Nose-guns of a P-38 Lightning lighting up the night sky as an armorer test-fires the weapons after routine maintenance,date unknown.Greetz,Brummbar

Firing test

Waistgunner Clark Gable with the 8th Air Force B-17F bomber,United Kingdom,1943.
Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the US entered WW2,C Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF  on 12th of aug 1942 in LA.He attended the Officers Candidate School at Miami Beach,Fla and graduated as second lieutenant on oct 28,1942.He then attended aerial gunnery school and in  feb 1943,on personal orders from General Arnold ,went to England to make a motion picture of aerial gunners in action.He was assigned to the 351st Bomb group at Polebrook and although not expected nor ordered to do so,flew 5 operational  missions over Europe in B-17's to obtain the combat footage he believed was required for producing the film'Combat America'.Gable was admired by the men of 351st because 'he had guts'.When he returned from his first combat mission,a teletype was sent,noting he had returned safely.When he heard of  this he said 'what about all the other guys,don't they get a teletype?'so their folks know their safe?'He asked that such a message wouldn't be sent anymore.Capt.Clark Gable returned to the US in oct 1943 and was relieved from duty as a major in jun 1944 at his own request,since he was over-age for combat.Greetz,Brummbar

Moviestar warrior

Col. Neel E. Kearby, a Medal of Honor recipient, developed aggressive tactics that exploited the strengths of the P-47 Thunderbolt. With 22 victories, he became the highest scoring Thunderbolt pilot in the Pacific Theater. Moreover, Kearby's tactics as commander of the first P-47 unit in the Pacific Theater led to considerable success for his 348th Fighter Group.

A mission near Wewak on March 5, 1944, was Kearby's last. While attacking a Japanese formation, a Ki-43 &quot;Oscar&quot; fighter pilot momentarily gained position on him. Hit by heavy machine gun fire, his Thunderbolt named Fiery Ginger IV crashed, and Kearby was killed.

MOH Citation

Place / Date: Near Wewak, New Guinea, 11 October 1943

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy, Col. Kearby volunteered to lead a flight of 4 fighters to reconnoiter the strongly defended enemy base at Wewak. Having observed enemy installations and reinforcements at 4 airfields, and secured important tactical information, he saw an enemy fighter below him, made a diving attack and shot it down in flames. The small formation then sighted approximately 12 enemy bombers accompanied by 36 fighters. Although his mission had been completed, his fuel was running low, and the numerical odds were 12 to 1, he gave the signal to attack. Diving into the midst of the enemy airplanes he shot down 3 in quick succession. Observing 1 of his comrades with 2 enemy fighters in pursuit, he destroyed both enemy aircraft. The enemy broke off in large numbers to make a multiple attack on his airplane but despite his peril he made one more pass before seeking cloud protection. Coming into the clear, he called his flight together and led them to a friendly base. Col. Kearby brought down 6 enemy aircraft in this action, undertaken with superb daring after his mission was completed.
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