Left: Major General Hoyt S Vandenberg, US Ninth Air Force commander, centre: 2d Lt. John
W. Wainwright, right: Colonel Carroll "Red" McColpin, 404th Fighter Group commander, a
former RAF Eagle squadron commander and a fighter ace with eight confirmed victories.
Colonel Carroll W McColpin was the base commander at Winkton, England in 1944.
Wainwright was presented with the Air Medal. General Vandenberg had recommended him
for the Distinguished Service Cross for his six victories on September 28, 1944 but the DSC
was not awarded until January 8, 1945. - Sadly Wainwright was killed in an aircraft accident
in Germany on July 7, 1945.
Brustem Dec.19, 1944
The Hun Hunters – Brustem April 1945
Brustem 30 May,1945
Brustem 30 May,1945
P47s of the 506th Squadron, 404th FG return to Winkton
after a mission, May or early June 1944
Ninth Air Force units were very mobile, first deploying to France on 16
June 1944, ten days after the Normandy invasion by moving P-47
Thunderbolts to a beach-head landing strip. Because of their short
range, operational combat units would have to move to quickly-prepared
bases close to the front as soon as the Allied ground forces advanced.
The bases were called "Advanced Landing Grounds" or "ALGs". On the
continent, many ALGs were built either from scratch or from captured
enemy airfields throughout France, the Low Countries and Germany.
Ninth Air Force units moved frequently from one ALG to another.
Lt Col Leo Moon was the commander of the
508th squadron of the 404th Fighter Group
throughout the time the squadron was a
Winkton, England.
Bombardment of Hasselt
by A-26 Marauders on 11 May,1944
B-17 on a bombing run over Melsbroek on June 14th,1944
Melsbroek
Lockheed P-38 fighter-bombers, taxiing out for take-off on a dive-bombing
mission. This specific mission was an armed reconnaissance on tank and
motor transport of the Von Runstedt’s offensive, which at this time was
within only 15 miles from this airfield. (Florennes-Air Base)
Bombs on Charleroi
Liege - May 25,1944
386th Bomb Group moved to St-Trond, Belgium – from 9 April-July 1945
Liege - May 25,1944
Chievres Air Base – Dec.1944 – Capt. George W. King taxies his P-47D of the
386th FS – 365th Fighter group, past an M45- four .50 caliber AA emplacement .
St.Trond - March 1945
June 12, 1945
Headcorn Airfield, England