Sixty Two Years Ago, January 1, 1945: The Legend of Y-29

On January 1, 1945, Colonel J.C. Meyer had finally received the reluctant permission to fly a combat patrol.  Col. Meyer was one of the few that foresaw Operation Bodenplatte, the last-ditch effort of the Luftwaffe to overcome Allied air superiority.  With engines on and waiting for clearance to roll, the Luftwaffe Gruppen I, II, and III of Jagdgeschwader 11 began hitting parked P-47's at the other end of the runway.  That was all the permission Meyer needed and he immediately gave the command to roll. 

Before his wheels were up he pulled the trigger as a FW-190 crossed in front of him, sending the first casualty of Jagdgeschwader 11 into the ground.  In the next 30 minutes, the 352nd's 487th Fighter Squadron shot down 24 German aircraft and lost none.  For their actions, the 487th was the only fighter squadron to receive the Distinguished Unit Citation in the European Theater of Operations in WWII. 

White 1 - Lt. Colonel John C. Meyer (2)
White 2 - Captain Alex F. Sears (1)
White 3 - Captain Raymond H. Littge (2)
White 4 - Lieutenant Alden P. Rigby (4)

Yellow 1 - Lieutenant Colonel William T. Halton (1)
Yellow 2 - Captain Henry M. Stewart (3)
Yellow 3 - Captain Sanford Moats (4)
Yellow 4 - Lieutenant Dean Huston (1)

Red 1 - Captain William Whisner (4)
Red 2 - Lieutenant Walter G. Diamond (1)
Red 3 - Lieutenant Nelson R. Jesup (1)
Red 4 - Lieutenant William C. Miller

.Happy New Year to the men of the 352nd, and Happy 61st Anniversary of the Legend of Y-29 for one of the most amazing aerial accomplishments of WWII!
 

Virtual 352ndFG - IL2FB, IL2BOB, CFS4