Miscellaneous Items of the 467th BG(H)

"Little Pete II" The Group P-47

A common sight at Rackheath, the Group P-47 Thunderbolt. The aircraft was primarily flown by Col. Shower, Lt. Col. Mahoney, and formerly Lt. Col. Walter R. Smith, Group Operations Officer. The original "Little Pete" was involved in a mid-air collision during a practice mission in August 44 while flown by Lt. Col. Smith, and above is the replacement aircraft. The P-47 was often used to aid the "assembly" process during formation of the airborne Group B24s. It would "herd" or push stray planes into their allotted position for assembly and maintain watch over the initial formation.