Can Anyone Help ID This Pilot?

[CWBuff]

Alrighty, I found this photo while searching through the LIFE archives and the fella second from left caught my eye...


LIFE photo archives

It's tough to see, but he's wearing a 33rd PS patch on his coveralls... as are a few of the other pilots shown in the same series. That in itself raises some questions, because the photo series documents P-40B/Cs of the 57th PG. But right now I'm most interested in trying to identify these fellas, especially the one I mentioned... to me, he bears more than a passing resemblance to Lt. Thomas LeRoy 'Bud' Truax, shown here.


From a Truax Field 'Yearbook'

Here's a side-by-side... the angles and lightning are different, and it's possible that the photo on the right had been touched up for publication, as was common practice back then, but after spending entirely too much time making minute comparisons of each and every feature on both faces, I really wanna say that they are both 'Bud' Truax. Any thoughts?




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Last edited by CWBuff on Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[hang the expense]

I think you got it right.The shadow around the eyes is right on and the smile is the same with one more enhanced.

[bipe215]

Same gap between the same teeth.

[Pathfinder]

I agree on the teeth--do an extreme close up side by side of his mouth and I think you'll have it. After EARS, TEETH are the finger prints of the face...

[cooper9411]

Sure looks like the same person.

[CWBuff]

Totally forgot about this... d'oh!!

Thanks for the reinforcement, guys. I guess I was already convinced on this, but it's always nice to have a second, third, and hundredth supporting opinion!


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