Thursday, December 29, 2011

Flying Models Magazine January 2012 announcement re: Fogg in the Cockpit



Text from page 12:

Fogg in the Cockpit

Renowned for decades as the world’s foremost railroad artist, Howard Fogg’s career spanned half a century and some twelve hundred paintings.

However, while his art has been welcomed for decades, few of his enthusiasts have been aware of his prior career, as a fighter pilot in the U.S. 8th Air Force during World War II. Fortunately Fogg left behind a detailed diary of his experiences, which illuminate this brief but exciting aspect of his life, as he engaged in direct combat with the Luftwaffe at the controls of P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs.

Articulate and insightful, his diary offers a frank and fascinating glimpse into the life of a fighter pilot, both in the sky and in wartime England. Written during 1943 and 1944 it offers a confidential perspective of life as a “flyboy,” during which Howard flew 76 combat missions and was awarded the Air Medal with three clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross with one cluster.

Presented in its entirety, with supplementary material by Richard and Janet Fogg and supporting illustrations from Fogg himself, including satirical cartoons, military and railroad artwork, Fogg in the Cockpit paints with a broad brush, from the smallest details of a pilot’s day-to-day existence, to air combat, and the strategic and political decisions that influenced the course of the war.

This 6” X 9-1/4” hardcover book contains over 360 pages. The price is $32.95.

CASEMATE PUBLISHERS, 908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083,
610-853-9131, www.casematepublishing.com

Flying Models website

Thursday, December 22, 2011

December 22, 1944 Mission


An excerpt from Fogg in the Cockpit, The Wartime Diary of Howard Fogg:

Wednesday, December 22 (1944): Wretham

Fast moving overcast, broke by noon.

Briefing at 1100. Took off at 1215 with Major Richmond, Baldy, and Hagan. Major really flies smooth. I had Randy’s ship, which is damn good. Enjoyed successful ascent thru the clouds. What a gorgeous sight on top. We essed over the second box of 18 B-17s at 27,500 feet. Impressive to see hundreds of B-17s below you against the dazzling white clouds.

Colonel is really happy about the mission. Four aborts in squadron. Whole group off in 6 minutes 35 seconds. Baldy was low on gas, so he peeled off near Yarmouth.

Downing and Hollis saw a couple of bombs yesterday by their ships. Said, “Hell let’s put ‘em on,” so they had ‘em put on. That was crazy-nuts when they were on sweep as spares. They turned around, got lost, landed with the bombs twice, and finally brought ‘em back here. What a crazy outfit.

Got a new pilot today; Drake, from Palisades Park, New Jersey. 43-G (pilot training class) in “C” Flight. He’s bunking with us.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Books about the 359th Fighter Group

The original History of the 359th Fighter Group. This book is believed to be the work of Captain Tom Raines PRO-Intelligence, 359th Fighter Group, and was sent to all the men of the 359th after they returned home.

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The reprint of the History of the 359th Fighter Group, by the Battery Press.

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Jigger Tinplate & Redcross - The 359th Fighter Group in World War Two was published in 1987 by Academy Publishing Corporation.


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Mustangs & Unicorns, A History of the 359th Fighter Group, was published in 1997 by Pictorial Histories Publishing Company.

Tom Farrish's review of Mustangs & Unicorns: "This book is a fascinating look at the history of the 359th Fighter Group. It contains many pictures and a detailed account of the results of all their combat missions. This is a great book for the WWII Aviation enthusiast, with an emphasis on the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolts they flew."

Amazon link

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359th Fighter Group was released in 2002 by Osprey Publishing.

George Hullet, Air Classics Magazine, review of 359th Fighter Group: "Over 130 photographs and 45 color profiles make the book an excellent addition to Osprey's outstanding series and a must for any WWII aviation bookshelf."

Amazon link

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Fogg in the Cockpit, by Richard and Janet Fogg, was released on July 28, 2011 by Casemate Publishing.

Books Monthly review of Fogg in the Cockpit: "Articulate and insightful, his diary offers a frank and fascinating glimpse into the life of a fighter pilot, both in the sky and in wartime England...paints with a broad brush, from the smallest details of a pilot's day-to-day existence to air combat, and the strategic and political decisions that influenced the course of the war..."witting testimony" of the highest calibre, and a most welcome addition to the library of reminiscences of this most recent world conflict. Add to this the genuine and amazing talent of Fogg as an artist, and you have a most fascinating read - the appendix of beautiful colour paintings by Fogg is a welcome addendum. A remarkable book indeed."

Amazon link

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If you know of any other books about the 359th Fighter Group, please let us know!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

P-51C "Betty Jane" vs. 359th FG P-51s

On July 9, 2011, we attended the Wings of Freedom Tour, presented by the Collings Foundation, at the Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport. The Collings Foundation travels the country with several WWII bombers and a dual control P-51C Mustang, “Betty Jane,” a razorback “C” model (as opposed to the bubble-canopy “D” model that came out later in the war).

Several “C” models were modified to carry a passenger in a second cockpit behind the pilot. One of the most famous of these two seat fighters, “The Stars Look Down,” was used by Dwight Eisenhower, and he rode in the back seat of that Mustang over the beaches of Normandy to direct the D-Day invasion.

While looking at our pictures of “Betty Jane,” we realized that we had shots of her similar to several photos from the 359th Fighter Group’s archives, so we thought a side-by-side comparison of those photos might be interesting - a "D" that served the 359th Fighter Group versus a currently flying, dual-control "C."

“Caroline," Lt. Thomas P. Smith's P-51D CS-E 44-13893, versus “Betty Jane.” Left image of "Caroline" courtesy of Thomas P. Smith: Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.



“CisCo” P-51D CS-Q 44-15277 is one of the last P-51s assigned to the 359th Fighter Group during their final weeks in the ETO, versus "Betty Jane." Left image of "CisCo" courtesy of Thomas P. Smith: Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.



P-51 Instrument Panels: Left image courtesy of Robert J. Guggemos: Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.



And here’s one last photo of “Betty Jane” – we had no similar 359th Fighter Group archived photo to compare.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Fighter Group and Squadron Insignia

The 359th Fighter Group Insignia: The unicorn, symbolic of dauntless courage, in white to indicate purity of purpose: reared in a regal manner in pride of performance, against a background of the red blood of courage, severed by a gold band of honor. The whole crested with three white stars against a background of midnight blue. The star points are consecutively 3, 5, and 9 to portray the Group numerical designation. The inscription "Cum Leone" is prophetic of the Group's baptism of fire. (The Royal Seal of Great Britain bears the unicorn emblazoned on the left and the Lion on the right.) The Group winged its way into combat from its base in Great Britain in companionship with the combined operations of the USAAF and the RAF, against enemy forces over Europe.


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The 368th Fighter Squadron Insignia. Over and through a yellow disc, the squadron color designation, the white unicorn holds a red thunderbolt firmly between his teeth. The unicorn, symbolic of dauntless courage, portrays the squadron's speed and evasiveness. Its one horn indicates that the squadron flies single engine planes.


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The 369th Fighter Squadron Insignia. Over and through a red disc, the squadron color designation, intersected by a thunderbolt, the white unicorn appears in full pursuit, as per record drawings. The unicorn, symbolic of dauntless courage, portrays the squadron's speed and evasiveness and the position indicates its aggressiveness. Its one horn indicates that the squadron flies single engine planes.


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The 370th Fighter Squadron Insignia. Over and through a dark blue disc, the squadron color designation, intersected by a red thunderbolt, the white unicorn appears prepared to attack. The unicorn, symbolic of dauntless courage, portrays the squadron's speed and evasiveness and the position indicates its determination. Its one horn indicates that the squadron flies single engine planes.

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