Hi All, I have found a British Pathe film with an unusually large collection of gun camera footage from USAAF single seat fighters. The footage is from different sorties but all from the 6th June 1944. The title is 'Aerial Warfare Air to Ground Footage' and numbered 2137.10 in their database. The footage lasts 11 minutes and 3 seconds, so I'll do up a table in my next post showing the time marks for each pilot/unit named on the title boards. My intention is to see if any of the locations can be found and to this end I need to limit the search area in northern France. Hence my first question: Does anyone know how far American single seat fighters could range into France from their bases in England? Thanks, Pat
With drop tanks they could go anywhere. I think we need to look for D-Day plans that set up Areas of Operations for the different fighter groups.
Hello Pat To answer your question, although not in France - Berlin for the Mustangs of VIII Fighter Command of the US 8th Air Force !! I think the Thunderbolts used to just about reach to Aachen, with drop tanks, as, IIRC, it was around there that the Luftwaffe used to wait until they turned back to take on the bomber formations. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang Range mentioned in each article - all you need is an airfield and a compass !! Try Boxted in Essex as a good example http://www.boxted-airfield.com/boxted-airfield-museum http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Boxted Bear in mind that most, if not all, VIII Fighter Command bases were in Essex/East Anglia. regards Allan
Thanks Guys, I have a list of times in and out for each pilot's footage on my desk at home which I plan to transcribe into a html table here tonight. There is a companion BP film showing yet more D-Day gun camera footage which I have saved in my favourites last night on the home PC. It seems to be all different again, so no duplication but still USAAF VIII Fighter Command stuff. I think it might be best to open a new thread for that film. I also found a short bit of German gun camera footage with one sequence showing the aircraft firing downwards towards a field, apparently at a ground target - until a Mustang with invasion stripes crosses into the view. It then becomes clear that the German pilot is firing at a point where he knows the American fighter will pass through. Rare footage indeed. Regards, Pat
hello Pat You might be looking, literally, in the wrong direction with VIII Fighter Command, as they are most probably IX Fighter Command from the 9th Tactical Air Force. Once again we go to Dave Clark for assistance on http://www3.sympatico.ca/angels_eight/9tac.html - where he has laid out the Fighter Groups and their operating bases, which, happily for us, are in southern England, and then it lists the ALG in France that they moved to, and the date!! Hope this helps regards Allan
Thanks Allan, I got the airfields and aircraft type for the table below from pages 166-167 of Ken Delve's 'D-Day - The Air Battle': <table width="825" border="0" align="center" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <tr bgcolor="#0000FF"> <td height="32" colspan="7"><div align="center"> <p><font color="#FFFF66" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong> British Pathe Film 'Aerial Warfare Air To Ground Footage' (BP Film #2137.10)</strong></font> </p> <p><font color="#FFFF66" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Index to Gun Camera Footage 6th June 1944 </strong></font></p> </div></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#0033FF"> <td width="152" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Pilot </font></div></td> <td width="143" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">USAAF VIII Fighter Command Unit</font></div></td> <td width="111" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Combat Film No. </font> </div></td> <td colspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Time</font> </div> </td> <td width="194" rowspan="2"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Airfield / Aircraft Type </font></div></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#0033FF"> <td width="64"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">In</font> </div></td> <td width="88" bgcolor="#0033FF"><div align="center"><font color="#99FF00" size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Out</font> </div> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">?</font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">?</font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">?</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">00:00</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">00:28</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">?</font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2nd Lt. D.R. Emmerson </font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">336th FS / 4th FG </font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5823</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">00:29</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">01:40</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Debden / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Maj. J.A. Goodson </font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">336th FS / 4th FG </font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5828</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">01:41</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">02:58</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Debden / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lt. Furneaux </font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">351st FS / 353rd FG </font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5739</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">02:59</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04:04</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Raydon / P-47 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lt Downey </font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">374th FS / 361st FG </font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5844</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04:05</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04:26</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bottisham / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lt Rosenberger </font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">375th FS / 361st FG </font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5853</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04:27</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04:41</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bottisham / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">1st Lt Alcorn </font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">376th FS / 361st FG </font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5868</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">04:42</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">05:05</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bottisham / P-51</font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#66CCFF"> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">1st Lt. Stryland </font></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">376th FS / 361st FG</font></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5876</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">05:06</font></div></td> <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">05:30</font></div></td> <td><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bottisham / P-51</font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Capt. Christensen </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">62nd FS / 56th FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5724</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">05:31</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">06:50</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Boxted / P-47 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lt. Chetwood </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">350th FS / 353rd FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5728</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">06:51</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:01</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Raydon / P-47 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2nd Lt. J.W. Scott </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">328th FS / 352nd FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5935</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:02</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:29</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bodney / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2nd Lt. M. Godfrey </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">328th FS / 352nd FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5936</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:30</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:39</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Bodney / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Col. W. Cummins </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">357th FS / 355th FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5904</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:40</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:49</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Steeple Morden / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lt. R. J. Booth </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">369th FS / 359th FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5921</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">07:50</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">08:36</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">East Wretham / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">2nd Lt. H. F. Cuaner </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">369th FS / 359th FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5926</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">08:37</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">09:35</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">East Wretham / P-51 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">? T.W. Newton III </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">84th FS / 78th FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5739</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">09:36</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">09:42</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Duxford / P-47 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lt. Maguire </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">351st FS / 353rd FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5742</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">09:43</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10:42</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Raydon / P-47 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lt. Coffey </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">350th FS / 353rd FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5729</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10:43</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10:58</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Raydon / P-47 </font></td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#99FF00"> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Col. Duncan </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">350th FS / 353rd FG </font></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">5752</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">10:59</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">11:03</font></div></td> <td bgcolor="#66CCFF"><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Raydon / P-47 </font></td> </tr> </table> If anyone spots any errors or omissions please let me know. I can't read T.W. Newton III's rank from the title board at 09:36. Also, if anyone comes across any photos or additional information on these pilots, please do post your findings here. Regards, Pat
Hi All, The note on the map here titled 'D-Day Air Dispositions and Principle Targets Assigned in the Assault Area' reads thus: Also I note the last sentence in this HyperWar extract: Anyone able to dig up the plans for 'Full House', 'Stud' or 'Royal Flush' I found a reference on this map to the code word 'Flush' and marked in blue the fighter 'boxes' which I think we should first search for the footage locations: However, according to Ken Delve in his book 'D-Day - The Air Battle' on pages 119-120 he states: So it looks like the gun camera footage is from aircraft which have come 'off duty' on fixed patrols and are flying round looking for ground targets of opportunity. Piece of cake - I thought the way you guys were talking about drop tanks that we would have to look in four or five countries Regards, Pat
Hello Pat That map also appears on http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/06/06/d-day-70-pt-22-operation-overlord-allied-airpower-over-normandy-6-june-1944/ where it mentions "Royal Flush" two photos down from the map. Nice pic's on here - and links to other D-Day etc. photo pages regards Allan
Thanks Allan, These pictures appear to be first generation copies; very sharp. Working on the other D-Day collection of gun camera extracts in BP Film #1891.01. I've just come across two pilots in that collection with the rank of 'F/O' - I presume these men must be RAF or Commonwealth pilots flying with the USAAF :huh: Will have that list up on a new thread in a few minutes. Regards, Pat
Hello Pat My cousin who was a Mosquito fb VI navigator on 107 squadron had an American pilot (Donald Demarest Button) who was USAAF, who was initially RAF and then transferred, but was allowed to complete his RAF tour of ops. Regards Allan
Hello Pat I appear to have crossed over and put comments on the other camera gun thread about Decker and Button. regards Allan
Flight Officer is a valid US rank usually given to NCOs who fly prior to being commissioned as 2LT. Sometimes 2LTs are given status as Flight Officer when they are still in training.