. Climb 18,000’ 33” Hq - 2300 RPM - 170 mph - 500’/min
2. Climb 18,000 - 25,000’ 36” Hq - 2450 RPM - 170 mph - 500’/min
3. Climb above 25,000’ 38”Hq - 2500 RPM - 165 mph - 500’/min
4. Level cruise to 25,000’ 30”Hq - 2000 RPM 200 mph 1 AS
5. Level cruise above 25,000’ 31 Hq - 2000 RPM - 190 mph 1 AS
6. Climb to 20,000’ on straight line at above setting will take formation approximately 150 miles from base in 45 minutes.
7. Average gasoline consumption (auto-lean above 8,000’)
a. Climb to 25,000 125 - 150 gal/hr
b. Level cruise 80 - 100 gal/hr
c. Average for mission 100 - 110 gal/hr
8. Radius of 300 miles maximum, allowing for 20 min combat and reserve of 50 gals.

ESCORT MISSIONS (3 -3 ½ hrs) 16 or more planes.

1. Same settings as above only formation has to weave constantly after leveling off to stay with bomber formation.
2. Over target, air speed is increased to 250 mph -35” and 2450 RPM, continually weaving and changing altitude within 1000 - 1500’ to off set enemy anti-aircraft fire.
3. Gasoline consumption is increased slightly, averaging 110 - 120 gal/hr.
4. Radius of 300 miles maximum, allowing for 20 min combat and reserve of 50 gals.

PATROL MISSIONS (4 - 4 ½ hrs.) 4 ship flight.

1. Same settings as I
2. Gasoline consumption averages 95 - 105 gal/hr.
3. Radius of action of 300 miles gives 45 - 60 min. over target.

 

I have a few photo's that were on the "Web-birds" site. It appears the site no longer exist. Jim Sterling was the admin. and I have tried to contact/email him over the last couple of years with no luck. If anyone knows anything about the site or Jim could you post or PM me?

 

A couple more;
Top; I "think" is Captain Walter Benz (right), later Commander of the 348th in Ie Shima, with Col. Rowland (left).



My Uncle and the reason for the thread.

 

It was said that when the Australians first saw the P-47 they asked where the rest of the crew was, when only one person climbed down.

 

I remembered reading this but just "Re-Found" the link;

"" The conventional three-bladed propeller could not efficiently utilize the power of the new engine, and a four-bladed propeller was adopted. Although this propeller was an admirable solution to the power gearing of the engine, there remained the problem of providing sufficient ground clearance for its 12-foot (3.66 m) diameter. If a conventional undercarriage were to be employed, its suspension would have been too far outboard to permit the wing installation of the guns, and ammunition requested by the USAAF. Therefore, Kartveli had to design a telescopic landing gear which was nine inches shorter retracted, than when extended. Numerous other problems were to be faced in absorbing the loads and stresses which would be imposed when a battery of eight 0.5-in. guns, (a phenomenal heavy armament for that time) were fired simultaneously, and in providing the necessary tankage for the quantities of fuel stipulated to make the machine the first true single-engined strategic fighter. ""
A good site for info on the "Thunderbolt" - Republic P-47 Thunderbolt - USA

Went back to the same site and read this on the Corsair:
"" With the awesome 2,804 cubic inch (46 liter) Double Wasp air-cooled radial engine developing 1,850 hp (1,380.6 kW), the only way to convert that kind of horsepower efficiently into thrust was with a huge Hamilton Standard Hydromatic, 3 blade prop which measured 13 feet 4 inches (4.06 meters) in diameter. And that created a problem of deck clearance for the prop. It seemed either the main landing gear had to be lengthened, or the prop had to be shortened.
Since the landing gear had to be very strong to withstand the pounding of a carrier deck landing, a short, stout leg was required. Also, there wouldn�t be enough room in the wing to properly stow a longer gear. And, if the prop were shortened, much of the horsepower of the Double Wasp would be wasted. So, Vought engineers came up with the distinctive inverted gull-wing design which forever characterized the F4U Corsair. This "bent wing" design allowed the huge prop to clear the deck while providing for a short, stout landing gear. And, as a byproduct, the wing also improved the aerodynamics of the intersection where the wing attaches to the fuselage, boosting the top speed.""


Now I keep getting a vision of the P-47 with 'bent-wings'?

 

A few more photo's. If anyone has or could find and upload others, please feel free to.





Top Left; Col. Kearby
Top Right; Major Dunham
Bottom; Dunham's P-47

 

Hello and Welcome to the forum foreverlynch,
I also saw your other post and I'll do all I can. I ordered a CD from the AFHRA at Maxwell AF base= Air Force Historical Research Agency - Welcome , contact them and request the Unit History for the 348th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force- B0302 & B302A, which has the Unit History. There are several files and 3 or 4 hundred pages contained. I'm not that computer literate so you might get a faster response Also if you don't have it, buy a copy of "Kearby's Thunderbolts" by John Stanaway. It is well worth the money and chalk full of information and pictures. Could you identify your Grandfather in the squadron picture above in the thread?
As I mentioned the CD has a lot of info' and if you want to post here or send me a PM I'll do my best to find what I can.
I just pulled out the Stanaway book and there is no mention of a James E. Lynch Jr listed, just a Tom Lynch? He was definitely in the 348th and he was one of the original members of the 341st Squadron: ser# 0665426 I'll keep looking. He may have been transferred to another group, some pilots were now and then.
The French site is I believe, a record of accredited kills by all P-47 pilots and also I think has a list of aircraft accident reports. I'll try to start going through the CD and see what I can find.
You should also check out Destro23's web site; his thread= http://www.ww2f.com/information-requests/29628-348th-fighter-group-341st-fighter-squadron.html
Good luck,

PS: just found this that may help: http://books.google.com/books?id=CqLWUO1Ni_wC&pg=PA214&lpg=PA214&dq=merle+zeine&source=bl&ots=r3Vom_UMMB&sig=yTlQ49QINbFqXGYG60j11d0C4Ig&hl=en&ei=wUaJTNOPFIWmnQfkxfySAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDYQ6AEwCDgK#v=onepage&q=merle%20zeine&f=false
It shows his service number and one victory.

PPS: Looking through the files I've found (so far) his service # 0665426, 341st roster 1942 at Westover Field, and that on Dec. 27th,1943, a day the 348th group shot down over 30 Japanese aircraft, 1st Lt. Lynch is credited with one "Oscar".

 

Thanks for the info' on the Operation Orders from Wing Headquarters for missions. I'm still learning the process of researching? I did find a couple of references to missions in the CD. From the Intell Officer reports. Looks like an email or phone call is in order now.

 

I will be enjoying a visit with my Uncle who was in the 348th Fighter Group in three weeks and wanted to 'put it out there' if anyone has a question or two to let me know and I'll ask. I've got the batteries ready for the mini-cassette recorder and a supply of blank tapes! Also a few bottles of alcoholic beverages (must have our afternoon Martini/Cocktail) and ordered a supply of his favored cigars for our evening chats. One of these days I'll get back in the groove and continue with the 348th's History, I'll post any information I get from our talks as I get them, but for now too many "irons in the fire".

 

The backbone of any unit is it's Sergeants. The 341st Sqd. mess sergeant was not only probably the best cook in the 348 FG but also a rather accomplished distiller of fine beverages. He had devised his own still and when the proper 'ingredients' could be obtained a special blend of Brandy would appear - albeit in a limited supply. When they moved out of Lae he was set to go with the first echelon but kept devising excuses why he should remain and move out with the second. The first always flew, the pilots and officers flying their own planes and the ground personnel on C-46 or C-47 aircraft. Those remaining would catch a ride on Navy LST's, LSG's or whatever was available. His dislike of flying held very little water as an excuse and even less when told his CO would also be flying as a passenger (and not flying his P-47) due to contracting "Dengue Fever" commonly called 'break bone fever'. Being the Squadron Commander and also being fully aware of the illegal still and knowing the real concern was the safe transport (and arrival) of his precious beverage dispenser, my uncle let the Sgt. know that he most definitely would be on the first move but to have his assistant crate and bring the still with him via the Navy. After realizing his little secret wasn't that much of a secret he felt somewhat better about not losing the still and they moved without any further procrastinations from him.

 

Just a little nugget;

When they were stationed on San Marcelino Col. Rowland called and ask Merle to accompany him to Bilibid Prison in Manila when word had been received that American POW’s, including a friend of Col Rowland‘s had just been freed. Landing their P-51’s on what was then called MacArthur Boulevard (which I believe may be Roxas Boulevard now) they made their way to where they met a few of the POW’s. After visiting his friend and preparing to take off Col. Rowland told Merle to “Tuck it in after we’re up”.
Immediately after they left the ground and had ’wheels up’, the Colonel started a slow roll. Tucked-in and following as every Wingman is obligated to do Merle followed his Commanders lead. Flying down the city street barely off the ground he soon realized what the Colonel had in mind and soon found himself upside down, the only thing he could do was complete the barrel roll hoping Col. Rowland had considered he was on the outside of the maneuver. The ground was a lot closer on his side. The folks watching their departure got a kick out of the ’airshow’ which was Col. Rowland’s intent. After returning to their airstrip Merle told the Col. he would really appreciate it if he never had him do that again. Rowland just laugh and said “ Aw, I knew you could handle it”.


I found this interesting link on Bilibid Prison:
Frankel-y Speaking - Chapter 13 - The Rescue of Bilbid Prison

 

Ed Roddy, well worth the 25 minutes to listen.
Timeless Voices - Ed Roddy
April 7, 2009 - Ed Roddy (1919-2009) was a P-47 pilot with the 348th Fighter Group during WWII. He later commanded the 58th Fighter Group, and in that capacity supervised the 201st Fighter Squadron, featuring the only Mexican pilots to see combat during WWII. 25 minutes, 5 seconds

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