Barkey began flying p40s in africa, and after changing to fly the p47 in late 1943, was moved to italy. Checkertail clan 325th fg usaaf ww2 p40 p47 p51 15th af north africa italy aces noseart. I saw that too, but checkertail clan by mcdowell and hess links all his victories to the same mission. The checkertail clan was one of the most famous fgs to serve in the mto. I subsequently created three documentaries detailing the history of the. The 325th was credited with at least 3 airtoair kills in apriloctober 1943, of which 95 were bf 109s and 26 were macchi c. Checkertail clan 325th fg usaaf ww2 p40 p47 p51 15th af. Filmed during their recent 2008 odyssey, don and earl revisit 3rd reich. The 319th fighter squadron was born, along with her sister squadrons the 317th and 318th, as part of the 325th fighter group, later to become the famed checkertail clan, on june 24, 1942. Aces of the 325th fighter group aircraft of the aces. Known as the checkertail clan, the men and machines of the 325th fg made a great impression on the local population, whom greeted them as liberators when they arrived in march, 1944, such was the brutality of the german occupation in the region. Bf109 massacre on 30 july 1943 archive luftwaffe and. Desert sharks by heinz krebs fighters of the fg, af, the dreaded checkertail clan, as they attack a german tank column in the north african desert during the defeat of field marshal erwin rommels afrika korps in tunisia, early spring 1943 this stunning combat art. P40 warhawk important fighter early in wwii p40 warhawk wwii american fighter plane first flown in 1938 the singleseat p40 warhawk was available in large numbers when world war ii started, making it one of the most important fighters at the beginning of the war.
Seeking any information from p47 pilots out there regarding capt. The 325th fg was moved from rhode island to langley field, virginia, in january, 1943, where the group began training for navy aircraft carrier takeoffs in the p40. I lucked out this weekend and picked up a small grouping of items that belonged to a cecil o. Camouflage and markings of the north american p51 mustang. Memorial planned for checkertails of lesina 325th fg. The second part of my films on the 325th fg details the timeline between the transition to the p51 and the end of the war. On the subject of naming airplanes in the 325th, there was a sort of unwritten law that the airplane belonged to the crew chief, and many of these men were responsible for the.
Kerns, aviation cadet class 42k, cimarron field oklahoma, and later a 62 combat mission veteran flying the dallas blonde with the 319th fs of the 325th fighter group the checkertail clan. Wwii checkertail clan usaaf anniversary metal medallion military army air force. In december 1943 the 325th fighter group, the checkertail clan, moved into. It seems that on one mission, while in north africa, the 325th fg shot down 20 nazi planes earning the group their first distinguished unit citation. The curtiss p40 warhawk was an american singleengine, singleseat, allmetal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The 325th fg was activated under general order number 50 on 30 july 1942 and set. The 325th fighter group, called the checkertail clan due to its distinctive black and yellow tail markings, was. Coverage recaps pilots aerial combat over north africa, the mediterranean and europe. The 325th operations group is the flying component of the 325th fighter wing, assigned to air combat command of the united states air force. It conducts training on the lockheed martin f22 raptor and commands one operational raptor squadron. The 325th fighter group checkertails held their reunion, in conjunction with additional american pilots from world war ii. Volunteers are transcribing servicemen names and their awards from general orders that we are publishing on this website for enthusiasts, families and researchers of genealogy and world war ii history.
The checkertail clan got its name from axis sally which was the axis powers version of tokyo rose. Three documentaries on the 325th fg the checkertail clan. The 325th fg known as the checkertail clan flew p40s in the mto and was credited with at least 3 airtoair kills from apriloctober 1943, of which 95 were bf 109s and 26 were macchi c. Apart from the chequered finrudder, rear fuselage and tailplane the group had the black outlined yellow bands near the wingtips near to the end of. I found the following paragraph on plane naming in the checkertail clan book of great interest. Me262 pilot jorg czypionka joined colin for the book signing, and meeting these fighter, bomber and recon pilots was a great experience. Please be on the lookout for part two of beautiful aviation art. Ross glanville and family have graciously allowed me to share with you pictures of rosss father jim who was a pilot with the 317th fs. The book is well researched and includes information from official. Through his recollections of his war years in lesina, italy, my father primiano gave the spark that eventually became my mission to create a memorial honoring the us army air forces 325th. In a continuation of a previous warbirdsnews story about the checkertails of lesina, we bring you the conclusion story by tom ricci. Dick winters and the band of brothers near the eagles nest.
Inauguration of the checkertails of lesina monument. He began his aviation service as an enlisted pilot,fought in wwii with the 317th fighter sq of the 325th fighter group,the checkertail clan. He has 6 confirmed kills and was shot down over hungary in july of 1944 and. As one of the checkertails top aces who flew and fought in combat over italy. A pt boat short for patrol torpedo boat was a torpedoarmed. Here are links to the threepart documentary detailing the history of the 325th fighter group, also known as the checkertail clan who fought in. Squadron has an entire book devoted to them called checkertail clan.
Heatonlewis books camarillo 2012 autographed books sold by the authors. The annual airshow in camarillo, california was from august 1819, 2012. Entering combat on april 17, 1943 flying p40s, the 325th fg later reequipped with p47s and ended the war flying p51s. The group is stationed at tyndall air force base, florida. Incredibly detailed 5 scale us wwii ptboat as she appeared in 1943. We are a corporation that organizes the annual checkertail reunions, maintains this website and engages in promoting and promulgating knowledge of the legendary wwii war service of the checkertails. The aircraft resupplied the 33rd fg and the pilots were reassigned. In november 1943, they became part of the 306 th fighter wing, and moved to italy with the newly formed 15 th aaf, for. The 325th fg known as the checkertail clan flew p40s in the mto and was credited with at least 3 airtoair kills from apriloctober 1943, of which 95 were bf. Major herschel h green, 15th aaf fighter pilot, is shown here getting ready to take off from his base in southern italy.
Curtis p40 warhawk, cfs p40l of 325th fg checkertail clan this aircraft is one of a series of aircrafts of the so called checkertail clan. I think that in such situations, it was extremely difficult to keep up coordination and good tactics in a prolonged dogfight even if the germans had surprise on their side in the beginning. Herschel harper green american air museum in britain. Mig21 aces of the vietnam war aircraft of the aces book 5. Hasegawa north american p51d mustang large scale planes. Topic you have posted in normal topic hot topic more than 15 replies very hot topic more than 25 replies locked topic sticky topic poll.
This checkertail organization website is a central location for information on the wwii 325th fighter group checkertail activities. I am sure that there was a mission schedule in the back of the book but i have lost it my copy is over 20 years old so cant be 100% certain. It directs the flying and support operations of two f22 squadrons, a fighter training squadron. The first fighter flown by the 325th fg, the p40 warhawk in 325th colors. Curtisswright p40e kittyhawk, singleengine singleseat. The aircraft supplied the 33rd fg and the pilots were reassigned. Aces of the 325th fighter group aircraft of the aces book 117. The escort cover was provided by mustang p51 fighters of 306th fw and 325th fg comprising three fs 317. It is definitely red in the color sense of nose arts of those days. Elco pt596 model 1943 patrol torpedo boat detailed scale. The 325th fighter group, called the checkertail clan due to its distinctive black and. Members and family, supporters, wwii history buffs, and airplane enthusiasts who are interested in the history and members of the 325th fighter group known as the world famous checkertail clan.
I have been thinking that the letters are not black but red. In 2007 i started researching the history of the 325th fighter group after a discussion with my good friend ralph gimenez. Robert merrill barkey was assigned to checkertail clan 325th fg, 319th fs after his initial training. The lost images of the 325th fighter group the checkertail clan. After six months of intensive training in the p40 warhawk, the 317th embarked for north africa aboard the uss ranger, in consort with its sister squadrons, the 318th and 319th.
The last of the 15th af mustangs is this p51d of the famous checkertail clan 325th fighter group. Curtiss h81a2 hawk p40b tomahawk iia airfix 148 part2. The 325th fg was activated under general order number 50 on 30 july 1942 and set up training operations at theodore f greene field in providence, rhode. Checkertails 325th fighter group p40 p47 p51 usaaf. P40l5cu 4210664 lighthouse louie the 325th fg checkertail clan co lt col gordon h. Checkertail clan, the 325th fighter group in north africa and italy in wwii. Barkey became an ace on june 6, 1944 when he shot down an me 109 while flying a p51 mustang. Photo probably taken in italy, but they had jugs in north africa before they went to italy. Checkertail clan 325th fg usaaf ww2 p40 p47 p51 15th.
Kagero north american p51dk mustang and cavalier f51d conversion authors. The numerical advantage of the 325th fg must also be taken into account. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Desert sharks heinz krebs p40 fighters of 325th fg, 12th af, the dreaded checkertail clan, attack a german tank column during the defeat of field marshal erwin rommels afrika korps in tunisia in early 1943.
Drawings by john preston additional information from internet encyclopedia. The 325 th fighter group commenced combat operations in the mediterranean theater mto. Members and family, supporters, wwii history buffs, and airplane enthusiasts who are interested in. Thomas ivie chronicles the exploits of 325th fgs checkertail clan 27 aces in the 117th volume of ospreys aircraft of the aces series. The 325th fg was activated under general order number 50 on 30 july 1942 and set up training operations at. The 317th fighter squadron was activated on 1 july 1942 at theodore green airport, providence, rhode island, as part of the 325th fighter group, the checker tails. They flew their first missions, from north africa, while part of the 12 th army air force. May 16, 2014, four days that none of us will never forget. Thanks to norm hall, the video of the 325th checkertail clan at the airshow. Plastic scale model with extra details like steel barrels, photoetched parts. P40 fighters of the 325th fg, 12th af, the dreaded checkertail clan, as they attack a german tank column in the african desert during the defeat of field marshal erwin rommels afrika korps in tunisia in the early spring of 1943.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The 325th operations group is the flying component of the 325th fighter wing, assigned to air. The 325th fg also known as the checkertail clan, also flew p40s in the mto. Model is 19 inches long and 11 inches tall with base. The 325th fg known as the checkertail clan flew p40s in the mto. Major hershcel h green of the 325th fighter group, 15th air force in the cockpit of his p47 thunderbolt.
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