May 21, 2004
Continued from last week, my interview with Fighter –Bomber Pilot
William D. Dunbar, Col. U. S. A. F. (ret).
Bill flew his 1st of 78 Combat missions Oct. 29, 1944
in a P-47 D15, Thunderbolt. He flew top cover, which means to protect
the Fighter –Bombers as they did their bombing runs. A good way
to learn the ropes of combat flying. By his fourth mission he was
diving with the Veterans. These dives usually started at 12,000
feet, at 10,000 to 8,000 feet over most targets the ground fire
became quite intense, called Flak. It consisted of exploding shells
and other munitions which looked, to the pilot, like black and white
puffs of smoke and red balls flying all around. Sounds scary but
Bill said worst than flying through flak was flying through the
clouds in formation. Think about it, try driving to Sacramento in
thick fog, 4 cars abreast in a finger formation, other formations
to your right and left. No fun! In the 78 missions that Bill flew,
he bombed and strafed numerous ground targets, trains, airfields
(heavy flak there). He shot up a Me-262 on the ground (German Jet
Fighter), which he actually went to see and take pictures of its
wreckage, after the war. He did pass up a string of horses that
the Germans were using as pack animals. Bill liked horses.
On a bright, clear day, December 23, 1944, Bill who just turned
22 was on a mission to Koblenz, Germany with eleven other P47s when
they came upon a formation of our B-26’s (2 engine, very fast light
bombers) at about 12,000 feet. They were bombing the railroad yards
at Koblenz. In front of Bill’s eyes, over 30 FW-190’s attacked the
bombers. By the time Bill’s P47’s got there three or more of our
Bombers were going down. Parachutes all over. Which is a sight every
pilot dreads. Bill followed his flight leader into the fray. Planes
everywhere, confusion, intense radio chatter, an FW-190 on Bills
tail (not good). But he had a friend on the tail of the 190 and
he peeled off of Bill. Then Bill saw a Thunderbolt to his front
and a FW 190 was seriously shooting it to pieces. A few quick turns
and Bill gave the 190 some of the same, a short burst from his 50
cal. machine guns (the P47 had 8), and the 190 went straight down
in smoke and flames. Bill went on to a long career in the Airforce.
He served through two more wars.
From the Minneapolis Tribune 1945
Lt. William Dunbar Saves Squad Leader
In an aerial dogfight over Germany, Second Lieut. William D. Dunbar
came to the relief of his element leader, Lt. R. J. Fox of Racine,
Wis., and shot down a Focke Wulf 190 that was blasting at Fox; then
convoyed the damaged plane back to its base in Belgium. Fox executed
a successful belly landing. Dunbar, fighting with the “Thunder Bums,”
a fighter-bomber squadron in the Ninth Air Force, flies a P-47 Thunderbolt
and has flown more than 15 combat missions, dive-bombing and strafing
in support of ground troops.
Stu’s notes:
Veterans Radio every Thursday from 7-8PM KRBS 107.1 FM. I will
be on with Howard Gregg May 27th. The Avenue of Flags
and Memorial Service. The avenue of flags placing the headstone
flags, will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery on Lincoln Boulevard
starting at 6 a.m. Flags will be taken down beginning at 4 p.m.
on Monday, May 31st. Memorial services start at 11 am.
If it is raining, the service will be held in VFW Clubhouse at 1901
Elgin St.
If any veteran or widow has a casket flag that they would like
to donate to the American Legion or VFW to fly in the Avenue of
Flags they may take them to the Clubhouse on Elgin. Wreaths and
momentos are also appreciated. For more information call Stan Rinehart
532-0561.
Last week when I thanked everyone I missed thanking the DeMolay
Boys who were a big help on our Spaghetti Dinner. They did a great
job. Thank you guys. Last week picture of Virgil McGinnis was my
mistake, his story will come soon.