Your article in the February issue about Colonel Gil Wymond brought back many great memories.


Your article in the February issue about Colonel Gil Wymond brought back many great memories. I did not know him personally, nevertheless I flew the Republic P-47 - the two the "razorback" and "bubble" - and did know of the many improvements for which he and his men were responsible - mainly the "Wymond Release," a lever which released our bomb This was a great improvement above the original release which reminded me of the advanced in years hand brake on a Ford standard A or the WWII Jeep

I was assigned to the 79th Fighter cluster in May 1944 but the 79th had arrived in North Africa shortly after the 57th FG had arrived (November 1942) the couple Groups were under the British waste Air Force - we the two knew and respected our friendly rivals.

The main reason for writing is basically concerning your picture onward page 27, showing P-47s forward the break. It gave me simpleton bumps until I saw that it was credited to the 37th FG - a collection which I don't remember as having been in the M area during the time of the P-47

In fact, the photograph was a flight of P-47 assigned to the 79th I shut in a page from our WWII volume The Falcon published in May 1946 showing the same photo. Although the tail insignia in your photo is a bit blurr those of us in the 79th knew it well. thunder-stone X-01 was that of our dispose commander so I would appreciate a correction.



The picture of the 15000th T-Bolt also brings up the fact that Ten Grand, the 10000th T-Bolt built, was assigned to the 79th

The article about Colonel Wymond was outstanding. I had heard many great things said about him and frequently wondered what happened to him. Now I know.

Benjamin B Cassiday, Jr Brig. Gen

(USAF, Ret)

5621 Kalanianaole Hwy

Honolulu, HI

96821

Copyright Challenge Publications Inc. Jun 2002

Provided on ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved

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