Based on the letters of Earl Philip Reinhalter (1922-1953). Edited by his son, Earl Philip Reinhalter (1950-).
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Neel Kearby's plane "Fiery Ginger" on the runway, probably at Saidor Airfield. The 22 "kills" painted on the side of the plane was
his total for the war. If that's him in the cockpit, this might be one of his last photos. He was himself shot down on March 5, 1944.
Colonel Neel Kearby's P-47, named "Fiery Ginger" after his wife Virginia. One of the top flying aces of the Pacific
Theater - notice the 22 "kills" painted on the side of his plane - he was himself shot down on March 5, 1944.
Another photo of Neel Kearby's "Fiery Ginger II" plane. The 22 "kills" marked on the side of the plane was his total
for the war, before being shot down himself. So these may have been the very last photos taken of his plane.
A soldier in New Guinea poses with the P-47 flown by Dick Rowland. This was "Miss Mutt II / Pride of Lodi, Ohio," the second of several
"Miss Mutt" planes that Rowland flew. See this blog article for more background. "Miss Mutt III" is the next photo below.
"Miss Mutt III" / "Pride of Lodi Ohio" - a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt - on the runway in New Guinea, circa 1943-44. This was
the third "Miss Mutt" plane flown by Dick Rowland. The eight "kills" painted under the cockpit was his total for the war..
Planes on runway in New Guinea, 1943.
Vultee A-31 Vengeance Navy dive bombers on the runway, probably in New Guinea.
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NOW AVAILABLE AS A KINDLE BOOK! The Kindle book includes the letters; all 23 issues of the unit’s wartime newsletter “The Squadron Pulse,” which was originally edited by Leonard Stringfield; all 12 issues of the “Pennant Parade” newsletter that Stringfield published while sailing home after the war; complete text of the U.S. government booklet “Pocket Guide to Australia,” which soldiers heading Down Under were given to read; more than 200 photos; pre-war and postwar family history; and over 700 explanatory endnotes. |
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This page established: November 11, 2018 Last updated: February 23, 2023
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