[78thFG_Doodle]

A series of questions and emails speaking with Colonel Richard Hewitt, he flew 140 combat missions recording eight victories with four in the air and four on the ground. He flew the P-47 and P-51 with the 78th Fighter Group and commanded the 82nd Fighter Squadron towards the end of the war, special thanks to Col. Hewitt for taking his time to share his experience with us.

Richard Hewitt article from the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends, his P-51D was nicknamed "Big Dick" and flew 140 missions in the Jug and Stang.
http://www.barnstormers.com/eFLYER/2009/05...nds-Hewitt.html





Flying in lead with his P-51D MX-U, "Big Dick."


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Question One: While flying Ground Attack Missions whether they were freelance strafing or dive bombing, what was considered a Target to avoid if possible? I've heard that Troop Trains were the worst, and along with attacking Airfields.

Answer: First--- On ground attack missions, it depended a little on whether we were flying Jugs or Mustangs. We never really shied away from any known to be enemy target except where a first pass on a airfield showed it to be WELL defended by ground flak. If we saw where the flak was being fired from we had no hessitation to fire back with our 6 or 8 -.50's.
If it was a train or Loco we made a first pass to try and disable the engine pulling it. That essentialy blocked the track and made it useless until "repaired". If there were military supplies in tow we made a second or more passes. Quite often there was a flak car or two that was embedded in the cars and that could determine the 2nd or 3rd pass but one pass usually disabled the whole load, so to speak. I had 5 Locos destroyed on one mission per my Log Book and never made a 2nd pass. Killed the Loco on the 1st pass.

Airfields were a sought out target near the end of the war but often well defended earlier on and 2nd or 3rd passes depended on this. Not that we were not well equipped to do so; 8 fifties did a "bang-up job" in one pas if well directed. My polcy as 82nd CO: "No non-flyworthy e.a.c. was worth a pilot and or a US plane". The decision to attack could only be made after we learned how well our first pass went. I.E. if we destroyed the target on initial pass we seldom had to make a second one. KNown troop trains were seldom strafed as if knocking out the Engines essentially disabled it, why kill what might be civies or pow,s on board. One other quickie on Loco "bustin". When we caught one entering a tunnel in mountainous country, we would try "penning " em from getting out by sealing it with a bomb at exit. Didn't always work but busted up the rails a bit. Could tell many a tale as they were a prime target before D-Day.
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Question Two: Question: While flying the P-47 on ground attack missions, what type of ordnance would usually be used? Such as bombs, .50 Caliber ammunition and rockets. Although I believe the 78th never used rockets on any of their Aircraft.

Answer: We carried 2 external bombs on all dive bombing missions, Jugs ONLY. We never carried anything but external fuel on Mustangs for obvious reasons. We needed the fuel due target distances from the UK. You do not carry a bomb under the belly on a 51. We never carried rockets as you point out. Testd on our Group CO's 47 but highly inaccurate and not near as effective a 8 - .50's. We also never carried Napalm in the 78th

Hope I did not ramble on too much but get me going and I am tough to stop'
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Question Three: What was the relationship with your Ground crew? Did you have the same crew throughout your time in the 78th?

Answer: I Had the same ground crew all thru my 2 tours. Turned out my CC was from Falconer, NY and when you read my Book you will see a photo of the 3 of them. Fraternization on base was taboo.?????????#########. Means we found ways to violate this and not get caught. Ha!!!!!!
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Question Four: This question comes from 78thFG_Vaughan in the 78th Virtual Fighter Group, what Enemy Aircraft did you destroy in your combat tours? Ground and Air Kills.

Answer: Without looking at my log: 4 ME-109 - air; 2-JU-88's Ground; 1-ME262-ground(landing)
1-AR-96-ground; 1-GO-242-ground; 1-ME-110 ground ; plus
1-FW-190 air and 1-ME-262 air. these 2 were not
confirmed ; (see reason in my book )

11 Locomotives----all ground, ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Question Five: How hard was it to keep the sights on target in a tail shot, for example, with no deflection, assuming no turbulence from the enemy Aircraft?

Answer: Did not get but one tail shot but biggest error from dead astern was the boresight effect. How many know what that means and why an error causer????
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Question Six: What Luftwaffe Aircraft did you consider a formidable opponent?

Answer: I wouldn't exactly call the AR-(234)I think was the no. of that speedy' little rascal; exactly formidable but He was faster than a speeding bullet out of our 50 cals. He shot by us and made one or two passes at the Bombers. The 262 ME"S were not quite as fast and could be caught taking off and landing: at their slower speeds.
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Question Seven: While becoming commanding officer of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, what goals, and or rules did you set as standards for your pilots? If any.

Answer: One of our main rules we were never to violate was never leave you flight leaders tail unprotected. My main concern for my Sqdn mates was never take them into a sure death trap or strafing pass; at least when we were not ordered to as part of of our regular assigned mission. One pass usually told us if the targets were worth a second or third run. No ea. on the ground was worth a pilot trade off. We could find plenty of T.O.O.'s (Target of Opportunity) where our eight 50's were in command. At least we could hope and pray a little.
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Just got my package from Col. Hewitt in the mail, he sent two 8 by 10 photos of his P-47 and P-51. WAAHOO!!!!!!!

[Deutschmark]

Very cool stuff and read
Thank you.

Deutschmark

[Jambo]

Hi Doodle,

thank you very much and thank you very much to Col. Richard Hewitt! S!

A great little piece of history! 8) You may write a bit more and fill the hole forum! :wink:

Wish you and Col. Hewitt all the Best!

Jambo :wink:

P.S. Can I buy his book at Amazon perhaps?

[78thFG_Doodle]

Thank you gentlemen! Here's the link to his Book: http://www.amazon.com/Target-opportunit ... 0970518005

Blue Skies,

-Doodle