32 HEAVY FIGHTERS OF WW2
Above: The seventh-ranking
American ace, Charles H. MacDonald of the 475th
FG (hands in pockets), in front of his famous
Lightning 44-25471 ‘Putt Putt Maru’ in which he
scored 27 victories against the Japanese.Left: Maj Robert ‘Buck’ Rogers of the 392nd
FS, 367th FG, admires the artwork on his
P-38J Lightning 44-23677 ‘Little Buckaroo’. On
25 August 1944, Rogers led his squadron on a
strafing attack on a French airfield destroying
five Ju52/3ms on the ground. Unfortunately for
Rogers, ground victories did not qualify him as
an ace, despite the swastikas painted beneath
the cockpit.Right: Capt Roy Scrutchfield of the 55th FS 20th
FG and groundcrew in front of his P-38J 43-28430
coded KI-N and named ‘Jeanne’ after his wife.
This aircraft was lost on 16 June 1944 while being
flown by Maj Paul Lobinger on a mission.