Dirt and flame spur as this B-24J of the 854th Squadron of the 491th Group ploughs into a field at 150 mph. It was hit by flak at 1,500 feet as it was making a climbing turn from DZ 'W' during a resuply mission to the 101st Airborne during operation 'Market'. The pilot, Capt James K. Hunter tried a crash-landing in a field near Udenhout. The field was too short, and seconds after this photo was taken the aircraft hit trees and a haystack and exploded, killing the entire crew save for one gunner, Frank Di Palma, who was thrown clear and severely wounded. Holland, September 18, 1944.

Seconds to disaster

An USAAF’s 57th Fighter Group’s pilot reading for the take off with a Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt Bf 109G captured in flying conditions on a Sicilian Airfield (Pachino or Scordia) in the Summer 1943 after the conquest of Sicily (the 57th FG was in Sicily from 20 July 1943 until 18 September 1943). From the 57th FG’s site the personal of account of a pilot, Captain James Hadnot, 114 fighter combat missions, which had a  most unique experiences his flying of three captured Bf 109’s taken on Sicily. “During the Sicilian campaign one German airport was captured so quickly the Germans didn’t have time to destroy three of the Me-109’s on the field. After these planes were painted a bright yellow and given Army markings for easy identification they were turned over to the 57th for trial”. As soon as he mastered the technique of flying them – and according to Jimmy they take special handling – he in turn instructed other pilots in their use. The planes were not modified in any way, the instrument markings were left in German and on occasions German gasoline was used in them for more accurate competitive performance. Using the captured German planes selected pilots flew them in combat and simulated “dogfights” with pilots in American planes so our men would be familiar with the abilities and weaknesses of the Bf 109’s. Victor Sierra

In flight with the Messerschmitt 109

One of the Messerschmitt Bf 109Gs, perhaps of Luftwaffe’s JG53, captured in Sicily by the USAAF’s 57th Fighter Group, July 1943, was transformed, with works in the field, in two seat aircraft removing the fuselage tank, replaced by the belly tank, to accommodate the second seat. Obviously, lacking a suitable canopy, the original canopy was removed, keeping only the windscreen and the aircraft turned into an “open cockpit” plane. Transformation’s author was the Sgt. Fred Symmank, enlisted man of technical services of 57th Fighter Group’s 65thFighter Squadron, while one of the pilots was the Lt. Jim Hadnot, a 65th Fighter Squadron’s Officer. Note under the open cockpit the original writings in German. Victor Sierra