78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group
Personal pictures, stories and web "links" submitted by 78th Fighter Group veterans, family and friends.
Eugene P. Roberts Picture Gallery
The " Spokane Chief ", a P-47C-15-RE ,WZ-Z, s/n 41-6630, was Eugene Robert's assigned aircraft It is parked in it's regular space at Duxford. Behind the vehicles to the left is the 84th Fighter Squadron Hangar. ( Source Credit: Danny Morris via Norman, " Aces and Wingmen, Volume I ", 1989, Aviation USK, ISBN 85435-241-3 )
" Spokane Chief ", P-47C-15-RE ,WZ-Z, s/n 41-6630, Eugene Roberts assigned aircraft in flight. The auxiliary fuel tank( mounted under the fuselage ) appears to be a 75 gallon pressurized metal tank( also visable in the picture above ). ( Source Credit: Edward Shacklady, "P-47 Thunderbolt", 2000, Tempus/Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 0-7524-2008-9 )
" Spokane Chief ", P-47C-15-RE ,WZ-Z, s/n 41-6630, leading a flight of P-47 Thunderbolts. ( Source Credit: Jerry Scuts, "Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1998, ISBN: 1-85532-729-5)
After the mission of July 30, 1943, the USAAF cashed in on the public relations value of Major Roberts "Triple" victories. This accomplishment was a significant first for the 8th Air Force, 8th Fighter Command, 78th Fighter Group, 84th Fighter Squadron and Eugene Roberts. Army photographers were very busy at Duxford taking pictures of the " Spokane Chief ", Major Roberts and his ground crew on a regular basis. Seven victories were marked on the aircraft when this picture was taken. ( Source Credit: Ernest McDowell, " Thunderbolt - The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in the European Theater ", 1998, Squadron Signal Publications, ISBN 0-89747-393-0 )
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( Left ) Major Eugene Roberts being photographed with the "Spokane Chief" at Duxford in October, 1943. At this point Major Roberts had eight(8) victories confirmed and marked on his aircraft. He was soon to hand over the leadership of the 84th Fighter Squadron to Major Jack C. Price( a future 78th five(5) victory ace ). Roberts would assume the position of 78th Fighter Group Deputy CO. ( Source Credit: Jerry Scuts, "Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force", Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1998, ISBN: 1-85532-729-5). ( Right ) Another public relations photograph of Major Roberts in the cockpit of the "Spokane Chief" indicating the popular "V for Victory" sign. ( Source Credit: Bill Hess, " Aces and Wingmen II, Volume I I ", 1989, Aviation USK, ISBN 0-9623080-2-1 )
General H. H. "Hap" Arnold, Commander and Chief USAAF, is shown in this 1943 picture with the 8th Fighter Command leading aces and the 8th Fighter Command commanding General, William Kepner. ( Left to Right ) Major General Kepner, Major Roberts( 78th Fighter Group ), Captain Gerald Johnson(56th Fighter Group), Captain Charles London( 78th Fighter Group ) and General Arnold. The aircraft in the background appears to be a 78th Fighter Group, 84th Fighter Squadron, P-47 with the fuselage code WZ-N or WZ-W. ( Source Credit: Roger A. Freeman via IWM, " The Mighty Eighth ", Cassell & Co., 2000, ISBN 1-85409-531-5 )
Major Eugene Roberts being photographed in the cockpit of the "Spokane Chief", along with members of his ground crew. ( Left to Right ) ACC, S/Sgt. James Darrall, ARM S/Sgt. Russell Brooks and CC S/Sgt Negley Sapper. ( Source Credit: Garry L. Fry via Negley Sapper, "Eagles of Duxford", 1991, Phalanx Publishing, Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1 )
A Kodachrome color picture of the " Spokane Chief ", P-47C-15-RE ,WZ-Z, s/n 41-6630, shown here visiting Bassingbourne in 1943. ( Source Credit: Roger A. Freeman, " The Mighty Eighth, The Colour Record ", 2001, Cassell & Company, ISBN 0-304-35708-1 )
A photograph of Lt.Colonel Eugene Roberts P-51D, "Jimmy The First", s/n 44-15063, 5E-0, at Honington. Colonel Roberts was the 364th Fighter Group Commander from 1-1-45 to 11-45 and flew an additional 120 combat hours in Mustangs. ( Source Credit: Danny Morris via Tabatt, " Aces and Wingmen II, Volume I ", 1989, Aviation USK, ISBN 0-962308-1-3 )
Thanks... to all that have contributed to these pages on behalf of the 78th Fighter Group Family!
This page was last revised on 7 / 21 / 02
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