March 18, 1945, 417th Night Fighter Squadron

March 18, 1945, 417th NFS, Back
March 18, 1945, 417th NFS, Back
March 18, 1945, 417th NFS, Front
March 18, 1945, 417th NFS, Front

From the 417th NFS History:[1]http://417th-nightfighters.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Chapter-4-pg44-91.pdf

MAR. 17. SIX MORE AIRCREW JOINED THE SQUADRON TODAY. 2ND LTS. ALLISON, ANDERSON (H.A.), ANDERSON (T.W.), BRADFORD, CARTMELL, CHRISTENSEN, COOLEY, GAINES, MURDOCH AND TEMM AND F/O’S GRAHAM & WHITE ARRIVED FOR DUTY TODAY.

From the David Diehl Diary:

March 17, 1945 David Diehl Diary
March 17, 1945 David Diehl Diary[2]http://417th-nightfighters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/David-F-Diehl-WWII-Diary-Part-3-March-1945.pdf

At noon, everyone was amazed when a C-47 arrived and disgorged six new crews. We have too many already, but with these it’s quite a crowd. They are old pals to Bob and Pete but the only R.O. I know is “Red” Graham.

The Major’s continued to jealously monopolize their toy, the new P-61. This afternoon Major Larson staged a poorly executed dog fight with a French P-47 over the field. He muffed several chances to get on the Thunderbolts tail. The crowning event was when he skidded so much in his turns that he “sucked off” the gunner’s escape hatch, and naturally left our only 61 inoperational. I wish I were in Texas.

References

References
1 http://417th-nightfighters.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Chapter-4-pg44-91.pdf
2 http://417th-nightfighters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/David-F-Diehl-WWII-Diary-Part-3-March-1945.pdf

A Young Man Went Off to War