Hi All, I had looked at this sound interview of American fighter pilots before but could not identify the group to which these officers belonged. This particular version is hosted on the PhotosNormandie YouTube Channel (f000298): <iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rDzEGZkaLLM" frameborder="3" allowfullscreen></iframe> The answer lies in the Texas Archive of film wherein I found a number of films credited as 'The Lt. Col. Jack Bradley Collection': The Lt. Col. Jack Bradley Collection, no. 1 - Airfield and Gun Camera Footage The Lt. Col. Jack Bradley Collection, no. 2 - Gun Camera Footage The Lt. Col. Jack Bradley Collection, no. 3 - The Fight for the Sky The Lt. Col. Jack Bradley Collection, no. 4 - Ninth Air Force Combat Film Film #2 above provided the Fighter Group identifier, as there is a soundless version of part of the same interview at the end of that film. The then Major Jack T. Bradley was C.O. of the 353rd FS during two separate periods in 1944. The 353rd was one of the three squadrons which constituted the 354th FG. He went on to command the 354th from October 1944 until the end of hostilities in Europe. I am presuming he is the officer being referred to as 'Brad' in the sound interview. The sound interview opens with the then 354th Group C.O., Colonel George R. Bickell being questioned regarding two missions the Group had flown the previous night and the morning of the interview (I presume from their appearance, the pilots have just returned from the morning mission). The reference to gliders and paratroopers must mean that the interview is on or near D-Day, so I done a bit of digging to see what this Group were doing on the great day. It turns out their work was glider escort missions - they were escorting the gliders and tows of Missions 'Keokuk' and/or 'Elmira' on the evening of the 6th and Missions 'Galveston' and/or 'Hackensack' on the morning of the 7th. This explains the references to glider landings and parachutes on the ground. Its interesting to speculate what these pilots witnessed during the glider landings - and, possibly, two of their aircraft were caught by cameramen in that well know footage of Wacos drifting overhead in Normandy (can't lay my hands on it just now). If the reader intends to watch all four films in the collection on the Texas Archive site, bear in mind that not all footage relates to the 354th FG. In those scenes which do, the three squadron codes are: 353rd - 'FT' 355th - 'GQ' 356th - 'AJ' There is some very good and some not so good quality footage in the films and lots of scenes therein are new to me. Anyone able to identify any of the other pilots in the sound interview? In particular I am trying to marry the guy referred to as 'Steve' to Capt. Bob Stephens of the 355th FS, who, as Colonel Stephens, USAF was killed in a F-100F Super Sabre crash in April 1960. See this page for more on this officer. Any help or suggestions appreciated. Thanks, Pat
Confirmed Lt. Colonel Jack T. Bradley; He is the pilot being interviewed and referred to as 'Brad' from time mark 4min28sec onward until the end of the film. He must have picked up his last aerial victory sometime afterwards as his final score was indeed fifteen. Regards, Pat
Hi All, Still looking to ID the major in post #2 above and I now think he may not be from the 354th FG. Anyone know what fighter groups escorted the various glider missions on D-Day and D+1? Thanks, Pat