Italian technical personnel engaged in the salvage of an USAAF’s Curtiss P-40 of the 57th Fighter Group’s 65th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Cocks” forced to land (engine failure? The plane is seemingly intact) behind the Axis lines, likely during the operations in Tunisia on the Spring 1943. Aircraft’s serial number unknown (tail rudder and fin already removed at the moment of the photo). Victor Sierra

Forced landing behind the Axis lines

The right side of the 2nd Lt. Thomas D. Davis’ Thunderbolt No 87 photographed by the Sgt. Fortier at Alto LG, Corsica. The fate of the Lt. Thomas D. Davis is reported, in the bureaucratic terms typical of the military papers, by the MACR (Missed Air Crew Report) 8380, classification Secret (classification cancelled after the war). Specify: Point of departure Alto L.G. Corsica, Course Northeast, Intended destination Bologna-Ferrara Hy, Type of mission diving bombing. Weather conditions and visibility at the time of crash or when last reported: 9/10 clouds from 800 to 1000 feet, visibility fair. Date 2 Sept. 44. Time 0825 hrs. Location L-9881. Type Model and Series: P47D25RE, Serial number 42-26421, etc. Attached to MACR 8380, headed 66th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, Office of the Squadron Commander, addressed APO (Army Post Office) 650, US ARMY, 5 September 1944, is the Statement of pilot,  2nd Lieut Harold A. Swanson: «I was flying wing man to Lt. Davis and, after our bomb run at MO-74, Italy, flights were reformed to recce the roads. There was an overcast from 6000’ to 7000’ and I was flying under the forecast. We stayed on the deck for about 10 minutes in search of targets of opportunity when at Lt. Davis made a climbing turn to pull thru overcast. I made mine straight ahead, came thru the overcast first, and then waited for Lt. Davis. When he failed to appear, I recced the territory we had covered and met with no success. A subsequent search by Lt. Johnson, flight leader, we also of no avail». Signed Harold A. Swanson, 2nd Lieut., Air Corps. Victor Sierra

The Lt. Davis last flight

Severely damaged B-17 bomber over Germany, 1943.  The initial confidence of the US Army Air Force in its ability to mount unescorted daytime bombing raids over German territory proved mistaken.  Best regards, JR.