Warbird Information Exchange

Hello all, I'm trying to find out more about my Grandfather's service in WW2. His name was Henry Edward Tatum. He passed away yesterday and I'm trying to put together some pictures/info about his plane. squad, missions, anything at all. I know he was in the 346th FS, 350th FG Flying Jugs. As a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot. He flew dozens of mission out of Pisa, Italy from Dec 1944- July 1945. Anything at all will help. Pictures of his squadrons plane, service records, or just a lead to somewhere that might have some of this info. Thanks in advance!

Sorry for your loss. What was Grandfathers name?

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45-47=-2

Thanks Mike, bah I would forgot the most important part. His name was Henry Edward Tatum.

My condolences. He served his country well ...


P-47D 44-20978 "Torrid Tessie" of the 346th FS, 350th FG. The ship was nicknamed "The Philadelphia Filly" on the right side.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

A couple more shots of 346th FS, 350 FG P-47's escorting 340th BG B-25's over Italy. Your grandfather could very well be in one of these P-47's.

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

[quote="Mark Allen M"]My condolences. He served his country well ...

Thank you Mark, most appreciated for your words and the photos.

Your welcome, glad to try to help out ...

THE CHECKERBOARD SQUADRON
346th Fighter Squadron/350th Fighter Group

The 346th FS/350th FG was initially equipped with P-400's and P-39D’s. Deployed to French Morocco and assigned to Twelfth Air Force where the unit engaged in combat during the North African campaign and the Italian Campaign from the islands of Corsica and Sardinia. They were one of the last groups to fly the P-39 in combat.

The Checkerboard Squadron re-equipped with P-47D Thunderbolts in August 1944 and supported the invasion of Elba and southern France. Relocated to Tarquinia, Italy in September 1944 and commenced dive bombing, Rover Joe and strafing missions over Italy’s Po Valley. They re-located to Pisa in December 1944, and continued to tear up the skies over the Po until May of 1945. They tangled with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana and Luftwaffe in the skies and on the ground.

The 346th aircraft were often characterized by "nose art" that included the name of the plane in huge letters across the length of the fuelage.

1st Lt Raymond L Knight was awarded the Medal of Honor for missions on 24 and 25 April 1945: voluntarily leading attacks through intense antiaircraft fire against enemy airdromes in northern Italy, Knight was responsible for eliminating more than 20 German planes intended for assaults on Allied forces; attempting to return his shattered plane to base after an attack on 25 April, he crashed in the Apennines.

P-47 6A1 “Mike” Major Andrew Schindler
P-47 6A6 “Here Comes Elmer Now” Capt. Elmer Belcher
P-47 6A8 “Stardust” Capt. Russ Crocker
P-47 6B2 “Li’l Bea” Capt. Ed Kregloh
P-47 6B6 “Iron Mountain”
P-47 6B9 OD Razorback
P-47 6C2 “Puddin’ Head”
P-47 6C9 Rare OD bubbletop
P-47 6D3 “Lovely Lucy II”
P-47 6D4 "Sky Queen / Kitten” Lt. Jack Elliot
P-47 6D5 “Bend-er-Bust” Lt. Phil Peoples
P-47 6D6 “Bend-er-Bust” Lt. Phil Peoples
P-47 6C3 - Bachs Boche Bustin Bastard Lt. Addison A. Bachman
P-47 6C4 - TENNESEE RAMBLER Lt. Morrow
P-47 6B4 - Buzzin Cuzzin' (One and Two) Lt. Richard P. Sulzbach
P-47 6C7 - CHICKENBONES Lt. Eddy
P-47 603 - PHILIDELPHIA FILLY
P-47 6B1 - HELLZAPOPPIN Lt. James D. Dailey

_________________
“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Thanks again Mark. I happen to see those entries from Wikipedia. I can remember listening to his was stories over and over as a kid, I guess just now that he's gone I'm feeling a bit upset that I will never be able to hear them again. He told me some of his stories were published in a book called "The Memory is still fresh" but I have been unable to ascertain a copy anywhere. I do remember his most famous mission though, one he received a purple heart for. I would love to share in detail with you guys, I will post it shortly. I really wish I could find his rank and plane name, that would be top priority.

So my father flew P47D 6B2 called Til's Toiler. Just wanting to find out if anyone has information on him. He passed away in 1992 and I want his legacy to live on.

Would your father have a name?

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45-47=-2

His name is in the title of my post: Chuck Tilbrook Jr.

Good morning and welcome. It's always nice to hear from veterans and/or family of veterans. So welcome again. Your father served his country well and I'll be the first to say, but not the last, his service was greatly appreciated. Your father's legacy will always live on. You can count on that.

Stay in touch. We'll find you something. If you haven't seen these already, here's a quick start below with a couple of sites that mention your father's name.

http://raf-112-squadron.org/350thfghonor_roll.html

http://www.warwingsart.com/350thFG/P47/346thFS/

Your father flew P47D27 350th FG 346th FS - 6B1 - HELLZAPOPPIN as well on 23 March 1945. Looks to have been involved in some sort of prang? Actually it looks to be from flak damage.

23 Mar 45 42-26840 Republic P-47D-27-RE Thunderbolt Tilbrook . 346FS 350FG 12AF . Squadron mission #489 Cat II flak damage Plane coded 6B1


The plane had received Category 2 (serious) damage, but was repaired and continued to operate, resulting again damaged on 17 February 1945 (uCat 1), 6 March 1945 (Cat 2), 23 March 1945 - flown by Lt. Tilbrook - (cat 2) and 1 April 1945 (Cat 2). This makes of “Hellzapoppin” one of the longest serving and more battle veteran aircraft of its unit.

_________________
“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Hi,
I have a book on the 346th FS and it has your grandfather in it .
No photo's though.
I also know some guys that research the 350 TH FG that I sent this link to so they may have more.

Do you have any more photo's? Never seen this one before.
Regards
Rick Peck

I am new to this page, but Peck 47 alerted me to the 350th inquires. I am gathering information as regards your father and his service. I am the archivist for the 345th FS and work on the entire groups records. I have never seen this photo of 5B2 Til's Toiler. It is always great to come across new photos, information, and family members who wish to keep the history alive. I know your father joined the 346th in Pisa in January of 45. He came in with a group of six pilots including himself. He was in the class of 44-E Eagles but also 44D Cimarron Chief. I don' t know if there are many others that switched class numbers as they moved to different training bases. Curious. The plane he is listed as incurring flak damage in is 6B1. The broken link on The Honor Roll of RAF_112 use to go to my old 350th webpage and blog. It is no longer up but I will post it here. I have photos of that bird with flak damage, it was "Hellzapoppin". I will look up the DOR (Daily Operation Report) for you and post it here. We have collected a few images for you and will post those as well. I look forward to further correspondence and sharing of information.
If I am successful, you should see the mission report in this message. I just found it. If not, I will post it when I figure out the method.

Ah, Apparently I cannot post the image.

Email me, and I will send you the DOR. I have all DORs of the squadron, but often the pilots names are not mentioned. In this case, your father's is.
I have looked in my records and do have other DORs that include your father. I am happy to send them to you. I sent the one of March 23, 45 to Rick Peck and asked him to post it here. It will take me a while to collect all of his missions for you, but I will do it.

My father, Gil Vizcarra, flew with the 345th Fighter Squadron.

Keith Vizcarra
350th Fighter Group
345th FS Archivist

Is this one of you guys? If so nice work. if not nice work as well

http://forum.armyairforces.com/346th-FS ... 33982.aspx

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”