P-47 units in New Guinea

Wildcat · 05-09-2007, 02:15 AM

Was wondering if someone could tell me what P-47 units served in New Guinea in WWII. On numerous occasions they acted as fighter escort to RAAF Vengeance squadrons. In 24 sqn RAAF ORB it states they were escorted by P-47's from the 35th FS on 31st Jan '44, but it appears the 35th was a P-38 outfit. Any help appreciated.

Snautzer · 05-09-2007, 04:17 AM

Maybe this will help.

5th Air Force USAAF in Australia 1942 - 1945

Regards

maxs75 · 05-11-2007, 03:50 PM

Wildcat,
I think I have a good summary about P-47 units of 5th USAAF during WWII.
Indeed the 35th FS seems to be a P-40 unit at that time. anyway the 36th FS got P-47 during october 1943 and I *think* it was possible that also 35th got some of them, being both part of 8th FG.
But maybe the best explanation is that your source can have mistakenly taken the 35th FG as 35th FS. Is it possible?
See below:
other P-47 units of 5th AF were:
49th FG (9th FS only) from late 1943 to april 1944, P-38 thereafter
35th FG (39th, 40th 41st FS) from late 1943 to march 1945. P-51 thereafter.
348th FG (340-342d and 460th FS) from mid 1943 to march 1945. P-51 thereafter.
58th FG (69, 310, 311 FS) from late 1943 till end of WW.

HTH
Max

PS: glad to be of help. I remember all Your info about RAAF units in october 1944.

syscom3 · 05-11-2007, 07:22 PM

The P47 was almost universally disliked in the PTO.

Its short range and lackluster performance at mid and low altitudes didn't endear it to the pilots.

Wildcat · 05-11-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxs75

Wildcat,
I think I have a good summary about P-47 units of 5th USAAF during WWII.
Indeed the 35th FS seems to be a P-40 unit at that time. anyway the 36th FS got P-47 during october 1943 and I *think* it was possible that also 35th got some of them, being both part of 8th FG.
But maybe the best explanation is that your source can have mistakenly taken the 35th FG as 35th FS. Is it possible?
See below:
other P-47 units of 5th AF were:
49th FG (9th FS only) from late 1943 to april 1944, P-38 thereafter
35th FG (39th, 40th 41st FS) from late 1943 to march 1945. P-51 thereafter.
348th FG (340-342d and 460th FS) from mid 1943 to march 1945. P-51 thereafter.
58th FG (69, 310, 311 FS) from late 1943 till end of WW.

HTH
Max

PS: glad to be of help. I remember all Your info about RAAF units in october 1944.

Excellent! thanks Max. From that info, it was obviously the 35thFG not FS (the record simply stated 35 sqn) The guy that typed it up must not have been up to scratch on USAAF formations, just like I've seen many US acounts wrongly stating RAAF sqn's.
Cheers mate.

Wildcat · 05-11-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syscom3

The P47 was almost universally disliked in the PTO.

Its short range and lackluster performance at mid and low altitudes didn't endear it to the pilots.

Sys, what role was the P-47 mainly used for in New Guinea? Fighter escort? ground attack? I must admit it seems to be one of the lessor known combat types in that threatre.

syscom3 · 05-11-2007, 10:13 PM

Wildcat, it was used in several groups because P38's were in short supply.

It was a fighter first, fighter-bomber second.

maxs75 · 05-12-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wildcat

Excellent! thanks Max. From that info, it was obviously the 35thFG not FS (the record simply stated 35 sqn) The guy that typed it up must not have been up to scratch on USAAF formations, just like I've seen many US acounts wrongly stating RAAF sqn's.
Cheers mate.

Wildcat,
going a bit deeper in researching I found the 35th FG bases (from WWII Combat squadrons of the Air Force):
39th FS Nadzab from 15 dec. 43, Gusap from 27 jan. 44 till june.
40th FS Nadzab from oct. 43, Gusap from 9 feb. 44
41st FS Nadzab from 22 oct. 43, Gusap from 15 feb. 44

35th FS (P-40) Finschafen from 25 dec. 43, Cape Gloucester from 19 feb., Nadzab from 14 march.
36th FS (P-47) Nadzab from 22 dec. 43, Finschafen from 9 jan, Nadzab again from 14 march.

So it seems that the P-47 were either from 40th or 41st FS, being based at Nadzab as No 24 RAAF squadron, while 35th adn 36th were not.

The 348th FG was based at Finschafen, while the 58th at Dobobdura was not yet combat ready; combat operations started in february.

I made a map showing the New Guinea airbases with My Maps of Google, but I dont' know how to post the link. Anyone knows?

HTH
Max

maxs75 · 05-13-2007, 01:46 AM

Hope it works:

Southwest pacific bases - Google Maps

Max

Wildcat · 05-13-2007, 06:42 AM

Great info there Max, thanks for the help mate. I like your map, great idea!some other strips you could add are Gurney, Jackson (7 mile), Alexishafen and Berry. Maybe you should post your link in Syscom's airfield thread.
Again thanks for the help.