54 min listen
S2E6: 67th Fighter Squadron at Guadalcanal
S2E6: 67th Fighter Squadron at Guadalcanal
ratings:
Length:
30 minutes
Released:
Jan 24, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Arriving just two days after John L. Smith and VMF-223, the pilots of the 67th Fighter Squadron quickly learned their P-400 Airacobras were woefully inadequate for the air to air mission. Unable to climb quickly or high enough to intercept the Japanese Zeros and Betty bombers, the P-39 variants were pressed into an air to ground role. From September to December of 1942, this group of Army Air Forces pilots would go about the dirty business of air to ground killing. They would never get the publicity of the Marine fighter aces, but in the words of 1st Marine Division commander General Vandegrift, on the morning of 14 September they “saved Guadalcanal”. This episode will look at the development of the Bell P-39 and why it struggled as a fighter over Guadalcanal as well as the history of the 67th Fighter Squadron.
Next episode: Up the Slot with the Marines and the mighty F4U Corsair
Next episode: Up the Slot with the Marines and the mighty F4U Corsair
Released:
Jan 24, 2022
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (16)
Ep 2.2: 1st Lt William Lawley, USAAF, B-17 Flying Fortress pilot, 8th Air Force, World War 2 by The Aviation Medals of Honor