Illustration of a Briefing of P-47 pilots in the Ninth Air Force
Before missions, pilots would enter the briefing tent to find out the who, what, where, why, and when of their missions
This illustration is of a P-47 squadron from the Ninth Air Force in Belgium during the siege of Aachen in October of 1944. This scene was common among all Air Force groups, though how many of them had this groups' sense of humor is unknown. The briefing board reads "Pilot Poop", a witty play on words for the bombs they would be dropping on the enemy.<br />This illustration can be found in <em>The Commemorative History of the Ninth Air Force</em> book.
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
Illustration of Bombs to be Loaded on P-47s for an Air Interdiction Mission
Preparing planes for missions always included ordnance, but sometimes would require extra fuel tanks to be loaded up
Grounds crews were responsible for getting extra fuel tanks loaded on the planes if the missions called for it, and they gave the aircraft a once over before the pilot came out to do the same. Ordnance men would have to prep bombs before loading them on the planes, giving them the opportunity to send a little message of their own to the enemy.
<p>This illustration can be found in <em>The Commemorative History of the Ninth Air Force</em> book.</p>
United States Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1945-1946
"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
A B-24 Liberator
P-47 Thunderbolts flew bomber escort missions for heavy bombers like this one over France and Germany
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator flew in every Theater of Operation during the war. They were excellent bombers but were unable to protect themselves from enemy fighters. Thunderbolt P-47s flew escort missions for bombers like this one until their limited range was outmatched by the lighter P-51.
Consolidated Aircraft
National Museum of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
Early 1940s
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
Press Release Concerning Colonel Joseph Laughlin and the Bombing of Bremen Airport
A press release that touts the accomplishments of Colonel Laughlin and the 362nd Fighter Group
This press release, also found in a partial article from a Nebraska newspaper also in this collection, describes the recent successes of Colonel Laughlin in France. It includes the details behind a Ninth Air Force record-setting flight that was Colonel Laughlin's idea as payback to the Nazis for all that they had done so far. It goes into detail about Colonel Laughlin's life before the war, his friendship with the current 362nd Group Commander, Colonel Morton Magoffin, and how he is viewed by the men in the group. It is also the only time his first wife, Kathleen, is mentioned in any format.
Ninth Air Force Public Relations Office, Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
1944
A Press Release about Colonel Joseph Laughlin's Combat Record
Before his return to Nebraska on leave in the winter of 1944, the Public Relations Office of the Ninth Air Force sent this press release to the parents of Colonel Joseph Laughlin for distribution to local papers
This press release covers the combat record that Colonel Laughlin had accrued up until December of 1944. In it, it discusses his recent promotion, his awards, his most notorious credits of destruction, and an account of all destroyed German equipment. It also describes some of his group's credits as well as their overall mission in Europe.
Ninth Air Force Public Relations Office, Army Air Corps
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
December 4, 1944
Before and After of the Linder Dam outside Dieuze, France and Story
Colonel Joseph Laughlin was credited with dropping his payload closest to the target, giving him most of the credit for breaking the dam
The before and after shots of the Linder Dam show the short term effect of the damage done by squadrons of the 362nd Fighter Group. The 378th and 379th squadrons took part in the bombings, with Colonel Laughlin leading the way. The pilots were aiming for the sluice gate, an extremely narrow portion of the dam, and they were mostly effective. Colonel Laughlin was given the most credit as his bombs were dropped closest to the sluice. A third squadron was called in, but by the time they arrived, the water was already pouring out of the now large hole in the dam.
This action had been personally requested by General Patton, and it was such a huge news story that within 24 hours, they were announcing the success over the radio. The 362nd's former commander, Colonel Morton Magoffin, was lying in a hospital when the bombing of the dam was announced. All they said about the mission was that it was completed by a "Thunderbolt" fighter group. He didn't even have to ask; he knew it was the 362nd.
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
October 1944
Omaha World-Herald Describes the Attack at Brest Harbor and Colonel Joseph Laughlin's Role
The attack at Brest Harbor, led by Colonel Laughlin, was an overwhelming success for the Ninth Air Force
This article describes the attack at Brest Harbor, including the destruction of a German Light Cruiser that was credited to Colonel Laughlin. No aircraft were lost in the bombing of the Cruiser and 14 additional merchant vessels.
Omaha World-Herald
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
August 28, 1944
Colonel Joseph Laughlin Describes Devastation in Germany to his Hometown Newspaper
Colonel Laughlin describes the devastation inflicted on a region in Germany by his 362nd Fighter Groups
In this article, Colonel Laughlin describes what he sees on the ground after his 362nd Fighter Group bombed and strafed a region outside Mainz in Germany.
Grand Island Daily Independent
National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division
United States Air Force
March 19, 1945