Question For JLittle

[Jack Cook]

Any relation to my dear friend John Little L/C USAFret also from CO??

[gary1954]

Looks like its gonna be a Long, long day in maintenance

[jlittle2]

No Jack, not related. Looks like quite a repair effort is needed on the P-40.

[Jack Cook]

They salvaged her ie 41-14107 and she downed 2 Petes, a Zero and 3 Vals before being shot down off Bouganville in Sept 43.

[jlittle2]

I am always amazed at how well the mechanics could take care of planes during the war effort. Pride, and a lot of sweat went into getting planes like this back in the air to fight another day. And on top of that they did not have computers, and CNC machines to make it all happen. A remarkable group of people in those day's.

[Obergrafeter]

One positive thing though, they didn't have the FAA breathing down their neck!

[Holedigger]

.....no FAA....and a parts catalogue they could just look up the part and order it!!! or go pick one off the big pile of carcasses out in back of the hangar! Did very well for a bunch of 18, 19 and 20yr old kids with a few "old men", you know the type...pushing 30th telling them how to do it! My sister-in-law's Grandpa was a crewcheif for a B-17 with the Mighty 8th. A lot of pride there. It was HIS airplane! He just let those flyboys take it out once in a while if promised to be careful with it!

[Andy in West Oz]

Jack, is that one of the Fs that pranged on Vanuatu?

[Jack Cook]

Yes, this is 41-14107. John Little later shot down 2 Pete FBPs while flying it. This is really a aweful photo of John. I think the magnitute of what may be facing him for the loss of 4 a/c is on his mind. 5 months later he was Major Little and the sqd CO. He lead the 44th to over 100 victories during his tenure. The 44th FS was proclaimed the top AAF P-40 squadron at the end of 1943. John had planned to live longer than his mom who died at 99 years and 11 months but sadly John departed on his final flight at 94 and now rests in Arlington Cemetary. I remember something he told me once. "There can be no greater accomplishment than to have commanded a fighter squadron in combat!"

[Andy in West Oz]

Thanks Jack. The photo looked vaguely familiar although I probably haven't seen it before.