342nd Fighter Squadron, "Scourgers", New Guinea Edition

If you do not get a response from any family members I would be interested also. I have been gathering information on the 348th FG and would be willing to post the entire contents here on WW2f.

My Uncle would have known many of the people in the book (see 348th FG thread) and I may be able to flesh out a few more stories from him.

 

Joined ownership Fred !

 

Hello mwallace13, Welcome to the ww2f .

Letum dropped out of sight nearly as fast as he appeared I'm afraid. It happens sometimes. I tried to contact him but no joy.

If you can give us some info' on your grandfather I'll do some digging. When was he in the Group? Full name and service number would help but first name and middle initial will get me started.

Biak

 

I've found this so far:

2Lt. William P. Wallace from Roanoke Virginia was awarded the second Oak Leaf cluster to the Air Medal around June 1944.
Also credited with 2 enemy aircraft shot down as of beginning 1945.
Returned to the US on leave after 18 months in theater early 1945.

I'll keep digging.

 

Another snippet from John Stanaway's "Kearby's Thunderbolts" page 84 & 85.

February 3, 1944, after leaving Wewak area B-24 bomber escort. About 5 miles west of Wewak at 22,000 feet.

"Lt. Malcolm Rand got on the tail of one Tony that was trying to dive away from the area and fired until the pilot jumped and opened his silvery-white parachute. Lt. Bill Wallace approached another Tony from the rear and the Japanese pilot tried to escape by diving. Wallace fired a few bursts and convinced this Tony pilot to also abandon his fighter and take to his parachute."

"After Wallace had pulled up from his combat with the other Tony he looked around to clear his tail. He could see Lt. George Davis on the tail of yet a third Tony."

 

I have a few CD's from the AFHRA ( Air Force Historical Research Agency) containing the history and various other information on the 348th FG. I'll pull up the 342 sqd. and see what I can find within the history. Not a problem with the time lag, sometimes Life just gets in the way. I've been meaning to get back to updates on the thread and know full well the time constraints.

If you're interested you can contact them here for copies;
600 Chennault Circle, Maxwell AFB 36112
ph# 334-953-5834 or www afhra af mil
Don't forget to put in the "dots"

I called to find information on the 348th fighter group and they went above and beyond nice. Great group of folks.

 

Quick update,

Lt . William P. Wallace joined the 342nd in December 1943.
Just in time for some interesting missions in the Wewak area.

Feb. 3, 1944
Flying close cover for B-24 strike to the Wewak area, 16 planes of the 342nd encountered 7 Japanese fighters, 3 definitely destroyed - 1 each by Lts. Rand, Davis and (Wallace - one Tony), and another probably destroyed by Capt. Dunham.

During the month Lt. Wallace was awarded the Air Metal for operational missions performed and also an Oak Leaf cluster to the Air Medal. (It generally took several months for commendations to catch up to previous accomplishments)
General Orders No. 82, 11 February 1944 Award of the Air Medal
Second Lieutenant William P. Wallace, (0799682), 342nd Fighter Squadron, 348th Fighter Group, Air Corps, United States Army. For operational flight missions from 1 October 1943 to December 1943. Home address: Mrs. John C. Wallace (Mother), 1141 So. Jefferson St., Roanoke, Virginia.

December 1944 Tacloban
On the 10th of Dec. providing day cover for L.C.M.'s, which were transporting reinforcements to the Ormoc Bay area of Leyte, a morning flight of four sighted a Dinah which was destroyed by the flight leader Lt. Wallace.
On January 10th, 2Lt. William P. Wallace of Roanoke, Virginia, was appointed Flight Leader of "A" Flight when Capt. Robert H. Knapp left for temporary duty with the Fifth Fighter Command.
Second Lieut. William P. Wallace was awarded the third Oak-Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal during the month for 42 operational flights from February 9th, 1944 to June 22nd, 1944.

March 1945
One other pilot, 2nd Lt. William P. Wallace, made ready to return to the United States and was relieved and transfered from the organization for that purpose. Lt. Wallace, of Roanoke, Virginia, had been with this squadron for 18 months and saw action in New Guinea and in the Philippines. He has destroyed 2 enemy planes and holds the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters.

This appears to be the extent of items relating to Lt. Wallace. If I run across more I'll add.

 

Glad to help.

Was the P47 in Col. Kearbys paint scheme with "Fiery Ginger" on the side? It was sitting under the Enola Gays nose when I was there in 2010.

 

My brain isn't what it use to be and you're right about the P47. I was off a year also it was 2011. I was thinking there was a plaque with info on Col. Kearby's mission where he earned the Medal of Honor flying a P47 but probably got it confused with the one trip I've been able to make to the AF Museum in Dayton.

It was way back in, I'll say the late 90's just to give myself some wiggle-room, when I saw the P47 in the "Fiery Ginger" scheme on a visit to the Air Force Museum with my Uncle who flew with Col. Kearby's Group. He was able to step inside the ropes and we took a picture of him standing under the nose next to the propeller.

 

Welcome to the forum Mark.

I'll do some checking and get back to you as soon as I can.