One Big Day

The “one big day” so long awaited by the 359th Fighter Group arrived 11 September (1944), as the Group completed nine months of operational flying over Europe.

On that day the 359th destroyed 26 German aircraft in aerial combat, probably destroyed four, and damaged six, besides running up a score of 9-0-13 on the ground. That meant 35-4-19 for the day. Next afternoon, 12 September, the 359th scored another 10-0-3 in the air and 6-0-8 on the ground. The two-day total of 51-4-28 was one-third the total score compiled in the preceding nine months.

Ten men did not return from the missions on these two days, as a revivified Luftwaffe fought savagely against the joint Anglo-American attempt to make successful a final bombardment softening of the Reich for the ground assault...

...The strategic plan of the Eighth Air Force was to push 75 bombers across Europe on the shuttle run to Russia, under cover of a heavy assault on oil plants of the Leipzig area. This was done, the 20th Group making the long escort ride to Russia, but the Luftwaffe, up in strength, knocked down at least 20 bombers in the other forces (the total loss was 52) and itself suffered losses of 17-23-44 to the bombers, 116-7-23 to the fighters and 42-0-43 on the ground.

The 359th got itself 35-4-19 of these totals, and was officially commended for it by General Griswold. There was combat from 1115 to 1205 and the days’ losses were five men.

There were several remarkable individual performances. Cyril Jones shot down four in the air over a landing field and also destroyed two more on the ground and damaged four others. Captain King got an aerial triple, Claude Crenshaw accounted for two in the air and another on the ground, Grant Perrin, Louis E. Barnett, George F. Baker Jr., and Gilbert Ralston all destroyed two in the air.

One of the four men NYR got separated from his own outfit, joined up with the 4th Group and was seen by them to shoot down an Me109 in the air before crashing to flak on a landing ground. He was identified only by his 359th green nosed airplane.

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Photo: Line up of P-51s starting with CS-H 44-14979 courtesy of Thomas P. Smith: Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.

Excerpts from the original monthly narrative History of the 359th Fighter Group for September 1944 dated 4 October 1944 and included in Fogg in the Cockpit, were transcribed and archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association, from records at HQ USAF Research Center, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

We owe them so much

Although the veterans of World War II are all but extinct, their legacy surrounds us. Every time we read an uncensored newspaper, practice the religion of our choosing, cast a vote, or do any of a hundred little things we take for granted, they are there, looking over our shoulder. Let us never, ever, forget Pop, Baldy, Hag, Bo, Kib, Brownie, Ollie, my father, and all the other members of the armed forces who put themselves in harm’s way then and continue to do so today. We owe them so much.

~ Richard Fogg, Acknowledgements, Fogg in the Cockpit

P-51s lined up after V-E Day, photo courtesy of Stephen Almasy, Crew Chief: Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association

Rough Sketch

Howard Fogg would often create a “rough sketch” for a customer to ensure that his vision for the final painting matched their expectations. Depending on the circumstances, the sketches were done in either pencil or watercolor. This example is presented with Howard’s original notations.Image of 1975 rough sketch by Howard Fogg courtesy of Richard Fogg.

"Poured on the Blossom" - 15 June 1944

HEADQUARTERS 359TH FIGHTER GROUP
Office of the Group Historian
APO 637 US Army
4 July 1944

The 359th Fighter Group, June 1944

A miscalculation in the briefing time on 15 June led to an unholy rush. The duty intelligence officer that morning misread his table of distances in the hurried tempo of plotting, reading ‘110’ as 1 hour 10 minutes, instead of 110 minutes. Consequently, briefing at 0650 was hurried and Colonel Tacon, leading, “poured the blossom” all the way in a squadron race to rendezvous, which was reached on time, off the Ile de Ré in the Bay of Biscay. The bombers were early and were eventually picked up on the homeward track off St. Nazaire at 0925. The mission was eventful only for the magnificent weather, which gave a sightseer’s view of new country, since the route back was out across Brittany.

B-17s of the 91st BG. Note triangle on tails, which was the symbol of 1st Air Division, for whom the 359th Fighter Group would have provided escort. Photo, NIC in Fogg in the Cockpit, courtesy of Elsie Palicka, wife of Ed Palicka, 370th Fighter Squadron Photographer: Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.

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This excerpt from Fogg in the Cockpit was selected from transcriptions of the original monthly narrative History of the 359th Fighter Group archived at HQ USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. The complete documents were transcribed by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association, from reports filed from December 1943 through September 1945 by Maurice F. X. Donohue, 359th Fighter Group historian and combat intelligence officer.

Fog in the cockpit.

“One of the greatest hazards in flying is fog in the cockpit.”

As told to Richard Fogg by his father Howard Fogg, this phrase was uttered by a meteorology instructor to a class of student pilots in 1942. A gale of laughter, led by Howard, followed this pronouncement.

Air Cadet Howard Fogg at Parks Air College in East St. Louis, June 1942.
Lettering on Fuselage reads:
U.S. ARMY-PT-I9
AIR CORPS SERIAL NO.40-2609
CREW WEIGHT 400 LBS
Photo courtesy of Peter Fogg

Jigsaw puzzles, plates, mugs, and greeting cards also featured Howard Fogg's artwork

Thanks to his artistic ability and engaging personality, Howard Fogg developed numerous friendships throughout his career, from the humblest rail fan to railroad presidents, from fellow painters to artists in music and film.

Magazine articles featured Howard and his work. Limited edition prints were issued periodically. Jigsaw puzzles, porcelain plates and mugs, playing cards, calendars, and greeting cards featured his art. His illustrations graced the covers and contents of multiple railroad books. In later years, books were written about him and his artwork, including The Railroad Artistry of Howard Fogg, written by two of Howard’s most valued friends, Ronald C. Hill and Al Chione.

While there is no formal accounting, it is estimated that Howard completed more than 1,200 paintings over the course of his 50-year career. A number of these images continue to be printed in calendars and as greeting cards, but the majority of the original paintings reside in offices, businesses, museums, and the homes of those who loved his ability to capture the emotion of railroading.

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Richard Fogg, with a little help from his father, assembles a 1948 jigsaw puzzle which featured one of Howard's early paintings for ALCO.

And here's the puzzle they're assembling, which we still own...

Got my plane! (13 Nov 1943)

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

Saturday, November 13, 1943: Wretham

Got my plane!

Captain Pezda of the 370th (Fighter Squadron) and I went to Wattisham in the command car. Captain Irvine flew down to lead us back. I have a P-47D-10, 275104, with a P&W (Pratt & Whitney) R-2800-63 engine. Eleven hours on the ship. Flies beautifully. It’s a thousand pounds lighter than the D-2s.

I landed at dusk with field lights after coming in Xtee (cross-wind) first try. First pilot to land with lights here. Captain Malley (Control) all excited. Me too!