north. I flew low across the shoreline
and recognised Tabarka – we had no
navigational aids in North Africa – and
headed for [our] home base.”
After Berteaux the 82nd FG relocated to
Souk-el-Arba (also in Algeria), transferred
to Grombalia in Tunisia and then San
Pancrazio in Italy. Another three bases in
Italy were used by the unit until the end of
hostilities.
By mid-1944, the Germans were facing
pressure from all sides. The Russians were
on one flank and this, coupled with the 15thAir Force operating from bases in Italy,
made the Luftwaffe’s top generals in charge
of the air bases in southern Germany and
Romania see that they were in trouble.
They realised they would lose control of
the skies over northern Italy and southern
Germany.B-17 ESCORT
With large numbers of German fighters
based in Austria and southern Germany, the
American bombers needed all the help they
could get. The 82nd FG was a critical “thornin their side” and on July 8, 1944 they just
happened to be in the right place and the
right time.
Lt Charles Pinson flew a mission in which
48 P-38s from the 82nd FG were assigned
to protect B-17s targeting a weapons
complex in Austria. The Lightnings departed
from Foggia and he recalled what went on
that day. “The usual procedure was to have
the P-51’s fly far ahead of the bombers
while the P-38’s would stick close by the
bombers.”
“This type of formation led to the high
rate of aerial kills by the Mustangs, but
today that would shift over to the Lightnings
[as no Mustangs were on this mission].
About 20 miles northwest of Vienna, we
spotted a large formation of Me 410’s
climbing to intercept the bombers.
“Spread out in a two-flight abreast
formation with the second section trailing
about 500ft lower, we were ready for anything
the Germans could throw our way. It didn’t
take long to find some action as we counted
16 Me 410s below us. They were flying at 90°
to our path which meant they would cross in
front of us. I radioed the others and told the
97th Squadron to remain with the bombers
while the 95th and 96th Squadrons would go
after the ’410’s. In a case like this, surprisehttp://www.aviation-news.co.uk 81Two 82nd FG Lightnings in the descent prior to a strafing attack against an enemy airfield. Jack
Watson via Warren ThompsonLt Charlie Pinson of the 96th FS/82nd FG stands in front of his aircraft, which is marked to denote his three confirmed victories: two Me 109s and
a Me 410. Charles Pinson via Warren Thompson79-82_p38DC.mfDC.indd 81 01/02/2017 18:13