Colonel Joseph Laughlin on Joining the Army Air Corps
Colonel Laughlin describes joining the Army Air Corps in his own words
Colonel Laughlin tells the story of "chance" and "luck" getting him into the Army Air Corps.
Jamie Laughlin
Ondine Rarey
1995
A Surrendered German Officer's Pistol and Memorandum of Presentation
Colonel Joseph Laughlin received a pistol from a German Officer after nearly 20,000 troops surrendered
The XIX Tactical Air Command (TAC) were very effective in their missions to bomb and disrupt the German lines, especially the P-47s in the 362nd Fighter Group. Upon the surrender of German troops at the Beaugency Bridge in France, officers handed over their pistols in capitulation. In recognition of his groups' successes, General Otto Weyland had one of the officer's pistols sent to Colonel Laughlin.
United States Army Air Corps
Fabryka Broni
September 23, 1944
1930s
The Former Quarters of the 362nd Fighter Group in Reims, France
Before the chateau, the pilots of the 362nd Fighter Group were in tents on the edge of a forest
Lodgings were not always glamorous for the 362nd Fighter Group. However, after Colonel Joseph Laughlin managed to "acquire" a chateau outside Reims, the pilots of the group were upgraded from these tents.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
September 1944
<a title="Studying Colonel Joseph Laughlin" href="https://josephlaughlinfivebyfive.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Blog</a>
The blog associated with this project
This blog was a way for the administrator to document her journey and process through this project. The topics vary from her grandfather, the late Colonel Joseph Laughlin, to what she learned not to do in her search for information. She hopes it will help others as they set out on projects of their own.
Jamie Laughlin
Wordpress.com
Wordpress.com
January 2016-present
Jamie Laughlin
All rights reserved over content by Jamie Laughlin
Colonel Joseph Laughlin celebrates after returning from WWII
Colonel Joseph Laughlin shares laughs and drinks with friends
This photograph was taken just after Colonel Laughlin's marriage to Audrey Jean McElroy in late 1945, after his return from the war. It is one of the few times he is seen out of uniform.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
November 1945
The Pitot Tube on a P-47
The pitot tube on a P-47 is on the right wing
The pitot tube was used as a weather gauge, sending information like air speed and altitude to the console of the pilot. Pilots had to adapt to this plane quickly, but even experienced pilots had trouble in flying it. The pitot tube was located on the right wing of the P-47 as evidenced in this photo.
Republic Aviation Corporation
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
P-47s on Take-Off
P-47s about to lift off from a makeshift airstrip
This photo shows P-47s in the 362nd fighter group preparing to take-off. They are waiting for the signal from the grounds crewman to hit the throttle. They are not attempting to do a dual take-off at this airfield in Reims, France.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
October 1944
A P-47 with Razorback Canopy
A P-47 with the Razorback canopy was flown by the 362nd Fighter Group until late 1944.
The original versions of the P-47 that were sent to the 362nd Fighter Group had the Razorback canopy. Pilots of the 362nd credit Colonel Laughlin with the change to the Bubble Top canopy, a positive change for visibility and accessibility. This photo shows a P-47 Razorback being prepped for a mission, with a fuel tank and two bombs already loaded under the plane.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1943-1944
Propeller of a P-47
An up-close look at the propeller of a P-47
The propeller on the engine of a P-47. The engine, a Pratt and Whitney R-2800, helped to determine the size of the plane. The engine was covered with metal plates known as a cowling. During combat, the cowling cover was color-associated with the fighter squadron that the pilot was assigned to. Yellow was the cowling color of the 379th Fighter Squadron (F.S), one of three squadrons that made up the 362nd Fighter Group. Pilots with nicknames would have those nicknames in caricature on the cowling of their plane, known as nose art. Much of the nose art of the 379th F.S. and the 362nd F.G., was done by Captain George Rarey and Corporal Joe Carpenter, both of the 379th. The nose art on this plane has been painted to represent the plane of Colonel Joseph Laughlin, nicknamed Five by Five. The original nose art was done by Captain Rarey.
Republic Aviation Corporation
The National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
A Destroyed P-47 and the Pilots' Grave
The grave of a P-47 pilot who crashed after sustaining damage from a ground explosion
This P-47 was destroyed when its' squadron bombed a gunpowder storage depot. According to the museum information plaque, the grave for the pilot was dug by a refugee French couple, who used some of the leftover .50 caliber ammunition to outline the grave.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1943-1945