a group of pilots and personnel of the 346th FS in Pisa. The boy in lower row with the white sweatshirt with a star is "Smokey Joe", the Italian mascot of the Squadron.
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Patches, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 4Belcher_Kregloh_s
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Patches, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 14Sulzback_Belcher_Parish1s
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 12Sulzbach_Belcher_Parish2s
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 5Group_Jan45
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 9P39_Dow2s
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 13Sulzbach_Eddy_Ellis_Morrow_s
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 7Knight2s
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Two views of the MOH Lt. Ray Knight next to and climbing out of a P-47
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 6Knight_s
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Two views of the MOH Lt. Ray Knight next to and climbing out of a P-47
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346thFS, D'Amico Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 9
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photo of Kirby E. Smith, apparently before he shot down the German (Aug '43). The P-39 is "Little Joe". Note the name can be seen on the fuel tank as well. Crew Chief is S/Sgt Jose (Joe) Pineda.
Tail number 29385
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346thFS, Mike (KIRBY) Smith Collection, P-39, Pilot, Pilot with P-39
350thPhotoProject 8
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346th pilots Harold M Simmonds (of Philadelphia, I believe), Kirby E. Smith (from Orrville, OH), and Fred N. Smith (Vancouver, WA). Simmonds was flying Kirby Smith's wing when Smith shot down a JU-88.
Fred N Smith was reassigned to the 347th FS after spending about a month in the 346th.
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346thFS, Mike (KIRBY) Smith Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 6
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Here's a picture of 346th pilot Ben Jones (Texas). He nailed a JU-88 about a week after Kirby Smith got his. Apparently he was a great guy, well-respected by others in the squadron. Tragically, he was killed--I think when his P-39 spun out. (This is recounted in The Memories Are Still Fresh, a published work on the 346th.)
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346thFS, Mike (KIRBY) Smith Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 6
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Kirby Smith showing him wearing his "67 Sad Sack" patch. Text below is from R.A. "Bob" Hoover's book Forever Flying (great book!) about the origin of the 67 Sad Sacks, p. 38:
When we arrived at Mediouna, all of the pilots were disappointed to learn we had been assigned to a replacement pilots' pool. One of the men decided we should rename the group the Sad Sacks to show our displeasure with not being ordered into combat. Tom Watts recorded the incident in his journal:
Coates had the idea that the 67 of us should get an insignia for ourselves on the basis that we were somewhat of a rare collection. We [learned] we were not supposed to have been sent to England in the first place. We had gone to different places there, and they had no idea what to do with us.
We were sent to five places in Africa, being received the same way we were in England.... Everyone agreed to Coates' proposal that we should be the 67 SAD SACKS, with the group title of SNAFU (Situation Normal All Fouled Up). Immediately, we donned our insignia, which, painted on leather, had the large numbers 67 with a face in the background of a sack weeping sadly; below was SAD SACKS, on top was SNAFU.
Comments by Mike Smith, son of 346th pilot Kirby Smith:
Hoover's understanding that many/all of these guys weren't intended for the European/Med theatres corresponds to Dad's understanding as well. Dad believes that at least the sergeant pilots were supposed to be assigned to the Panama Canal Zone but that someone screwed up. They were ordered to New York City. Hoover describes this on p. 33:
Before we left the United States, the Army issued us backpacks, standard infantry uniforms, and old World War I "doughboy" helmets and rifles. Marching down Fifth Avenue in New York City in full regalia caused quite a scene. Thousands lined the streets and supported us with their cheers.
We had not fired a shot, but we already felt like heroes. An hour later we boarded the Queen Elizabeth, an enormous cruise ship that had been converted for troop transport.....Even though I was just a sergeant (see Appendix) I was put in charge of sixty-seven pilots.
Comments by Mike Smith, son of 346th pilot Kirby Smith:
I'm attaching a scan of the Appendix from Hoover's book. You'll notice Hoover's name, Dad's name, FN Smith, KB Smith, et al. Note the attempt to conceal the pilots' specialization as described in Hoover's narrative . Dad said that the pilots were told to conceal their wings and any other insignia that would indicate that they were flyers, hence the effort to make them appear as infantrymen.
The Queen Elizabeth is/was the sister ship to the Queen Mary. Both ships were fitted out as troop transports and criss-crossed the Atlantic time and again all alone (!), without escort or convoy, depending on zig-zagging and their incredible speed to avoid U-boats. One of these ships about this time was actually hit by a dud torpedo, the closest either came to being sunk. Don't know if that occurred to the QE or if that happened while Dad and the others were aboard.
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346thFS, Mike (KIRBY) Smith Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 19
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Kirby E. Smith 346th FS
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346thFS, Mike (KIRBY) Smith Collection, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 8
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Robert V. Thornblad at Pisa. Clay Crocker Collection
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346thFS, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 9
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Robert V. Thornblad
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346thFS, Pilot
350thPhotoProject 31Eddy_and_Burton
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Lts. Eddy and Burton, each scorer of a victory on 2 April, congratulates each other
