78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group
"The LONG REACH - Deep Fighter Escort Tactics", May 29, 1944
The original cover art of " The Long Reach" manual. Note, that the cover was printed with the word "CONFIDENTIAL" on the top. The CD copy viewed has the word "CONFIDENTIAL" struck out in pen or pencil with "RESTRICTED" hand printed above it. A serialized number( 25877 ) is also stamped in the upper right hand corner. ( Source Credit: webmaster's collection )
Major General William E. Kepner - Introduction
Major General William E. Kepner, assumed command of the VIII Fighter Command from Brigadier General Frank O'D Hunter on August 29, 1943. ( Source Credit: Michael O'Leary via the 352nd Fighter Group Association, " VIII Fighter Command at War, ' Long Reach' ", 2000, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-907-7 )
Major General William E. Kepner, commanding, VIII Fighter Command, provided the introduction for this manual. He was totally committed to the success of long range fighter escort in the ETO. In this introduction, he recognizes the accomplishments of the contributing pilots, reviews the evolution of fighter escort tactics in the ETO from the initial stages, through the development and use of auxiliary fuel tanks for extended range; the adaption of group-by group relay coverage and finally on to early 1944 with the P-51 Mustang's capability of escorting the bombers to and from the target. He points out that the personal experiences and opinions reported in the manual, with regards to tactics, are based on actual combat experiences to date. He cautions the new groups and pilots, reviewing the manual for the first time, that these tactics change frequently and all pilots have a responsibility for maintaining an awareness of this and must adapt accordingly.
A P-47C, WZ-K, s/n 41-6243 of the 84th Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group in flight. Note, the early yellow bordered national insignia. (Source Credit: Edward Shacklady, "P-47 Thunderbolt", 2000, Tempus/Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 0-7524-2008-9 )
In reference to the accomplishments of the P-47 Thunderbolt in escort duty, General Kepner writes: " It is perhaps the moment to point out the following fact -- by far the larger proportion of our escort fighters to date have been P-47 Thunderbolts and their share of the 2321 enemy planes destroyed by this Command in combat, with 1496 probably destroyed amd damaged, is in ratio to their numbers. If it can be said that the P-38s struck the Luftwaffe in it's vitals and the P-51s are giving it the coup de grace, it was the Thunderbolt that broke it's back."
The following are scans of the actual manual, "The Long Reach" introduction pages, ( select a page and click to view ):
Long Reach Introduction - Page 1
Long Reach Introduction - Page 2
Long Reach Introduction - Page 3
Long Reach Introduction - Page 4
Two pilots from the 78th Fighter Group contributed articles to the" The Long Reach" manual. Lt. Colonel Harry J. Dayhuff and Major Don Bodenhamer
Lt. Col. Harry J. Dayhuff, 78th Fighter Group, P-47
Lt. Col. Harry J. Dayhuff, joined the 78th Fighter Group, 82nd Fighter Squadron on 5-7-42. He was promoted to Squadron CO on 5-11-42 and flew every mission in that capacity. He became Deputy Group CO and remained with the 78th until 8-7-43 when he was transferred to the 352nd Fighter Group. On 12-7-44, Colonel Dayhuff became the Group CO of the 4th Fighter Group. ( Source Credit: Garry L. Fry )
Colonel Harry Dayhuff in his two page contribution to the manual, addresses the strengths and weaknesses of the veneraable "Jug" in dogfighting. He avoids addressing bomber escort methods and tactics, stresses the importance of a good wing man and talks some about formation. He stresses complete awareness and in the case of being at a total disadvantage( i.e., an e/a right on your tail), being capable of doing something "quick and viloent". He reports. " As one of our pilots once said when the first he was aware of the tracers going by his shoulder, " I put the stick in one corner and the rudder in the other. I don't know what happened, but when I came out the Hun wasn't there any longer."
Lt. Col. Harry Dayhuff and flight crew with his assigned 82nd Fughter Squadron P-47C-5, MX-Z, s/n 41-6618, "Mackie". The aircraft is parked at Duxford in a revetment in the 82nd FS dispersal area. Note, the opening to the air raid shelter near the front of the vertical stabilizer. Also, the early yellow bordered national insignia is used ( Source Credit: Jerry Scutts via Warren Bodie, "P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", 1998, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 1-85532-729-5 )
The following are scans of the actual "The Long Reach" manual pages, authored by Colonel Dayhuff( select a page and click to view ):
Lt. Col. Harry Dayhuff - page 58
Lt. Col. Harry Dayhuff - page 59
Major Don Bodenhamer, Jr., 78th Fighter Group, P-47
Major Donald Bodenhamer joined the 78th Fighter Group, 83rd Fighter Squadron on 2-16-43. He became the Squadron "C" Flight Commander on 7-15-43 and assigned as Squadron Operations Officer on 12-7-43. On 3-17-44, he transferred to the CBI. ( Source Credit: Garry L. Fry )
Major Bodenhamer covers two topics in the manual, both individual and formation combat tactics. In each case, he clearly elaborates on offensive and defensive areas.
On a surprise attack, he reports, " I attack out of the sun, coming up slightly underneath, with my wing man in trail and slightly to one side, watching our tails. I attempt to close as rapidly as possible to about 600-800 yards, then I chop throttle and close slowly, I find this prevents overshooting. I break away violently as possible, into the sun, meanwhile clearing my tail. I attempt to stay dead astern until I shoot him down --- once there, stick 'til you get him'. Many a Hun has been lost because he wasn't followed down. "
Two flights of 84th Fighter Squadron P-47s in formation, flying over the patchwork quilt fields of East Anglia. ( Source Credit: "Duxford Diary", East Anglian Aviation Society, 1975 reprint, Heffers Printing Ltd. )
The following are scans of the actual "The Long Reach" manual pages, authored by Major Bodenhamer ( select a page and click to view ):
Major Don Bodenhamer - page 63
Major Don Bodenhamer - page 64
Major Don Bodenhamer - page 65
Author Michael O'Leary recently compiled a book based on his original copy of "The Long Reach" manual. It was published by Osprey in September, 2000 and is entitled "VIII Fighter Command At War, 'Long Reach' ", ( ISBN 1-85532-907-7 ).
This page was revised on 7 / 21 / 02
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