Colonel Joseph Laughlin Shakes Hands with Colonel Morton Magoffin
Colonel Laughlin and Colonel Magoffin remained good friends from their time at Wheeler Field in Hawaii
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.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1943
General Otto Weyland and Colonel Joseph Laughlin Stand in Front of a Luftwaffe Plane
Colonel Laughlin, as Commander of the 362nd Fighter Group, reported directly to the Commander of the XIX Tactical Air Command (TAC), General Otto Weyland, under the auspices of the Ninth Air Force
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 the 362nd Fighter Group in response to their overwhelming destruction of German planes on the ground and in the air in the month of April. General Weyland made the trip to share in the successes of his XIX TAC, 362nd Fighter Group.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
April 1945
Colonel Joseph Laughlin's Call Sign on the Fuselage of His P-47, Five by Five
Every pilot had a call sign painted on their plane, another form of identification in the air or on the ground
The call sign reads as "B8-A". The "B" is for the 379th Fighter Squadron; the "A" is for the 362nd Fighter Group; and the "8" is the plane number within the squadron. This was Colonel Laughlin's call sign in early 1945.
Republic Aviation Corporation
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
1940s
A B-26 Marauder
This medium bomber was the most accurate bomber in the Ninth Air Force, but it still required escort from P-47 Thunderbolts
The Martin B-26 Marauder was flown in every Theater of Operations during the war. Although very accurate in bombing, they were vulnerable to enemy aircraft, requiring bomber escorts from P-47s and P-51s. Also, Colonel Joseph Laughlin managed to pester General Otto Weyland to the point that he offered up a B-26 for the 362nd Fighter Group's use; if they could get it running. The grounds crew did and the 362nd F.G. became the envy of every fighter group in the Ninth Air Force as they used the Marauder to get supplies and R & R for the men.
Glenn L. Martin Company
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
Early 1940s
Pilots from the 377th Fighter Squadron Pose Atop a Captured Flak Gun
Two pilots have some fun on a captured flak gun outside Rennes in France
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 months after this photo was taken.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
August - September 1944
Men From the 362nd Fighter Group Play Volleyball
The men of the 362nd Fighter Group had to find ways to unwind in their downtime
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 to do, whether that was a little R & R back in England or a little game of volleyball near the base.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
September - November 1944
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 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
Outhouse for the 377th Fighter Squadron
What passed for a bathroom on the airfield in Reims
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.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
September - November 1944
"Ready in Pairs" - Bombs Ready for Action on P-47 Thunderbolts of the 362nd Fighter Group
A pilot leans on some 1,000-lb bombs on the airfield near Reims
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.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
Late October 1944