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Letters Between Pilots' Mothers With Newspaper Article
This article, from a newspaper in Ohio, tells the story of a local pilot getting shot down in the Battle of Bastogne, but insisting on getting back to base as he was expecting to hear news that he was a father. This airman, 1st Lt. Duane E. Oyster,…
Colonel Joseph Laughlin and Officers of the 362nd Fighter Group in Front of the Chateau Outside Reims
From left, 1st Lt. Joe Lane, Colonel Laughlin, 1st Lt. John Hill, and an unknown pilot stand in front the the chateau outside of Reims. Colonel Laughlin managed to "acquire" it, and it was large enough to house all of the pilots of the 362nd Fighter…
Colonel Joseph Laughlin Shakes Hands with Colonel Morton Magoffin
With one leg in the cockpit of his P-47, Colonel Laughlin shakes hands with his commander, Colonel Magoffin, the two of them sharing a laugh amidst the stresses of training for war.
General Otto Weyland and Colonel Joseph Laughlin Stand in Front of a Luftwaffe Plane
Colonel Laughlin and General Weyland stand in front of a surrendered German Luftwaffe airplane, a Focke-Wulf (FW) 190 at the Frankfort Rhein Main Air Base in Germany. The plane had been flown in by the German Luftwaffe Commander to be surrendered to…
Pilots from the 377th Fighter Squadron Pose Atop a Captured Flak Gun
377th Fighter Squadron pilots Lt. Robert J. "Red" Campbell and Lt. Roy D. Christian hang onto a previously camouflaged 88 mm flak gun. These larger flak guns were used to target high-altitude planes, like the P-47. Sadly, Lt. Christian was KIA a few…
Men From the 362nd Fighter Group Play Volleyball
Pilots and grounds crew were encouraged to take their minds off of the war by their commander, Colonel Joseph Laughlin. He did not want his pilots to get battle fatigue or his grounds crew to suffer exhaustion so he made sure they had something else…
A German POW Among the 362nd Fighter Group
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…
A Farmer Working the Land Outside Reims
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…
Outhouse for the 377th Fighter Squadron
This outhouse was located near the operations tent for the 377th Fighter Squadron. Not even enclosed, it afforded no privacy for those who needed it the most. The 362nd Fighter Group spent nearly 2 months in Reims.
"Ready in Pairs" - Bombs Ready for Action on P-47 Thunderbolts of the 362nd Fighter Group
A pilot from the 362nd Fighter Group poses for a picture with his foot on a bomb. With the caption "Ready in Pairs" on the back, it is also noted that the air strip used to be in No Man's Land during World War I.