78th Fighter Group
78th Fighter Group
Personal pictures, stories and web "links" submitted by 78th Fighter Group veterans, family and friends.
_1st Lt. Peter E. Pompetti, 84th Fighter Squadron, 2-16-43 to 3-17-44,
POW
1st Lt. Peter E. Pompetti served with the 78th Fighter Group, 84th Fighter Squadron from February 15, 1943 to March 17, 1944. In this 1943 picture, Flight Officer(F/O) Peter E. Pompetti is shown here with his assigned P-47D, WZ-R, s/n 41-6393, "Axe the Axis". Note the single victory marking. This was a Me-109 destroyed in a mission on 7-30-43. ( Source Credit: Bill Hess and Thomas Ivie via Pete Pompetti, "Fighters of the Mighty Eighth",1990, Motorbooks International, ISBN 0-87938-460-3 )
Part I - February 15, 1943 Through The Mission of January 4, 1944
Peter E. Pompetti was born on December 27, 1920 in Woodbine, N.J.. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in January 1940, but did not begin his flight training until January 1942. He received his wings on November 10, 1942. After completing his Operational Training at Drew Field, Florida in P-40s he was ordered overseas to England and joined the 84th Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group. He arrived at Goxhill airdrome, Lincolnshire on February 15, 1943 and began his orientation training with the P-47. When the Group moved to Duxford, Cambridgeshire, he was assigned a P-47D , coded WZ-R, s/n 41-6393. Peter flew 81 of his 95 combat missions in this aircraft. Originally named "Darkie"( an R/T call sign term for emergency directions), the aircraft was eventually renamed "Axe The Axis". Per author Danny Morris(2):
"Shortly after Peter Pompetti was taken POW, his P-47 (s/n 41-6393) was transferred to the 4th Strategic Air Depot on March 25, 1944. During it's combat career, it suffered battle damage resulting in two new port wings and one new starboard wing and consequently it flew in a crab-like fashion which the other pilots didn't like. Peter knew his aircraft well and loved to fly it."
On January 4, 1944, his 95th combat mission, he was forced to bail out over Pierrefitte, France after he was hit by flak while strafing the Beauvais airdrome. He was captured and interned as a POW to the EOW. He was credited with 7 victories( 5 air, 2 ground ).
Peter flew his first mission on April 17, 1943, a fighter "sweep" over the coast of Belgium, as wingman to the Squadron CO, Major Eugene P. Roberts.(1). His first confirmed victory, a Me-109, came on July 30, 1943 during a Ramrod mission providing withdrawal escort support for B-17s returning from Kassel, Germany. Flight Officer(F/O) Pompetti reports(2):
" I was flying Bayland Blue Three leading the second element in Lt. Silsby's(3) flight. We followed the course well beyond the R/V point(rendezvous point with bombers assigned for escort). We saw the bombers on our left, about 9 o'clock at approximately 24,000 feet. We were at 28,000, indicating 220 mph. We made a left turn behind the bombers sticking with eight ship formations close together. After making several turns behind the bombers, Lt. Silsby(WZ-T) made a pass at two e/a below. This was in the vicinity of Vareveld, Holland, at about 25,000 feet down to 18,000 feet. He took the one on the left and I took the one on the right. Both were Me-109s. We came down in trail. They saw us and broke sharp left towards us. I took a short burst at mine to distract him. I don't think I had enough deflection. Lt. Silsby was also firing. But the e/a turned over and got away. We got in string again and gained some altitude. While climbing to about 23,000 feet, A Fw-190 with underside all canary yellow, came up vertically between Lt. Hunt(WZ-U)(4) and myself. Lt. Hunt was the number two man to Silsby. I called for them to break. They did. The Fw-190 did a flip-over and started down after I committed myself for attack. I called my wingman to break up and get altitude. He did this and I then took over the lead. We had gotten down to 15,000 feet, regaining altitude to 21,000 feet. Lt. Silsby and his wingman were nowhere in sight. I started to climb. I missed my wingman and called him - no answer. I continued to climb and found three Me-109s in vee formation at 25,000 feet. I leveled off at their altitude and gained on them. I started firing at the leader and the e/a on his right wing broke and headed down. After firing several bursts, he turned over on his back and I continued firing. He seemed to just hang there. I then broke behind the third e/a, who was much closer, and fired several short bursts in his trail. His left wing then dropped. I continued closing up in trail, firing continuously until at approximately 50 yards range. I observed smoke pouring out of his right side and wing root with pieces flying off. I believe the pilot was dead since he took no evasive action at all. This part of the engagement must have taken place over or near Didam, Holland. Knowing that I was alone, I started from 20,000 feet and climbed to 32,000 at full power. I was climbing at 190 mph at a rate of 500 to 1,000 feet per minute. All this time I was behind the bombers. I now decided to pass them on the left. While climbing to the left of the bombers, I could see plenty of Fw-190s around me lining up to for passes at the Forts. I reported them to my squadron leader and continued to climb. The Fw-190s did not make a pass. I leveled off at 32,000 feet pulled back RPM, manifold pressure and headed west. I was still deep in Holland. I continued on a westerly course holding 32,000 feet and came out over Schouven island. After crossing the Dutch coast, I lost altitude to 28,000 feet and saw four to six bogies in a Lufberry to the left north of me and west of Overflakke island. They pointed their noses to me at some distance off, however, I believe them to be looking for bomber stragglers. I dropped my nose and easily out distanced them. They finally turned inland and I continued my way home".
On a August 17, 1943 withdrawal escort mission, Flight Officer Pompetti claimed his second victory with the downing of a Me-110. The 84th Squadron was just breaking escort near Aachen, Germany to head home, when nine twin engined aircraft were spotted trying to sneak up below the bomber formation for a rocket attack. Major Eugene Roberts, 84th CO, and F/O Pompetti were able to catch a Me-110 and Me-210 respectively and shoot them down.
Flight Officer Peter E. Pompetti in the cockpit of his assigned P-47D, WZ-R, s/n 41-6393, "Darkie"(Later "Axe The Axis") at Duxford in the Spring of 1943. Members of his ground crew shown include(left to right): (Radio man)Raymond F. Polansky, (ACC) Sgt. Charles Clark, (Armorer) Sgt. Harry Twohig and (CC) S/Sgt. Harry W. Cecil. ( Source Credit: Danny Morris via Pete Pompetti, "Aces and Wingmen II, Volume I", 1989, Aviation USK, ISBN 85435-241-4 )
Author, Garry L. Fry reports(5) with regards to the mission of September 27, 1943:
"On September 27, 1943 , forty-five Thunderbolts led by Colonel Harry Dayhuff(6) of the took off from Hethel advanced base as one of six 8th Fighter Command groups assigned to give withdrawal support to two hundred forty six B-17s of the 1st and 3rd Bomb Divisions attacking targets in Emden, Germany. The Group was flying the first time with new 108 gallon paper composition belly tanks, which increased their range to 400 plus miles."
This was also the first time the Pathfinder bombers of the 482nd Bomb Group were used. The 84th Squadron was assigned mid cover at 29,000 feet( the 82nd was assigned top cover at 32,000 feet and the 83rd was low cover at 27,000 feet. NOTE: These were the usual bomber box escort cover altitudes for the 8th Fighter Command Groups). Peter Pompetti was flying as Captain Harold Stump's(7) wingman and he recalls(2):
" We made the R/V with the bombers at 30,000 feet over the target. Enemy aircraft were lining up and attacking the bombers from all directions. Captain Stump followed the leading flights around for a while before sighting a Me-109 at 9 o'clock at 26,000 feet. We dove to attack. I was behind and slightly to the left of Captain Stump. We closed rapidly and the Captain fired at a range of 50 to 100 yards. he was getting strikes on the left wing but overran before he could make the kill and had to pull up. I was in a good position for a shot with about 5-15 degrees deflection at 150 yards range. I fired and saw strikes on the left wing, the cockpit and engine. The engine caught fire and was smoking heavily. The canopy and pieces from the top and bottom of the fuselage came off. I broke and rejoined Captain Stump at 28,000 feet. While our flight was regaining altitude, a Me-109 bounced us from down sun, singling out Captain Stump. He broke left and I took a squirt at the e/a as he went in front of me. It was a 60-70 degree deflection shot and I didn't observe any strikes as the e/a broke away. We reassembled our flight. Captain Stump then sighted another Me-109 at 24,000 feet and twelve o'clock to us. We dove, coming in behind and slightly below him. He didn't see us coming at all. Captain Stump pulled up and opened fire at 250 yards. I saw him getting strikes across the left wing, cockpit and engine. Fire and smoke broke out and the e/a blew up around the cockpit and engine. Our flight then pulled up. At 25,000 feet a Me-109 made a bounce on Captain Stump from four o"clock. We broke left and the e/a immediately dove for the deck. A little later, another 109 bounced me from three o'clock high. I was flying on Captain Stump's left wing. I broke sharply left and called to Captain Stump to get on the e/a's tail, while I led him through a Lufberry. We were now at 20,000 feet. I was indicating 180 mph in the turn and the e/a was firing even though he was not able to turn tight enough to get proper deflection. Meanwhile, Lt. Dougherty(8)(WZ-U), flying the number 4 position, cut in front of the e/a and made a quartering pass on him. After three or four 360 degree turns, the e/a broke down with Lt. Dougherty following him. We were down to about 16,000 feet by this time so we pulled up, but Lt. Dougherty continued to chase his 109. While climbing and heading for home, six Me-109s passed over Captain Stump. The last e/a saw him and got on his tail at 20,000 feet. The Captain broke sharp left, half rolled and went straight down. I gave the e/a several squirts at a wide deflection with plenty of lead. he immediately half rolled and then rolled back one quarter of a turn and followed captain Stump straight down. I followed the e/a down, Captain Stump broke upwards at 15,000 feet, but the e/a kept going down. I was forced to follow him a little lower because I couldn't pull out right away. I pulled up to about 12,000 feet. I formed up with Captain Stump and his No. 3 man in a vee and headed for home".
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1st Lt. Peter E. Pompetti back stopped with his assigned aircraft, "Axe The Axis", P-47D, WZ-R, s/n 41-6393 with other pilots of the 84th Fighter Squadron in August 1943. Left to right is Lt. Bert Lentz(11), Lt. Pompetti and Capt. Glenn H. Koontz(9). ( Source Credit: Danny Morris via Pete Pompetti, "Aces and Wingmen II, Volume I", 1989, Aviation USK, ISBN 85435-241-4 )
" We saw the bombers in in front of us at 16-17,000 feet. One was struggling and behind him was a Me-110. Captain Stump fell in behind the e/a at 1500 yards. The e/a turned slightly right and Captain Stump started to cut him off. The e/a then turned left and I was now in a good position for a shot. Captain Stump called for me to take him while he and the No. 3 man covered me. I cut off the e/a in a left turn and when he straightened out, I was slightly below with about 15 degrees deflection. I gave him several bursts and saw strikes on the left engine and cockpit. He was burning, smoking and pieces were falling off. I was very close to him. I could see everything clearly because I was about 25 feet away. from him. In the rear of the long cockpit I could see two light machine guns on a swivel, I saw a yellow back cushion, there was no one in the seat, unless he was on the floor. I could see the pilot. He was hunched over the stick. I could see his back and head, indicating that he was probably dead. he had on a "Mae West" similar to the type worn by the English pilots and a black helmet. The e/a was heading down and made no attempt to evade or get back to land. Our three ship flight headed for home, landing at Coltishall, Norfolk for petrol. "
Lt. Pompetti claimed one Me-109 and one Me-110 destroyed for this mission. On January 4, 1944, he was credited with another Me-109 destroyed and one Me-109 damaged. These claims were both in the air near Coesfield, Germany.
A wartime magazine picture featuring 84th Fighter Squadron pilots William E. May(10)(left) and Peter E. Pompetti(center). The pilot to the right appears to be Col. Harry Dayhuff(6), 82nd Fighter Squadron CO. ( Source Credit: Jerry Warstler collection )
Click here for
Part II - February 6, 1944 Through The Mission of March 17, 1944
Web master's Notes:
(1) - Major Eugene Roberts - Lt. Colonel Eugene P. Roberts, pilot in 84th FS from 5-10-42 to 9-3-43, Squadron CO, to 78th Headquarters Squadron, Deputy Group CO.
(2) - Source Credit - "Aces and Wingmen II, Volume I ", Danny Morris, 1989, Aviation USK, ISBN 85435-241-4
(3) - Lt. Silsby - Capt. Charles W. Silsby, pilot in 84th FS from 5-4-43 to 4-15-44, A Flt CO( 3-22-44), KIA. On a 4-15-44 mission, Silsby, along with F/O Joseph W. Mundy, dove out of a climb at 21,000 feet over the North Sea. Neither answered R/T calls or were seen again. ASR was impossible due to bad weather.
(4) - Lt. Hunt - Capt. William F. Hunt, Pilot in the 84th FS from 4-28-43 to 6-110-44, Sqd. Opps. Officer(5-26-44). KIA, 6-10-44, near Argentan, Fr., Killed in fight with 20 plus German aircraft catching the Group in their bomb runs.
(5) - Source Credit - "Eagles of Duxford", Garry L. Fry, 1991, Phalanx Publishing, Ltd., ISBN 0-9625860-2-1
(6) - Colonel Harry Dayhuff - Lt. Col. Harold J. Dayhuff, pilot in 82nd FS from 5-7-42 to 8-7-43 to HQ Squadron, Sqdn. CO on 5-11-42, flew every mission as CO
(7) - Captain Harold Stump - - Major Harold E. Stump - pilot to 84th Squadron 5-10-42 to 6-10-44, KIFA on US leave, Squadron CO, 2-25-44.
(8) - Lt. Dougherty - 2nd Lieutenant Wayne M. Dougherty, pilot in 84th FS from 4-21-43 to 11-26-43, POW, North of Paris, France, hit by an Me-109, last seen under control, but smoking.
(9) - Glenn Koontz - Capt. Glenn H. Koontz, pilot in 84th FS, 4-28-43 to 6-20-44, C Flt. CO(5-26-44), to US.
(10) - William E. May - Capt. William E. May, pilot in the 82nd FS, 2-25-43 to 7/44, to HQ Squadron, A Flt CO on 7-19-43, to US in 8-45.
Thanks... to all that have contributed to these pages on behalf of the 78th Fighter Group Family!
This page was last revised on 10 / 20 / 04
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