A Damaged P-47
The durability of the P-47
The heavy P-47 Thunderbolt was built to withstand a lot of damage. According the the National Museum of the USAF, this P-47 from the Ninth Air Force landed with a hung up 500-lb bomb. The force of the landing made it detached and the explosion destroyed the aircraft. The pilot, however survived, and returned to duty not long after.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
A Destroyed Fortress at Brest
The 362nd Fighter Group was sent to bomb parts of the city and harbor of Brest on multiple occasions.
The German army fortified many of the port cities in France, and none were attacked with such ferocity as Brest. The photo shows the leftover rubble of one of these strongholds at Brest, which was bombed by pilots of the Ninth Air Force.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
A Destroyed German Halftrack
A common target of fighter-bombers like P-47s
This German halftrack was destroyed by fighter-bombers of the Ninth Air Force with air-to-ground rockets.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
July 26, 1944
A Destroyed German Train and Tracks
Trains and bridges were common ground targets for P-47s
Railroad lines were a common target of air interdiction missions flown by the 362nd Fighter Group. Trains, their military cargo, and bridges were common targets of opportunity. The train and railway bridge were destroyed by fighter-bombers in the Ninth Air Force
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
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
A Farmer Working the Land Outside Reims
The men of the 362nd Fighter Group were encouraged to unwind and get away in their downtime
The men of the 362nd F. G. were encouraged by their commander, Colonel Joseph Laughlin, to do whatever was necessary to relax. He wanted them to take their minds away from the troubles of war to help them cope. Some of the men took that time to explore the area, taking pictures of life returning to normal in the liberated portions of France.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
September - November 1944
A Flying Formation
Members of the 379th F.S. flying in formation with the 362nd Fighter Group commander, Colonel Joseph Laughlin
An example of a flying formation of the 362nd fighter group, shown by pilots of the 379th fighter squadron. The lead plane is Colonel Joseph Laughlin. The plaid color on the nose signifies that he is group commander.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division, Collection # AR.2007.016,
United States Air Force
1945-05
A German POW Among the 362nd Fighter Group
The pilots of the 362nd stayed in these tents outside Reims before moving into the chateau, with a little help from a German POW
According to the caption on this photo, a German POW is directed to dig a latrine for the 362nd Fighter Group near their tents. Note the soldier on the far left, his guard. You can just make out a smirk on the face of the seated airman. The caption also states that these were the pilots' tents before they moved into the chateau.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
September - November 1944
A Lockheed P-38
A plane flown in both the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) as well as the European Theater of Operations (ETO)
The P-38 Lightning was a thoroughly capable fighter plane. Weighing in at the same maximum weight as the P-47, it could accomplish the same mission types with similar armaments. Utilized in both the Pacific and European Theaters of Operation, it is one of the only fighter planes to remain in production from before WWII until the completion of it. Colonel Laughlin could have flown this aircraft on missions in the PTO, but there is no indication it was ever assigned to any squadron he was in. The P-38 would have been present at the Invasion of Normandy, however, and Colonel Laughlin and the 362nd Fighter Group would have flown with them at that time.
Lockheed Corporation
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1930s-1940s
A Meeting of Army Air Corps Commanding Officers
An informal meeting of the minds between commanding officers of the Army Air Corps
From left to right: Major General Elwood Quesada of the Ninth Air Force, Brigadier General Gordon Saville of the Twelfth Air Force, and Major General Hoyt Vandenburg, Ninth Air Force Commander. This meeting took place after the invasion of Southern France, known as Operation Dragoon. Meetings between Commanding Officers (COs) of the Army Air Corps was usually done face-to-face only by the higher ranking officers. Most other meetings took place by wire.
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1944