0:27.  First combat mission in P-51 with Group
1:<b>27.First combat mission in P-51 with Group<1b><br><br>Time:  0730<br>Date: 15 JULY 1944<BR> Weather: Light clouds at 6000 ft<br>Location:  Ramitelli Airfield, Italy<br><br>     The 99th FS flew its first combat mission for the 15th Air Force and its first combat mission together with the other squadrons of the 332nd FG for the first time in mid-July.  The 99thFS had been assigned multiple FG's since arriving in the Mediterranian Theater, but now they were with their own for the duration.  Many of the pilots from the 99th FS saw the new group as inexperiened and green, while others didn't like the idea of not serving with white units and thought it was a step back towards segregation.  Nevertheless, under Col. Davis's leadership these concerns were diminished given the tasks at hand, namely the Axis powers they would be facing in the skys.<br><br>     The target for today, are again, the oil refineries of Ploesti, Romania which were hit yesterday.  Colonel Davis will be leading our flight together with two elements from the 100th FS for this escort mission.  You can expect heavy AAA and fighter opposition from both the Italian and Romanian air forces.  Be cautious as your P-51's are superior to your old P-40's and we've lost some experienced pilots during several transition flights.  Captain Leon Roberts, one of the first Tuskegee graduates and a veteran with 116 combat sorties, was killed on such a flight, so keep alert with this new bird!
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