looking for plane info on pilot

[pjmack11377]

pilot john c paschall ww2 pilot viking 2 659 history information

 

 

Anyone know how to look for more detailed info on an aircraft?

 

Thanks 

 

Patrick

Edited January 4, 2021 by pjmack11377

[Ram399]

I'm a history major at UCF and have a bit of practice researching veterans through a program run at my school called the Veteran's Legacy Project.
The program effectively means undergrads in random courses occasionally get lists of names with little other info, sometimes just tombstones, and we have to scour the internet and census records for details before submitting them to the department which consolidates everything into a huge database at the end of the semester.

I've found that I'm not too bad at it, and its also rather fun, so I'll give Paschall my best shot.

A cursory google search on the aircraft identified the unit as the 367th Fighter Group.
Activated in July of 1943 on the P-39 and converted to the P-38 in March/April of 1944.
Was stationed in Europe as part of the Ninth Airforce and operated from May of 1944 through the end of the war.
https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/367th_Fighter_Group.cfm

Found the serial number of the aircraft to be 43-26659 according to this site and pic which corroborates the unit:
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/12741

Spoiler

There doesn't appear to be too much information out there pertaining to this particular aircraft and unit, I was able to find a book but little else outside of small scale websites.
This is the book if you're that committed, though no guarantees it will have info on your pilot and plane: https://www.amazon.com/Dynamite-Gang-367th-Fighter-Group/dp/0816897700
However I did find mention of the pilot in question in the following newsletters written by an apparent enthusiast named Olivier Le Floch.
https://fonfasite.wordpress.com/the-olivier-le-floche-newsletters/

Paschall is mentioned in the 3rd Issue of his letters and is listed as one of the original pilots of "A Flight", pictured here during training (Paschall is on the back right):

Spoiler

Also included in the 3rd Issue at the very end is a link to a video clip detailing the fate of Viking 1, which is listed as Paschall's aircraft- though it was apparently crash landed by one Lieutenant Delbert Schmid at an advance landing ground France. (Viking 1 is at the 2:20 mark)
https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675068865_wrecked-gliders_Martin-B-26-Marauder_Lockheed-P-38-Lightning_wrecked-Horsa-glider

Later on in the 11th issue is a small transcript of a mission which Paschall lead on December 2nd, 1944:

Spoiler

2 December 44
392nd FS: dive bombing mission, Lt. Paschall leading 16 P-38s. Target was a marshalling yard east of Düren. 16 direct hits were made on 3 trains of 20 plus cars and 1 train of 40 plus, destroying one engine, numerous cars and cutting tracks in several places. 2 directs hit were made on buildings in the yard. 5 miles SW of Neuss another marshalling yard was struck by 8 direct hits which destroyed 2 locomotives and split tracks in many places.

This seems to be the extent of his mentions in the newsletters however and I wasn't able to find much else around the internet related to his wartime experiences.

Scraping the bottom of the barrel I did find this though.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38027765/james-crigler-paschall

I've got no idea if this is the correct James C Paschall, but the dates and ages work out, and the stone does conveniently detail service in the US Airforce with an end rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Plus with a bit more digging on that line I was able to find a copy of a draft card linked to the grave which lists the buried Paschall's height as 5'6", its a bit of a stretch but if you compare it to the picture of A Flight above, it would seem our Paschall wasn't the tallest guy around.

Details on the Draft Card:

Spoiler

Finally this pic is included on the find a grave site, apparently from the records of the Army Air Forces Advance Flying School in Phoenix for the class of 1943, which matches the activation date for the 367th, and though none of the squadron photos have a close up there does appear to be at least some kind of resemblance (particularly in the ears):

Spoiler

Kind of a depressing note to end it on, but this is all I've got.

Edited January 4, 2021 by Ram399

[pjmack11377]

Wow....thank a great deal.   This was more than I could hope for.  All the best in your studies.

 

 

[Ram399]

It was my pleasure.
If you don't mind me asking does Viking 2 or Paschall have any significance to you?

Also since I've noticed a number of your P-38 skins around, I found these Osprey Color Plates while looking for info and they might be of some use to you:

MTO and ETO:

Spoiler

Edit: Since these screenshots came out a bit low res there's pdfs of the books they're from here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U1MsGpIFnioX1mOG6qTSVZj2tfy5Xuzp/view?usp=sharing

 

Edited January 4, 2021 by Ram399

[Iocabus]

On 1/4/2021 at 3:33 PM, Ram399 said:

Also included in the 3rd Issue at the very end is a link to a video clip detailing the fate of Viking 1, which is listed as Paschall's aircraft- though it was apparently crash landed by one Lieutenant Delbert Schmid at an advance landing ground France. (Viking 1 is at the 2:20 mark)

https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675068865_wrecked-gliders_Martin-B-26-Marauder_Lockheed-P-38-Lightning_wrecked-Horsa-glider
 

Do you happen to have anything more on Delbert? I'm trying to do a bit of research on him right now. I know he was a second Lieutenant in the 367th and crashed a P-38 Lightning 42-104173 on July 3rd shortly before his death. But I hadn't seen anything about Viking 1.