Colonel Joseph Laughlin and his Ground Crew

Colonel Joseph Laughlin and his Ground Crew

Colonel Laughlin understood that the pilots were only as good as their grounds crew; without them they would never get off the ground

Colonel Laughlin, pictured here with grounds crew members of the 379th Fighter Squadron, knew he could rely on his men to do their jobs. He often credited the success of the group to the men who never got the glory because without their skill and expertise in repairing and arming the planes properly, the 362nd Fighter Group pilots would not have been able to perform at the best of their abilities. The only known member of this crew is crew chief Sergeant Raymond J. Chodor, pictured far left.

National Museum of the United States Air Force - Research Division

United States Air Force