Article: 2nd try - Why the P-38 flunked in Europe - File 3 of 4 - Page 1.jpg

One of those things they should have thought of. In less time to get to an
airstrip, they could have the wounded man in a dressing station, and to a
hospital.
Surgical mobile hospitals were typically closer to the front than airstrips
especially ones big enough for a P38.

On Aug 23, 2015, wrote
(in articleZrqdnTogStG4o0fInZ2dnUVZ5ridnZ2d@giganews. com):

One of those things they should have thought of. In less time to get to an
airstrip, they could have the wounded man in a dressing station, and to a
hospital.
Surgical mobile hospitals were typically closer to the front than airstrips
especially ones big enough for a P38.

Unless the airstrip was on the front line.

On October 29, 1944 my father was 1 of a flight of 4 P-38s taxiing to the end
of the metal strip at Tacloban at Leyte. His crew chief was riding on the
wing, and they were attacked by two “Oscars� which strafed the entire
dispersal area.
His crew chief, S/Sgt. Jack Hodgepath was hit as he tried to jump from the
wing and reach a slit trench. The cannon fire blew off one of his legs and he
died the following day in what was best described as a primitive dispensary.
He was the first 9th FS casualty of the Leyte Campaign, and had little hope
of any sort of evacuation.

It is one of my father’s vivid memories of the war.

--

Regards,
Savageduck