This volume is comprised of 359th Fighter Group footage, including the films of several aces. The 359th Fighter Group was stationed at East Wretham during the war. The group flew a total of 346 missions with enemy aircraft claims of 253 in the air and 98 on the ground.
Nicknamed the Unicorns, the 359th Fighter Group was one of the last fighter groups to arrive, October 19, 1943, to the ETO.
Here is a special DVD for all you out there who have a special interest in understanding and appreciating the special role of American air power in WWII. It is captured in ninety segments of raw (unedited, uncensored and untouched) footage as it actually happened.
The images are from the film as it came out of the gun cameras of American fighter planes participating in aerial engagements during the period from early 1944 to the end of the European campaign. It includes gun camera films shot on D-Day as well.
The segments cover fighter plane combat actions. You will witness lots of "down on the deck" strafing of trucks, trains, troops, ships, ground towers and enemy planes on the ground and taking off as well as dramatic air combat. Viewing this DVD gives special meaning to being a witness to history.
You want reality TV? This is about as real and as serious as it gets! You won't be disappointed." - Steve B.
| Date | Pilot | Squadron | Fighter Group | Target | Description |
| 8/9/1944 | Lt. J. Wilson | 370 | 359 | FW 190 | Skies are full of multiple fighters. Hard to tell friendlies from foes. Target aircraft is struck and starts smoking. Flying 43-24778 CS-H/ as White 4 in LtC Murphy's Flight. ER states that: About 20 miles NW of Munich we saw about 30 Me109's and FW 190's. Col. Murphy got on the tail of an Me 109 and the wheels came down when he fired at it. I turned right with Lt. Lux, White Three, and got on the tail of a Me 109. I fired while he was in a turn and undershot him. He started an aileron roll straight and I hit him from dead astern. White smoke came out of his scoop near the wing root. I fired while he was sideways to me. A FW 190 came past me so I had to pull up. The Me109 straightened out and went straight down emitting white smoke. The last I saw of him he was still going down headed for the middle of a large wooded area. His altitude was about 1,000 feet. My altitude was about 19,000 at this time. An E/A came at me and I had to start evasive action. I claim (1) Me 109 destroyed in Air. Ammunition expended was 539 rds of API. Wilson was awarded (1) P.D. Air.
|
| 8/9/1944 | Lt. Elbert W. Tilton | 370 | 359 | ME 109 | Medium range pursuit of target aircraft. Flying P-51, 42-106902 CS-C, camera plane, gains on target aircraft. ER states: I was flying Blue Three, but when Blue Leader came back I took over Blue Flight. In the area of Gunzburg we ran across a bune of Me 109's. I picked one out and follwed him round. The first burst I observed strikes on the wing rood and right side of the fuselage and pieces started coming off. I overshot him so I turned away and came back. I then managed to get on his tail. By this time we were losing altitude very fast. When I got in range I let him have it dead astern, pieces of the aircraft flew off and then the pilot bailed out. I followed the plane and took a picture of it burning. This action all took place between 28,000 and the deck. The approximate distance when firing was 500 ft. I also sawLt. Jones, who was flying White Two hit a Me 109 and it started to smoke. He said, "The pilot had already bailed out." I claim one (1) Me 109 destroyed in air. Tilton was awarded 1 destroyed Air.
|
| 8/9/1944 | Lt. Col. John B. Murphy | 370 | 359 | ME 109 | Target aircraft is fired upon at medium range. Appears to be another pass where target aircraft is passing at an 45 degree angle towards camera plane. Next encounter is at a much longer range. Target aircraft appears to have been damaged. Right main gear is suspended. Flying P-51 44-13604, CS-U, in vicinity of Gunzburg at 1115 to 1130 hours. ER states: I was flying at 26,000 ft. level with the bombers and on to the port when I sighted a formation of E/A approaching the bombers from 1100 o'clock at 28,000 ft. I started climbing towards them. They passed over me without attacking either my formation or the bombers. I followed them, still climbing. Approximately a mile behind the bombers they started a circle when I met them head on and fired as I passed slightly under them. I made two head on passes like this, snap shooting as I passed them but concentrating mainly on their top cover of about eight E/A. On my third pass I reversed my turn since the top cover was being engaged by other P-51's and closed on the tail end of the larger formation of about 20 Me 109's and FW 190's. I fired a long burst at a FW 190 while I was slightly below him. I didn't recall seeing strikes at the time but was fairly sure that I had hit him by the shock and shudder of his plane. I temporarily diverted my attention from him and fired at another. A few seconds later I noticed the first that I had fired at had his wheel down so I gave him another long burst and scored many strikes along the left side of the fuselage with the larger concentration above the left wing root. He rolled over after this and I did not attempt to follow him down. Ammunition expended: 3,244 rds of API. I claim one (1) FW 190 destroyed in air. LtC Murphy was awarded 1 destroyed air.
|
| 8/7/1944 | F/O Emory .C. Cook | 368 | 359 | Truck | Footage begins with trees in foreground. Looks like gun camera was run on the ground during installation. Low strafing run on truck on road. Houses to the left. Second pass made. Was flying P-52B 43-12478 CV-P that was converted to a two seater and became CV-P. Cook was flying Green Four.
|
| 8/7/1944 | Capt. W.C. Forehand | 368 | 359 | Water, Truck | Shooting while flying low over large body of water. Does not appear to be an object on surface of water. Forehand strafes the same truck as F/O Cook did in previous film. Was flying P-51 44-13786 CV-B/ as Red Leader.
|
| 8/7/1944 | 2nd Lt. Elby J. Beal | 368 | 359 | Truck | 2nd Lt. Beal was flying Red Two as wingman to Red Leader, Capt. W.C. Forehand. Same truck strafed on road. Flying P-51 43-6581 (John Keesey's assigned A/C).
|
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. Eugene F. Britton | 368 | 359 | Truck | Truck on open road without shelter is strafed. Flying P-51 42-106611 CV-K. He was Green Three in Lt. Perkins flight.
|
| 8/8/1944 | 1st Lt. Earl P. Perkins | 368 | 359 | Truck | Same truck strafed by Britton is strafed by Perkins. Perkins, Green Leader, is at a higher and steeper angle of attack. Flying P-51 44-13943 CV -Q.
|
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. Merle B. Barth | 368 | 359 | Truck | Strafing lone truck on road. Flying P-51 43-12433 CV-C, Joe Aschenmacher's assigned Aircraft. Lt. Barth was Yellow Two as wingman to Lt. Robert B. Hatter.
|
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. Robert B. Hatter | 368 | 359 | Truck | Same truck as strafed by Barth. Two people seen in background running for trees. As strafing begins they dive to ground. Flying P-51 44-13669 CV-I as Yellow flight leader.
|
| 8/8/1944 | F/O Emory C. Cook | 368 | 359 | Unknown | Very hazy no target spotted. Flying P-51 43-12478 CV-P as Red Four.
|
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. Ray A. Boyd Jr | 368 | 359 | Truck | Truck strafed. Flying P-51D 44-14329 CV-X. Lost in this aircraft on December 24, 1944 and became a POW. |
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. Cornelius J. Cavanaugh | 368 | 359 | ME 109, Ground Target | Left turning dive to intercept E/A passing below camera plane. Strikes seen on target aircraft. Ground target strafed. Flying P-51C 42-103197 CV-Y marked SWEET JEAN MARIE. ER states: On 8 August I was flying No. 4 Blue. First saw E/A at 9 o'clock low and we broke into them and chased them into low cloud. When we pulled up on other side they were waiting. One fired over my canopy so I broke & did a steep climbing turn. A E/A went by me with a pt 9n his tail so I tagged on. We dove straight to the deck where Lt. Keesey, who was flying the other P-51, went into a luftberry with the E/A. I pulled up to about 1,000 feet, and waited. Finally I made a pass about 15 degree deflection from head-on in an attempt to roll him out. I missed on first pass but pulled up and tried again. On second pass I made hits on E/A left wing. When I pulled up I saw E/A's left wing smoking and Lt. Keesey rode him into the ground. E/A crashed and lost his wing. It is my believe that the pilot was dead. Ammunition expended 400 rds API. I claim one FW 190 damaged. Lt. Cavanaugh was awarded 1 damaged air.
|
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. John S. Keesey | 368 | 359 | FW 190 | Target aircraft passes above camera plane. Three other aircraft following first plane. Another plane makes a similar off nose head-to-head pass. Camera plane finds another target aircraft and makes diving right turn to intercept. Flying P-51 CV-V 43-106581 named Tootser. From ER: Lt. John S. Keesey was leading the element, White Three, in Capt. Forehand's flight. After providing bomber support in the vicinity of Dreuc, France they began letting down in an easterly direction to strafe. At approx. 17,000 ft 25 E/A dove under us, coming from 7 o'clock. We turned into them and they all split S'd .... At about 15,000 ft. I saw three of them at 3 o'clock. They were about 1,000 ft. above us then.... I called them in and then turned into them in a slight climb. Just at the time we turned, approx. 30 more E/A dove at us from out of the sun. They were at approximately 25,000 ft. At this time the first E/As came at me in a diving turn. I passed thru them head on. While going thru I fired at several of them and distinctly remember getting strikes on three of them. On one of these I got strikes on the fuselage and about the canopy, firing from about 15 degrees to starboard of the E/A's nose from head on. The pilot was probably killed. I claim this one as probable. On the other two I had strikes on the wings. These I claim as damaged. One of the E/A got 3 strikes on my right wing. After I passed the last one, I noticed taht two of the E/A had already turned and were coming at me in a climbing turn from 7 o'clock..... I started rolling out to the left and before completing my roll-out I saw an E/A on a 51's tail at about 3 o'clock and abouty 2,000 ft. below. Just then the E/A began firing and the P-51 started trailing smoke. ... At this time the P-51 started down in a steep spiral and the E/A split S'd to the left and dove straight down. I used full bore and approximately 2800 RPM to stay up with him. ...he made a slight turn left and went thru some clouds. I followed right thru and when we broke out at about 5,000 ft I was right on his tail with my airspeed 600. He started his pull out at 4,000 and leveled off on the deck with streamers pulling of his wings...... I then fired a burst and discovered I had but one gun firing - my other three had jammed. I turned with him for about two mins. and fired short burst when I got a good head. I had no trouble turning with the E/A but at one time I hit his prop wash and flicked. He then had the advantage but I got it back when I did a little climb and sucked it in. I then fired another burst and he began trailing thick smoke. ... I then fired another burst and saw strikes on the E/A's cowling so I left my sight drift back and got strikes along the fuselage. At this time he flicked out of the turn and hit the ground in a dive. I tried to fire as he flicked out of the turn but my only gun had jammed. When he hit the ground his left wing and tail section tore off. He bounced back up and finally crashed about 200 yds from where he first hit.... The combat took place at about 100 ft. I claim this E/A destroyed. Lt. Keesey was awarded 1 FW 190 destroyed and 3 FW's damaged. Also on that day Lt. Willis J. Cherry flying yellow four was lost and became a POW Somery France.
|
| 8/8/1944 | 1st Lt. J.D. Stevens | 369 | 359 | Ground Targets | Strafing of target on ground. Lt. Jack R. Stevens flying his A/C P-51 42-106680 IV-J as Blue Three, element leader. |
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. John E. Keur | 369 | 359 | Truck | Strafing trucks on road behind trees. Makes another pass and gets a clear shot at truck. Flying P-51 43-12186 IV-R, Lt. Ralston's assigned aircraft. Lt. Keur was Green flight leader. On September 20, 1944 Lt. Keur bailed out of his aircraft due an engine fire. |
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. Ferris C. Suttle Jr | 369 | 359 | Flak Tower | Strafing flak tower. Flying P-51C 42-103797 IV-E named DARLIN' EARLINE. Lt. Ferris C. Suttle, Jr. was Blue Four, Steven's wingman. This aircraft was lost two days latter while being flown by Lt. Lawrence Bearden who was KIA. Suttle was KIA near Luneville, France, on August 28, 1944. |
| 8/8/1944 | 2nd Lt. Grover C Deen | 369 | 359 | Truck | Appears to be same truck strafed by Keur on same day with same two passes. Lt. Grover C. Deen is at a higher altitude, flying as Yellow Flight element leader. Flying P-51D 43-12434 IV-P, Edwin L. Sjoblad's assigned aircraft. On September 18, 1944, Lt. Deen became a POW and Lt. Sjoblad was listed MIA later confirmed as KIA. |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Cunningham | 370 | 359 | Truck | Footage of object on ground by gun camera. Strafing truck. At about 1420 in vicinity of Rouen France Lt. Charles V. Cunningham was leading White Flight on a bomber escort and strafing mission. After escort Cunningham took the Squadron to the deck where they broke up into flights. They strafed trucks, on highways, and railroads. Cunningham was flying P-51 42-106704 CS-H.
|
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Vos | 370 | 359 | Truck | Same target in Lt. Cunninghams film. Lt. Vos was White Two as, Cunningham's wingman. Benjamin J. Vos was flying P-51 44-13645 CS-M. |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Ramsier | 370 | 359 | Ground Targets | Strafing ground target while turning. Lt. Galen E. Ramser was Red Two, as wingman to O'shea, Red Leader. Ramser was flying a P-51 43-24778 CS-H/. This aircraft was totaled on Sept. 30, 1944, when Ramser crash landed on take-off due to engine failure. Ramser escaped unhurt. |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Connelly | 370 | 359 | Flak Tower | Strafing vehicle on road, marshalling yard, lone truck on road, flak tower tucked in trees at complex with radio tower and large building. Looks like a stable off to the left near small pond. Lt. Dick D. Connely flying P-51 44-14096 CS-V was Leading Yellow Flight on area support and strafing mission. Yellow flight was separated from Squadonr after encountering very accurate and moderate flak. "My wing man and I then went to the 'deck' to shoot up an army staff car, which I destroyed. Then we saw an army 2-1/2 ton truck, which we fired at. I missed with my shots, but my wing man destroyed it. Then we saw a RR yard with freight cars in it. We went in on them and damaged 5 freight cars. After that, I lost my wingman and was hit in the left wing with flak. I was on the deck and saw a flak tower, which I shot up, and later one more tower. Then I started home, alone. I claim one (1) army staff car destroyed and two (2) flak towers damaged. I also claim one (1) truck destroyed and six (6) goods wagons damaged, in cooperation with Lt. Shoffit." |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Newberg | 370 | 359 | Truck, Train | Lt. Warren R. Newberg comes up behind truck racing down road and strafes it. Strikes seen. Train strafed in almost vertical dive towards ground. Another strafing run on a lone truck with multiple hits. Another train is strafed. More trucks found and strafed. Lt. Newborg flying P-51 44-14038 CS-G was leading Blue Flight in the Area NE of the Seine River up to Lille. ER states, "We gave Area Support until the bombers had left the area and then followed Red and Yellow Flights to go strafing. We became separated from the other flights and we went on alone. We damaged a truck at Forges Les E. and damaged 20 goods wagons between Bapaums and Cambrai." |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. J. Wilson | 370 | 359 | Truck | Trucks strafed on road near village. Flight path takes us over village. More passes on truck from different approaches. Appears to be smoke coming from truck now. In an area NE of Rouen, Lt. John Wilson was flying P-51 44-13604 CS-U as Red Four, wingman to element leader, Lt. Buchanan. Red Flight claims (shared) five (5) trucks. |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Merry | 370 | 359 | Trains | Low pass over village on clear day. Train strafed. The shadow of another aircraft in the flight is seen on ground ahead. Railcar at end of train is already seen smoking. Another train on a curve is strafed. Fellow plane in flight is now seen ahead and lower than camera plane, strafing same train. It appears to be same trains as strafed by Lt. Newberg. Plane seen may be the plane of Lt. Newberg. Lt. Milton Merry flying was P-51 44-13529 CS-D as Blue 4, wingman to element leader Lt. Tilton, in Lt. Newberg's flight.
|
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. E. Tilton | 370 | 359 | Trains | Appears to be same trains as strafed by Lt's Merry and Newberg. In area NE of Seine River up to Lille after Area Support, Lt. Elbert W. Tilton was flying P-51 42-106902 as Blue Three, element leader, in Newberg's flight. Newberg's Blue Flight claimed one (1) truck damaged and twenty (20) goods cars damaged that day.
|
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. York | 370 | 359 | Train | Train strafed is probably the same train strafed by Tilton, Newberg and Merry. Lt. Robert M. York flying P-51 44-13893 CS-E as Blue Two, wingman to Flight Leader Lt. Newberg , is another one of the four pilots in this flight. |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Shoffit | 370 | 359 | Train and truck | Train and truck strafed. Lt. Jimmy C. Shoffit flying P-51 42-106692 as Yellow Two, D.D. Connelly Yellow Leader's wingman, in vicinity of Argueil cooperates in destroying and damaging several ground targets after area support to the bombers. |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. Lux | 370 | 359 | Ground Targets | Steep diving and turning approach to strafe ground target in front of large home. Lt. Frank O. Lux flying P-51 43-24948 CS-J as White Four in Lt. Cunningham's flight shared in the destruction of a truck with Vos and Cunningham. |
| 8/8/1944 | Lt. O'Shea | 370 | 359 | Trucks | Strafing trucks on road. Lt. James H. O'Shea flying P-51 44-13633 CS-R was Red Flight Leader in the vicinity NE of Rouen. ER states" "I was leading Red Flight. We gave area support to the bombers until 1400 when the bombers crossed out. We then went to our area for ground strafing. We saw five trucks which we fired and left burning after working over them for awhile. My flight claims (shared) five (5) trucks destroyed." O'Shea's flight included Lt. Ramser, Lt. Buchanan and Lt. Wilson. |
| 8/10/1944 | 2nd Lt. J.E. Keur | 369 | 359 | | Nice super clear segment on railcar strafing near village. Strafes work locomotive. This pass he fly's straight down tracks and violently strafes work locomotive. Another pass on marshalling yard and then off to another train. Appears to be direct hit on locomotive and the boiler ruptures. Lt. John E. Keur flying P-51 43-12239 IV-Q as White Four, wingman to Lt. Claude J. Crenshaw, lost the flight. ER states: "After bombing a Marshalling Yard I lost the flight. Seeing a lone Engine in a small town I made three passes on it seeing it blow up. I then started west along the track to find some one to pair up with when I saw a train with about 50 Goods Cars going East on the track to Sarrebourg. I made a pass from about 30 degrees head-on and saw it blow up. I did a 270 degree to the right and took a picture with my camera. At that time I noticed I had 70 gallons of gas left so I started for Manston landing at about 1310. I claim Two (2) locomotives destroyed." Ammo expended was 903 rds. Lt. Keur made a forced landing at Manston (RAF 9) England. |
| 8/10/1944 | 2nd Lt. C.J. Crenshaw | 369 | 359 | Trains | Lt. Crenshaw flying P-51 44-13606 IV-I as White Three, element leader in Capt. Pezda's flight. First pass is on moving train in wide open area with no shelter in sight. Second pass is made from other side but it looks like the target has already ruptured its boiler. Train is no longer moving. Next target is a train behind a long row of homes along a road to a village. The pilot does an amazing job of focusing gunfire on train and missing homes. Makes second pass. Comes across marshalling yard and attacks locomotive on train. Crenshaw makes a forced landing at Framlingham (Station 153) England upon return.
|
| 8/10/1944 | 2nd Lt. G.C. Deen | 369 | 359 | Trains | Train has stopped behind some large trees. Pilot shoots through trees. Another train is discovered in open area. Strafed across middle of train. Lt. Grover C. Deen flying P-51 44-13336 IV-Y/ as element leader (Yellow Three) in Harry Cuzner's flight. |
| 8/10/1944 | Lt. Col. W.H. Swanson | 369 | 359 | Trains | High above village a train is spotted. Low pass on moving train is met by strafing on locomotive. Train is passing in front of building as it is hit. Train continues slower now. On next pass the train appears to be stopped. Locomotive is hit and boiler ruptures. Another train is strafed and a sudden burst of tracers is seen screaming towards camera plane. Pilot shifts his attention to location of ground fire. Next target is a marshalling yard. Lt. col. Swanson leading the 359 Fighter Group on a dive bombimg mission in area from Bar-le-Duc to Strasborg, France, flying P-51 44-13914 IV-Y as White Leader with the 368FS. His wingman Lt. Lester W. Hovden is KIA at Rammersweiler Germany on this mission. |
| 8/10/1944 | Capt. L.G. Taylor | 369 | 359 | Train | Train in open area in hazy area is strafed. Capt. Lester G. Taylor flying P-51 44-13689 IV-H as Red Leader with Lt. Ferris Suttle as his wingman. |
| 8/10/1944 | 2nd Lt. J.D. Stevens | 369 | 359 | Trains | Looks like train shot by Deen. Next target is the same train struck by flying down tracks. Locomotive boiler has already ruptured. Another low pass in the opposite direction shows us homes nestled in trees, tracks and road crossing not seen before. Pilot fly's through steam escaping from train. Next train attack is against train on large berm that appears to have bisected village. Homes at base of berm. Strafing pass is almost at train level. Pilot pulls up to miss wires alongside tracks. Many shots strike front of locomotive. Lt. Stevens flying 42-106680 IV-J as Blue Flight Leader. Steven's made a forced landing at Manston (RAF) station upon return to England. Lt. Paul McCluskey, flying Blue Four position in Stevens's flight was KIA on this mission. |
| 8/10/1944 | 2nd Lt. F.C. Suttle | 369 | 359 | Trains | Strafing run on stationary train. Lt. F.C. Suttle flying P-51 42-103797 IV-E as Red Two, wingman to Lester Taylor. |
| 8/10/1944 | Capt. E.F. Pezda | 369 | 359 | Train | Strafing entire length of stationary train. Capt. Pezda was flying P-51 44-13301 IV-B as White Flight Leader with Lt. Buniowski on his wing. |
| 8/10/1944 | 2nd Lt. J.F. Buniowski | 369 | 359 | Trains | Appears to be same strafing runs on train with Capt. Pezda. Additional footage of train on curve in village with homes on both sides of tracks. Low pass. Strafing attack on marshalling yard. Lt. John F. Buiowski flying P-51 43-24756 IV-V/ as White Two on Capt. Pezda's wing.
|
| 5/31/1945 | Capt. Marvin F. Boussu | 368 | 359 | Camera Gunnary | Two P-51s in front of camera plane. You can see the left hand bug indicating guns firing but this is practice footage. Nice runs on P-51s |
| 11/5/1944 | 2nd Lt. M.F. Boussu | 368 | 359 | Ground Target, Trains | Low pass just above trees. Multiple strafing runs on train, boiler blown. |
| 4/9/1945 | Capt. M.F. Boussu | 368 | 359 | EA | High altitude engagement. Plane training smoke races under camera plane. Camera plane passes through smoke trail and executes a right hand climbing turn. |
| 3/3/1945 | Lt. M.F. Boussu | 368 | 359 | T |
