The skies over Bastogne have dawned clear, and this Forward Air controller, part of a team from the 367th fighter group and sent to the 101st Airborne, is watching the first elements of the air re-supply drops appear overhead...much needed food and ammo are being dropped by parachute from 9th AF transports, while also much needed medical supplies and surgeons are being brought in by glider.
A 101st Pathfinder team has set up station on a nearby brick pile and are guiding the transports in, while the Fighter pilot/FAC coordinates 9th AF fighters to escort the air armada, and search for any German armor and troops around the beleagured Belgian town...
He and his jeep team will continue to co-ordinate 9th AF fighter-bombers in the continuing days as they assist the troops on the ground in stopping the German offensive thrusts around the Bastogne perimeter. The concept of a FAC is new to the USAAF, although the RAF have been employing the concept with much success in the Normandy campaign and in the Pacific theatre; the basic concept of a seasoned Fighter-Bomber pilot working with the ground forces, identifying targets and communicating in Air Corps 'lingo'...
The 367th, the premier P-38 fighter group in the 9th AF, is currently in the process of converting over to the P-47D: attrition catching up to the P-38 inventory available to the ETO (the 9th's 474th FG will fly their P-38's until the end of hostilities).
His fellow pilots have followed closely on the heels of the ground troops in NW Europe, moving from base to base as the Allied armies push the German armies further back toward their own border: attacking German transport and transportatin centers; strafing and bombing German airfields and meeting huge gaggles of German fighters in the air, mostly down low...from 3000 ft. down to ground level...where the P-38's performance was at it's best...!
He's 'liberated' a helmet from the Division's acting headquarters, as artillery and German nocturnal bombers create havoc for Bastogne's citizens and defenders, and, although many 101st AB officers adopted the USAAC A2 jacket, the 367th FG emblem adorning his A2 give him away as a pilot.
Hello all,
I've wanted to bash a USAAC forward air controller for quite some time, although photos of them in action are almost non-existent.
When DML's 'Ben Harris' armored recon figure was released, I had the items I wanted (I thought 'Ben Harris' looked more like an Air Corps figure than an armored one).
I would still like to pose him with a radio and phone...but haven't been able to find out any info or pics of the type of radios used by these teams.
DML body (slimmed chest)
DiD 'Albert Ross' HS
DML OD officer's blouse and mustard wool trousers
DML service boots
DML 'Lou' cloth pistol belt
DML .45, holster, and first aid pouch
DiD .45 mag pouch
DML A-2 jacket (w/CVI 9th AF patch and home-made 367th FG patch)
DML gloves
DiD binoculars
DiD 'Ben Harris' sunshades
DiD M1 helmet-weathered with home-made decals added
As always-thanks for looking,
Bruce
