Tuesday 2nd January 2024
Last missing photograph for 56th Fighter Group (KIA / MIA / DNB / ABMC Cemetery) found!
The USAAF Class Book (Photo) Project also finds photographs for our colleagues of the project 'Faces of Cambridge'.
A few days ago the last missing photograph for a member of the 56th Fighter Group was found courtesy of our USA volunteer Robert Baumgardner!
Robert traced a relative of PFC James M. Money who is buried at Cambridge Cemetery.
The 56th Fighter Group, also known as 'Zemke's Wolfpack' lost 74 men who were either killed in action / missing in action / or 'died non-battle' / who are buried or commemorated on one of the ABMC cemeteries outside the USA, Of 74 men our project so far found 73 photographs...
Thanks to Mrs Kristy Money we are now able to add the last missing photograph to our research files.
PFC James M. Money was a member of the 63rd Fighter Squadron of the 56th FG. After cessation of hostilities in the ETO on the 8th of may 1945 (Victory in Europe Day) and prior to being able to be shipped home, James M. Money regrettably drowned in a boating / swimming accident.
His final resting place is in Cambridge American Cemetery , Plot F / Row 2 / Grave 24.
We remember his sacrifice for our freedom!
The USAAF Class Book Project endeavors to find all photographs of air crew members buried or commemorated on an ABMC Cemetery.
Below find an example of our work regarding the 36th Fighter Group.
The Faces of the 36th Fighter Group
From left to right: the Group emblem of 36 FG and the 'patches' of the 22nd, 23rd and 36th Fighter Squadrons. (Source: Wikipedia).
The following info is courtesy of the Army Air Corps Museum:
Constituted as 36th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939. Activated on 1 February 1940. Trained with P-36's. Moved to Puerto Rico in January 1941. Equipped with P-39 and P-40 aircraft. Served as part of the defense force for the Caribbean area and Panama Canal, and flew antisubmarine patrols. Redesignated 36th Fighter Group in May 1942. Returned to the US, May-June 1943. Trained with P-47's.
Moved to England, March-April 1944. Assigned to Ninth AF. Served in combat in the European theater from May 1944 to May 1945. Operated primarily as a fighter-bomber organization, strafing and dive-bombing armored vehicles, trains, bridges, buildings, factories, troop concentrations, gun emplacements, airfields, and other targets. Also flew some escort missions. Began operations from England in May 1944 with armed reconnaissance, escort, and interdiction missions in preparation for the invasion of Normandy.
Participated in the invasion in June 1944 by patrolling the air over the landing zone and by flying close-support and interdiction missions. Moved to France, July-August 1944. Supported the breakthrough at St. Lo in July and the thrust of Third Army towards Germany in August and September. Received a DUC for operations on 1 September 1944 when, in a series of missions, the group attacked German columns south of the Loire in order to disrupt the enemy's retreat across central France to Dijon.
Moved to Belgium in October and supported Ninth Army. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944-January 1945, by flying armed reconnaissance and close-support missions. Aided First Army's push across the Roer River in February 1945. Supported operations at the Remagen bridgehead and during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March. Received second DUC for performance on 12 April 1945 when the group, operating through intense antiaircraft fire, relentlessly attacked airfields in southern Germany, destroying a large hangar and numerous aircraft. Remained in Europe for several months after V-E Day.
Above: this survey shows all 36 FG personnel buried or commemorated at an ABMC Cemetery. Sorted on date of death. (Collection AJvH).
Above: the result of the USAAF Class Book Project. Putting faces to names. (Research AJvH).
It is possible to commission the USAAF Class Book Project to perform specific bespoke research.
Do contact us via the 'Contact' page for further details about the possibilities.
Funny photographs in Cadet Class Books
These six photographs (above and below) were published in Pilot Class Book 43-B, Williams Field, Arizona.
