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Forgotten Fifteenth

Page 33

by Barrett Tillman


  Hoosier, 238

  Hornet, 1

  Houston, TX, 43

  Hughes, Howard, 59

  Hungary, Hungarians, 62, 66, 70. See also Royal Hungarian Air Force

  armed forces of, 70–71, 143, 198–99, 266

  as Axis power, 62, 66, 183, 274

  combat in, 62, 90, 107, 132, 151, 163, 172, 185, 189–90, 201, 203, 205, 220, 223, 238, 270, 274

  Huns, the, 52

  Huth, Joachim-Friedrich, 39–40, 44

  I

  IAR 80s, 103, 109

  IAR 180s, 88, 109

  IARs, 90, 103, 109

  Idaho, 65

  “Il Duce.” See Mussolini, Benito

  Imperial Japan, 254

  Imperial Navy, 82

  India, 261. See also China-Burma-India Theater

  Indianers, xiv

  Indians, 38

  Innsbruck, xi–xiii, 17, 130, 211, 240

  Is Everybody Happy?, 74

  Isle of Capri, 75

  Italian air force, 6, 153

  Italy, Italians, xi, 99, 264, 266–67, 269

  Allied operations in, 2–4, 8, 13, 18, 20–21, 26, 32–33, 36, 42, 45, 53, 55, 76, 93, 106, 113, 128, 151, 167–68, 171–75, 177, 181, 190, 206–7, 218–20, 232, 239–40, 242, 244, 250, 259, 269

  armed forces of, 6, 12, 22, 39–40, 109, 153, 193–94

  as base for the Fifteenth, ix, xi, xiv, 3, 5–7, 14, 16, 22, 25–26, 29–30, 43, 49, 74–75, 101, 105, 108, 131–32, 139, 142, 144–45, 151, 166, 174, 176, 180, 184–85, 189–90, 199, 207, 226, 229–30, 254, 259, 260–62, 269, 272

  German operations in, 20, 39–40, 123, 153, 190

  German surrender of, 176

  photography of, 159–60

  victory flights in, 245

  weather in, 11, 16–17, 25, 29–30, 42, 45, 49, 108, 149, 173, 213, 215

  I/ZG76, 70

  J

  Jack London, 74

  Jagdervand (JV) 44. See under Luftwaffe

  Jagdflieger, 77–78, 80, 225

  Jagdfliegerführer Ostmark, 40

  Jagdgeschwader (JG). See under Luftwaffe

  Jagdwaffe. See under Luftwaffe

  Japan, 1, 73, 82, 92, 96, 254, 260–61

  Jarmon, James, 130

  Jay, Edward, 71

  Jean, Gloria, 73

  Jefferson, Thomas W., 242

  Jelich, Milosh, 168–69

  Jenkins, Larry, 128–29, 281

  Jenkins, Robert, 121

  Jerries, 125

  Jewish, Jews, 107, 176

  John Harvey, 16

  Johnson, Bruce, 5–7

  Johnson, David, 216

  Joint Chiefs of Staff, 3, 16, 29, 31, 201, 262

  Joint Oil Targets Committee, 129–30

  Jones, Bill, 74

  Jones, Hugh, 122, 268

  Jones, Wilson, 41–42

  Junkers, 128, 186, 202

  Junkers 52s (J-52s, Ju 52s), 34

  Junkers 88s, 16, 106, 140, 202, 236, 238

  K

  K-17 cameras, 162

  K-18 cameras, 162

  K-24 cameras, 153

  Kameraden, 221–22

  Kane, John R. “Killer,” 14, 121

  Kansas, 199

  Karachi, 194

  Karatsonyi, Mihaly “Mike,” 190, 266

  Katschke, Kenneth, 200

  Keese, William B., 51

  Kelly, Thomas C., 212

  Kempten, 123

  Kennedy, Jack, 265

  Kentucky, 33–34

  Kepner, William E., 63

  Kesselring, Albert, 2, 36–37

  King, Ernest J., 218

  Kingsley, David R., 110–11, 260

  Kirtland Air Base, 187

  Kitty Hawk, NC, 173

  Klagenfurt, 242

  Klemm, Rudolf, 80

  Knight’s Cross, 39, 79, 230

  Knoblock, Bruce D., 188–89

  Koch, Chester, 45

  Koenig, Hans-Heinrich, 80

  Koldunov, Aleksandr, 200, 265

  Konsynski, Benjamin, 14

  Korea, 94, 251

  Korean Air Lines, 265

  Korean War, 263

  Kovaleski, Edward S., 242

  Kraigher, George, 178

  Krakow, 128, 189

  K rations, 267

  Kriefsgefangenen (“Kriegies”), 232–33, 237, 248

  Kurtz, Frank A., 92, 186–87

  Kyle, Reuben, 184

  L

  Lady Be Good, 8

  Lake Balaton, 90, 190, 199

  Langford, Frances, 74

  La Spezia, 13

  Latin, 258

  Latvia, 96

  Lauer, Ford J., 97

  Lavelle, John, 262

  Lawrence, Charles W., 225, 281

  Lay, Beirne, 259

  Leadingham, Arthur M., 23

  Lecce, 11, 20, 278

  Lechner, August, 198

  Lee, William L., 195

  Legg, Richard A. “Dick,” 212

  Leghorn, 267

  Leigh-Mallory, Trafford, 29

  Leipheim, 221

  LeMay, Curtis, 8

  Leonard, Charles, 265

  Leonard, Raymond, 242

  Lesina, 206, 278

  Lester, Clarence “Lucky,” 123–24

  Levine, Robert, 56

  Lewis, Ted, 74

  “Liberaiders,” 49

  “Liberandos,” 8, 14, 23, 106, 167, 169

  Liberators (Libs). See B-24 Liberators

  Libya, 84

  Licata, Dominic, 36

  Lightnings. See P-38 Lightnings

  Lindemann, Frederick, 88

  Linz, 196–97, 212, 224, 241

  Little Stud, 58

  Litton, William P. “Bill,” 127, 131

  Lockheed, 18, 21, 164, 203, 206, 212, 231, 237, 239

  Lockheed-Vega, 9

  Lockney, Ralph, 242, 244

  London, 17–18, 74, 84–85, 92, 225, 244, 259

  Los Angeles Olympics (1932), 92

  Lost City of Atlantis, 256

  Louise, the Red Cross lady, 157

  Louisiana, 188–89, 263

  Loving, George, 61, 262, 268

  Loyalists (Italian), 6, 22, 38

  “Luft Four.” See Stalag Luft IV

  Luftwaffe, 92, 104, 146, 149, 159, 185, 236–37, 263, 266

  Big Week and, 38–49

  Bulgaria and, 67, 144

  D-Day and, 138

  defense by the, 13, 38, 55, 57, 70–71, 77, 86, 123, 142, 164–66, 192, 198, 204–6, 225, 231, 256–57

  fights against the Fifteenth, xiv, 4, 15–16, 24, 33, 35, 63, 71–72, 112, 124–27, 153, 219–20, 253

  fights against the Fourteenth, 19

  Frantic and, 105

  fuel shortage and the, 115, 119, 237, 256–58

  Jagdwaffe, 42, 77, 113

  JG 3, 67, 79, 112, 126

  JG 7, 281

  JG 52, 117

  JG 53, 185

  JG 77s, 185

  Sturmstaffel, 79

  JG 300, 204

  JG 301, 67, 112

  JV 44, 230, 281

  leaders of the, 78

  loss rates of the, 80, 192, 268

  Luftflotte (Air Fleet) Two, 39

  organization of the, x

  pilots of the, 20

  POW camps, 233

  raids by the, 16

  reduction in training hours for the, 77, 255

  Schlachtgeschwader 10, 238

  shortage of men in the, 79

  Staffeln, xiii

  Stuka Wing 77, 128

  Third Gruppe, 128

  Thistle aircraft and, 91

  Yugoslavia and, 166–67

  Luke, Frank, 18

  Lusia, 241

  Lyon, 138

  M

  MacArthur, Douglas, 260

  Macchi-Castoldi 205s, 39–40

  Macchis, 22, 34, 109

  MacCloskey, Monro, 171, 173–74

  MacVittie, William R., 157

  Madjarevic, Bodgan, 166

  Magyar, 90,
190, 238

  Maine, 186, 265

  Maloney, Thomas E. “Tom,” 140–42, 273

  Manduria, 45, 65, 85, 94, 132, 278

  Manhattan Project, 187

  Mann, Farley G., 243

  Maquis, 138, 171

  Marauders, 37

  Mariana Islands, 261

  Marine Corps, 28, 159, 262

  Marseille, 5, 13, 138, 141

  Marshall, George C., 3, 12, 18, 218

  “Martin Wiethaupt,” 194. See also Monti, Martin J.

  Massachusetts, 238, 242

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 55, 88

  Mauldin, Bill, 259

  Mauser rifles, 189

  Maxwell, Robert W., 175

  May Day, 243

  Mayer, Egon, 78

  Mayer, Frederick, 176

  McConnon, James, 269–70

  McConnon, John S., 269–70

  McCorkle, Charles M., 56

  McCorkle, Sandy, 61

  McDaniel, Gordon H., 223

  McElroy, George, 128

  McGovern, George, 208, 240, 265

  McGuire, Melvin, 205

  McIlheran, R. C., 106

  McManus, Leonard M., 173–74, 176

  McNichol, George, 20

  McQuaid, Frank, 119–20

  Me 109s, 62–64, 72, 87, 107, 123–24, 190

  Me 110s, 106

  Me 163s, 220

  Me 210s, 71

  Me 262s, 47, 108, 164, 206, 220–22, 225, 227–31, 253, 263, 266, 268

  Me 410s, 71

  mean point of impact (MPI), 227–28

  “Med, the,” 259. See also Mediterranean Theater

  Medals of Honor, 111, 260

  Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF), 18, 27, 201

  Mediterranean Theater, 100, 128, 159

  casualties in the, 13

  leaders in the, 2, 18, 27, 40, 133, 137, 178, 273

  as lesser theater, 166, 258–60

  operations in the, 10, 45, 97, 158, 172, 174, 181–82, 192, 202, 210, 242, 250, 255

  polio in the, 128

  strategy for the, 4, 156, 171, 218

  Megara Airdrome, 192

  Memmingen Airdrome, 123, 125

  Memphis Belle, The, 260

  Merlin engines, 56, 156, 186

  Messerschmitts (Me’s), x, xiii

  Budapest and, 90

  factories for, 14, 17, 23, 45, 47, 221

  missions by, 15, 34, 39, 43, 47–48, 57, 60–64, 66, 69–71, 77, 91, 94, 105–6, 108–11, 116–17, 123–24, 133, 142, 145, 153, 158, 163–64, 190, 198, 202, 206, 220, 222, 225, 227–28, 263, 266, 268

  resemblance with Mustangs, 60

  Messina Strait, 2

  MIA, 242, 244, 270, 280

  Michael (Romanian king), 136

  Mickey Mouse, “Mickey,” 89–90, 197–98

  Mielec Airdrome, 128

  “Mighty Eighth,” ix, 18, 41, 95, 105, 258–60. See also Eighth Air Force

  Mihailovi, Draža, 177–79

  Milan, 194, 270

  Miller, Edward L., 217

  Miller, Harry, 99

  Milojevic, Dusan, 167

  Minneapolis, MN, 263

  Mirgorod, 96, 98–99

  Mission 253, 241

  Mission 412, 243

  Mitchell, Otis, 41–42

  Mitchells, 1, 13, 37, 249

  Mixson, Marion C., 205

  Mohawk, Hiawatha, 105

  Mollison, James A., 195, 249

  Mondolfo, 244, 279

  Monte Cassino, 35–36, 38

  Montenegro, 174

  Monti, Martin J., 193–94

  Moonlight in Vermont, 73

  Moosbierbaum, 69, 220

  “morale bombing,” 4, 22, 51–53, 66

  Moravia, 174

  Morehead, James B., 139

  Morgan, J. L., 118

  Morgan, William R., 195

  Mormons, 249

  Morocco, 249

  Morris, Harry, 238

  Morrison, George, 118

  Morrison, Joe, 103

  Mortensen, Gale, 203, 207, 249, 281

  Mortimer Snerd, 21

  Moscow, 31, 82, 98–99, 136, 183, 200–1

  Mosquitoes “Mossies,” 156, 160

  Mount Kasereck, 45

  Mount Vesuvius, 267

  MTAF, 159

  Mullins, John, 264

  Mullins, Phyllis, 264

  Mumford, John D., 66

  Munich, xi, xiii, 5, 39, 164, 196–98, 202, 225, 230–31, 238–39, 255

  Munn, Marden, 50

  Murphy, Audie, 165

  Muse, Hugh, 20

  Muslim countries, 36

  Mussolini, Benito, 6, 22, 40

  Mustangs, xiii, 45

  design of the, 56–57

  overall statistics of the, 251–53, 262

  use by the Fifteenth, 56–62, 64, 66–69, 72, 80, 90, 94, 97–98, 100, 105, 107, 109–10, 116–18, 123–32, 139, 145, 151, 156, 164, 186, 195–200, 202–3, 205, 222, 225, 229, 232, 236, 247, 251–53, 262, 268–69, 271

  N

  Naples, 75, 142, 151, 159, 194, 267

  NATO, 262, 266, 274

  Nazi Germany, Nazis, 83, 194, 225, 244, 254, 272

  Nebraska, 65

  Nelson, Robert, 120

  Nelson, Roy W., Jr., 29–30, 213

  Neuberg, 225

  Never a Dull Moment, 74

  New Caledonia, 28–29

  New Hampshire, 180

  New Mexico, 65, 106, 233

  New Year’s Day, 212, 215

  New Year’s Eve, 173, 212–13

  New Zealand, 38

  Nice, 57

  Nis, 199–200

  Nixon, Richard, 265

  Norden bombsight, 110, 216

  Normandy, 4, 84, 100, 104, 137

  Norris, Roy, 193

  North Africa, 11, 18, 22, 25, 36, 98, 128, 261

  invasion of, 2, 94, 151, 168

  North African Coastal Command, 29

  North African Strategic Air Force (NASAF), 2

  North American Air Defense Command, 262

  North American (company), 9, 56–57, 251

  North Sea, 266

  North Vietnam, 262

  Novak, Alfred, 222

  Nové Zámky, 223

  O

  Oakland, PA, 270

  Oberfeldwebel, 236

  Obertraubling, 221

  Occupation Air Force, 248

  O’Connell, Paul B., 242

  Odertal, 119, 142, 187, 204–5, 217, 270

  Office of Strategic Services (OSS), 170–71, 177–79

  O’Hare, Edward “Butch,” 125

  Ohio, 154–55, 202

  Ohr, Fred, 94

  Oil Plan, 220, 255

  “oil triangle,” 205

  Oklahoma, 141

  Olomuc, 270

  Operation Anvil-Dragoon, 137

  Operation Argument, 38–39, 41, 47–48

  Operation Carpetbagger, 170–77

  Operation Frantic, 95–97, 101, 105, 131

  Frantic One, 97

  Frantic Three, 127

  Operation Frantic Joe. See Operation Frantic

  Operation Freedom, 183–84

  Operation Gunn, 145–46

  Operation Halyard, 178, 181

  Operation Manna, 192

  Operation Plunder, 225

  Operation Pointblank, 4

  Operation Reunion, 146

  Operation Strangle, 92

  Operation Tidal Wave, 66, 84, 88, 93, 113, 121

  Opissonya, 109–11

  Oregon, 28

  Oregon National Guard, 110, 159

  Orlea, Oana, 266

  Oswiecim, 217

  Ottomans, 184

  Oudna Airfield, 5

  P

  P-38 Lightnings. See also “Fork-tailed Devil”; Gabelschwanz Teufel

  use by the Fifteenth, 18–20, 22, 38–46, 55, 59–60, 71–73, 87–88, 102–3, 107–8, 113, 125, 131, 133, 135, 138–42, 150, 153–60, 163–64, 190, 193, 196–97, 199–203, 206–7, 216, 21
8, 225–26, 230–31, 237–40, 251, 256, 264, 278–80

  P-38Js, 185

  production of, 19, 59

  P-39 Airacobras, 151

  P-40 Warhawks, 21–22, 33, 58, 252, 263

  P-47 Thunderbolts, 22, 33, 39, 56, 58, 60, 138, 252, 263, 280

  range of, 21, 55

  P-51s, 59–61, 64, 66, 90, 97, 109, 123, 143, 151, 163–64, 186, 190, 916–97, 236, 239, 244, 251–52, 268, 279, 280

  Allison engine, 56

  benefits of, 56–57, 64

  cost of, 59, 251

  as game changer, 57–58

  P-51B, 196

  P-80 Shooting Stars, 206

  Pacific Ocean, 271

  Pacific Theater, 29, 132, 139, 209, 241–42, 247, 249, 255, 260–61

  Padua-Verona, 76, 239, 244

  Palermo, 270

  Palmer House, 180

  Panama Canal Zone, 50, 261

  Pan American Airways (“Pan Am”), 178

  Panas, John, 216, 248, 281

  Panatella, 65

  Pantanella, 210, 278

  Panther tanks, 230

  Panzers, 141

  Pape, Nate, 132

  Parchim, 222

  Paris, 144–45, 173, 259

  Parker, Harry, 60–61, 223, 237, 281

  Partisans

  political opposition to, 177

  relationship with Americans, 23, 61, 177–78, 180–81, 199, 222

  territory of, 178–81

  in World War II, 170, 177–78

  Passive Defenses, 93

  Pathfinders, 88–89

  Pearl Harbor, HI, 82, 120, 166, 268

  Pennsylvania, 267, 270

  Peterhausen, 41

  Petersen, Quentin R., 134

  Peters, Jim, Sr., 11

  Philco, 88–89

  Philippines, the, 92, 251

  Phillips, Milford, 135

  Phoenix, 83

  Photo Joes, 149, 160, 162–63, 165

  Piastow, 128

  “Pioneer Parachute Company,” 232

  Piraeus, 35

  Pisa, 175, 267

  Pittsburgh, PA, 269

  Ploesti

  bombing of, 8, 14, 66, 68, 76, 84–113, 120–22, 127, 130–36, 144, 185, 187, 255–56

  defense of, 68, 85–113, 130, 257

  effects of bombing on, 135–37, 256–58

  importance of, x, 64, 83–84, 211, 257

  location of, 5, 82–83

  scouting of, 154–56, 158

  Ploesti Marshalling Yard, 87

  Poggiorsini, 232

  Poland, Poles, 38, 96–97, 119, 187, 280

  Poltava, 96, 99–100, 105

  Pomigliano, 194

  Popesti, 145–46

  Popovich, Eli, 178

  Portal, Charles, 29, 85

  Potomac, 12

  Po Valley, 175–76, 240

  POW camps, POWs, 244

  Americans in, 61, 146, 236, 248, 266, 274

  Bucharest airlift, 266

  of the Fifteenth, 250, 263

  German camps, 233, 236, 248

  Italians in, 108

  Russians in, 192

  Prague, 5, 69, 242

  Pranjani, 179

  Pratt & Whitneys (P&Ws), 9, 42, 169, 241

  preparation for overseas movement (POM), 241

  Presbyterians, 107

  Presidential Unit Citation, 172

 

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