P-51B Shillelaugh Missions & Air Frame Time

SHILLELAUGH

MISSIONS & TOTAL TIME ON AIRFRAME

P-51B-10NA 42-106602 flew. David O’Hara flew the first listed combat mission with the 353rd on April 15, 1944. The Squadron code assigned was FT-P. O’Hara’s previous Mustang, also coded F-TP and named Shillelaugh, had gone missing in action on April 11 while being flown by Lt. Ralph A. Brown. Brown survived, was captured, and spent 13 months in Stalag Luft 1, Barth.

353rd Squadron missions formations were typically made up of between 4 and 16 fighters. The formations were divided into flights. Each flight (normally four fighters) of a squadron formation was assigned a color code.

These color codes indicate the position that the pilot was to fly within the formation. The 353rd’s combat schedules frequently listed the flight color codes. In all missions that listed them, the colors were ordered red, white, blue, and green. It is an order that would be easy to remember for any USAAF pilot. So it is a reasonable assumption that the lists that did not write out the color code of each flight probably followed the same convention.

Making a list in the order that the American flag colors are normally named, and then adding green to make up the standard squadron maximum complement of 4 flights, makes sense.

AIR TIME / DATE / BASE / PILOT / POSITION / MISSION TYPE / DESTINATION

95 MISSIONS / 20 PILOTS

April 10 missions 30 hrs 40 min air time

Air time/ Mission Date/Base /Pilot/ Position /Mission Type/ Destination

5:30 4/15 – Boxted, England O’Hara, David B. White 3 Strafing Northwestern Germany

Base Change

2:20 4/19 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Green 3 Dive Bombing Namur (Belgium)

2:20 4/23 – Lashenden, Eng. Dehon, William B Green 3 Dive Bombing Namur

4:15 4/23 – Lashenden, Eng. Cohen (Probably Phillip D.) Blue 2 Fighter Sweep Western Germany

1:45 4/24 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Penetration Target Area & Withdrawal Support Munich (returned escorting Cohen)

1:15 4/25 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Red 3 Fighter Sweep Central Germany, (abort B. tanks and coolant)

4:00 4/26 – Lashenden, Eng. Elrod, William T. Green 2 Penetration Target Area & Withdrawal Support Brunswick (Braunschwieg, Germany)

2:40 4/27 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 2 Dive Bombing Charleroi (Belgium)

2:20 4/27 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Dive Bombing Amiens

4:35 4/30 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Green 3 Penetration Target Area & Withdrawal Support Lyons (flak damage)

MAY 1944 20 missions 56 hrs 55 min. Air time

Air time/ Mission Date/Base /Pilot/ Position /Mission Type/ Destination

2:30 5/1 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 2 Dive Bombing Namur

2:50 5/2 – Lashenden, Eng. Elrod, William T. Red 2 Dive Bombing – 500 Lbs. Gilze-Run (Gilze en Rijen, Netherlands)

:50 5/2 – Lashenden, Eng. Rogers, Felix M. White Lead Dive Bombing – Top Cover Monceau-Sur Sambre (Monceau Sur Sambre, Belgium)

3:45 5/4 – Lashenden, Eng. Dehon, William B. Green 4 Penetration Target Area & Withdrawal Support Berlin

4:30 5/7 – Lashenden, Eng. Cohen (Probably Phillip D.) Blue 2 Escort & Target Support Berlin

1:15 5/8 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. White 3 Escort Berlin

2:15 5/10 – Lashenden, Eng. Cohen (Probably Phillip D.) Radio Relay Dive Bombing Mohon (France) abort- radio relay))

4:15 5/11 – Lashenden, Eng. Pipes, Glenn H. Spare Escort Penetration & Withdrawal Support Saarbrucken

5:45 5/19 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Green 2 Withdrawal Berlin

1:25 5/21 – Lashenden, Eng. Elrod, William T. Blue 2 Escort Abbeville (France)

2:40 5/22 – Lashenden, Eng. Possible top cover, mission to Tours – illegible plane number Urquhart

4:25 5/23 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Green 3 Escort, Target Support & Withdrawal Bourges (France)

5:00 5/24 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Long Range Escort Mulhouse (Far Eastern France)

4:20 5/25 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Long Range Escort Mulhouse (Far Eastern France)

3:10 5/26 – Lashenden, Eng. Keane, James P. Blue 2 Escort Medium Bombers Chartres

4:00 5/27 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Penetration, Target & Withdrawal Support Konz Karthaur (Rhineland)

5:15 5/28 – Lashenden, Eng. Carr, Bruce W. Blue 2 Penetration, Target & Withdrawal Support Magdeburg

4:30 5/29 – Lashenden, Eng. Carr, Bruce W. Red 2 Withdrawal Support Leipzig

1:05 5/30 – Lashenden, Eng. Carr, Bruce W. Blue 4 Penetration, Target & Withdrawal Support Rotenburg (abort – lost oxygen clip)

5/31 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Spare Penetration, Target & Withdrawal Support Luxeuil (France)

June 27 completed missions 70 hrs 5 min. air time

Air time/ Mission Date/Base /Pilot/ Position /Mission Type/ Destination

2:25 6/3 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Dive Bombing Soissonns-Laon (France)

2:00 6/4 – Lashenden, Eng. Melton (First name unknown) White 2 Beach Patrol Bayeaux-Caan (France)

1:45 6/4 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. White 3 Fighter Sweep East and North Beach (Normandy)

3:15 6/6 – Lashenden, Eng. (D-Day), O’Hara, David B. Red 3 Escort Troop Carriers Normandy (France)

3:30 6/7 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. White 4 Escort Normandy (France)

2:00 6/7 – Lashenden, Eng. Carr, Bruce W. Green 4 Dive Bombing Ceranton (Probably Carentan)

3:30 6/12 – Lashenden, Eng. Holton, Hayden H. Blue 2 Dive Bombing Rennes – Lavari

3:15 6/12 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Green Lead Dive Bombing Lemans

3:30 6/13 – Lashenden, Eng. O’Hara, David B. Green 3 Dive Bombing St. Lo – Avarancates

3:00 6/14 – Lashenden, Eng. Frantz, Carl M. Blue Lead Dive Bombing Laval

3:00 6/14 – Lashenden, Eng. Keane, James P. Red 3 Escort St. Hilaire

● Command Change: 354th Fighter Group comes under control of XIX Tactical Air Command, a command and control organization intended to provide air support to Army ground forces, particularly Patton’s 3rd Army.

● Base Change – Air Echelon Moves to Cricqueville, Advanced Landing Ground A-2, 15-June-1944

3:15 6/16 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Green Lead Dive Bombing St. Lo

2:30 6/17 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Blue Lead Dive Bombing Cherbourg

3:15 6/17 – Cricqueville, Fr. Brown, Richard H. White 2 Dive Bombing Bayeux

3:45 6/18 – Cricqueville, Fr. Holten, Hayden H. Red 4 Dive Bombing Saumur (Probably Saumur, France)

2:05 6/18 – Cricqueville, Fr. Cohen (Probably Philip D.) Blue 3 Dive Bombing Arras

2:30 6/18 – Cricqueville, Fr. Bakalar, John E. Blue 2 Escort B-26s Lens

4:20 6/20 – Cricqueville, Fr. Sedvert, Theodore W. Blue 2 Long Range Escort Magdeburg

:00 6/21 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Escort Berlin abort rough engine, never took oiff

2:45 6/22 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White 3 Dive Bombing Chartres

1:45 6/23 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Escort Dive Bombers Lahloge (Probably La Loge, France)

2:45 6/24 – Cricqueville, Fr. Carr, Bruce W. Red 2 Fighter Sweep St. Lo

2:00 6/25 – Cricqueville, Fr. Bunting, Ira J. White 4 Fighter Sweep St. Lo

6/25 – Note: O’Hara flew a Dive Bomber escort to Tourlaville in FT-J

1:20 6/25 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Red Lead Air Sea Rescue English Channel near Le Havre

1:45 6/28 – Cricqueville, Fr. Frantz, Carl M. White Lead Area Patrol Bayeux – Le Havre – St. Lo

2:00 6/28 – Cricqueville, Fr. Bakalar, John E. Red 2 Area Patrol Bayeux – Caen – Pointe de Barfleur

1:40 6/29 – Cricqueville, Fr. Brown, Russel S. White 2 Fighter Sweep Granville – St. Hilaire – Domfront

1:45 6/29 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Beech Patrol Picauville (on Cotentin Peninsula)

July 28 missions 48 hours 40 min air time

Air time/ Mission Date/Base /Pilot/ Position /Mission Type/ Destination

2:00 7/5 – Cricqueville, Fr. Carr, Bruce W. White 3 Beach Patrol American Beach

:30 7/7 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Red 3 Escort C-47s Local Area (Criqueville A-2)

2:00 7/7 – Cricqueville, Fr. Brown, Richard H. Red 4 Fighter Sweep Le Mans – Chartres – Pardreauville

2:30 7/8 – Cricqueville, Fr. Holton, Hayden H. White 2 Beach Patrol Normandy Beach

7/8 – Note: O’Hara flew FT-L this day

7/9 – Note: O’Hara flew FT-U this day

1:55 7/10 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Beach Patrol American Beach

1:00 7/11 – Cricqueville, Fr. Sedvert, Theodore W. White 4 Beach Patrol American Beach

2:30 7/13 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Dive Bombing & Strafing Tierce-Corne-Varades

2:30 7/14 – Cricqueville, Fr. Holten, Hayden H. White 2 Patrol Area Patrol

2:15 7/15 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Red 3 Area Patrol Base of Cherbourg Peninsula

1:30 7/16 – Cricqueville, Fr. Koenig, Charles W. Red Lead Escort for Medium Bombers Drieux

2:15 7/17 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Beach Patrol American Beach

2:15 7/17 – Cricqueville, Fr. Keane, James P. Red 3 Scramble Chartres, Paris, & Rouen

2:45 7/18 – Cricqueville, Fr. Brown, Richard H. Red 3 Fighter Sweep Drieux – Beauvois – Creil

2:20 7/18 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Red 3 Fighter Sweep Drieux

1:55 7/23 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Escort B-26s Argentan

2:30 7/24 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Fighter Sweep Alencon – Chartres

2:00 7/25 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Patrol Front Lines

2:45 7/25 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Patrol Granville – Falaise – Bernay – Beuzeville

1:20 7/25 – Cricqueville, Fr. Bakalar, John E. Blue 4 Patrol Granville – Falaise

2:00 7/26 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Blue Lead Patrol Granville – St. Lo

2:00 7/26 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Green Lead Patrol Unnamed, probably also Granville- St. Lo

1:35 7/27 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Red Lead Patrol American Beach

2:20 7/27 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Red Lead Patrol & Cover C-47s American Beach

:30 7/27 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Blue Lead Patrol American Beach

2:45 7/29 – Cricqueville, Fr. Brown, Richard H. Red 4 Fighter Sweep – Area Cover Salt Area

2:00 7/30 – Cricqueville, Fr. Brown, Richard H. White 2 Escort B-26s Caumont

2:10 7/31 Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B., green lead assault area Patrol

:45 7/31 Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. red lead assault area Patrol

August 1944 12 missions 23hrs 50 min air time

Air time/ Mission Date/Base /Pilot/ Position /Mission Type/ Destination

2:10 8/1 – Cricqueville, Fr. Overfield, Loyd J. Blue 2 Escort Nogent – Sours – Lo – Loire

1:00 8/2 – Cricqueville, Fr. Holton, Hayden H. White 2 Escort P-47s Targets of Opportunity, France Area

1:50 8/2 – Cricqueville, Fr. Holton, Hayden H. White 2 Escort B-26s Caudebec

1:15 8/3 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Red Lead Patrol Vire – St. Lo

1:50 8/3 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. Blue 3 Escort B-26s Chartres

2:15 8/4 – Cricqueville, Fr. Holton, Hayden H. White 2 Fighter Sweep NE of Paris

2:10 8/6 – Cricqueville, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Patrol St. Lo – Vire

8/9 – Note: Beerbower lost
8/7 through 8/10 – Note: 4 days when FT-P did not fly in combat. This is the most probable time for Shillelaugh to be sent to a repair depot, and to have received its new paint scheme and removal of upper invasion stripes. It also seems an opportune time because the 354th Fighter Group was moving from Criqueville to a new base, Gael Advanced Landing Ground A-31 near Rennes. 8/6 through 8/13/1944.
8/6 through 8/13 – Note: 354th Fighter Group moves to a new base,

2:15 8/11 – Gael, Fr. Deeds, Frederick B. Red 3 Patrol Brest

2:30 8/11 – Gael, Fr. Deeds, Frederick B. White 4 Patrol Brest

2:50 8/14 – Gael, Fr. O’Hara, David B. White Lead Fighter Sweep Dreux – Chateaudun – Le Mans – Alencon

2:45 8/15 – Gael, Fr. Dahlberg, Kenneth H. White 4 Assault Area Cover Argentan -Le Mans – Chateaudun – Laigle

1:00 8/16 ( estimate from book narrative) Gael, Fr. Dahlberg, Kenneth H. White 2 Patrol Mantes – Etampes – Chateau Dun (MIA, mission #207)

8-16 – Note: O’Hara was flying FT-T on this date, mission 205 (also to Mantes – Etampes – Chateau Dun)
Dahlberg escaped with help from the French landowners of the Chateau he landed on, and returned to combat on 8/25/1944, mission #215
O’Hara had a new Mustang with the FT-P squadron numbers by 9/8/1944 that he named “The Shillelagh”. It was a new D model with a bubble canopy: P-51D-5-NA 44-13550.

ESTIMATE OF TOTAL AIRTIME P-51B 42-106602

Ferry time @ 15 hours Inglewood to Newark with stops Palm Springs, Dallas, Monroe, and Memphis over 21 days from Inglewood departure on 2/9/44 through Newark arrival on 3/1/44

UK ferry time from the Liverpool area, probably Burtonwood to Boxted : 45 min.

Documented combat mission time: 227 hrs 10 min.

Overall airframe time: 242 hours 55 Minutes