Republic Thunderbolt P-47 D-26 RA - 'Little VIC II'

350th FG.  345th FS. ' Devilhawks'
Serial: 42 28344. Tail No: 228344
Plane ordinals; 5D5
Pilot : Gilbert Vizcarra.
Crew Chief: Rex Meyher, Later: Joseph "Red" Lenahan
Bases: Tarquinia, Italy 27/Aug/44
Cecinia, Italy (runway cut out in forest for detachment) 2/Sep/44
Tarquinia, Italy 9/Sept/44
Pisa, Italy 8/Dec44 to 29/Dec/44.

Metal version for European theatres in the P47D 
slot adapted from a file by John 'Chompy' Masters.

cheers
Ade Kelly 'flying tiger'
april 2006

Notes:
Aircraft information and history courtesy of Keith Vizcarra,
son of the pilot.

Subsequent to Dec 29th/44 the plane was borrowed by
a visiting pilot, along with the parchute of another pilot 
Bill Carey. The result is the following.

MACR # 14566; Date 12/29/44; Type P-47 D-26 RA; Nickname Little VIC II; 
SerialL 42 28344; Pilot Baldwin.Eldon G. : KIA : 350 GP, 345 SQ.

Baldwin was an original pilot with the 345th Sqd.  but was assigned to the 
62ndFtr.Wg. at the time he was killed. He continued to fly missions with 
the Squadron  after he moved up to Wing. Baldwin was originally RCAF/RAF 
or RAF and was older than most of those who arrived as replacements, 
probably in his  late 20s by this date. Art Schramm was the flight leader 
on Baldwins last flighthis MACR statement reads:

On 29 December 1944 I was leading a flight of four P-47s which were airborne
 at 1400 hours and over Rover Joe position at the appointed time, 1430. We were 
finally told to bomb a group of buildings just west of Castelnuovo. R/T reception
 was poor and finally at 1520 hours we made a dive bombing run from 12,000 feet. 
As I pulled up off the target I saw number of two and number four man, Captain 
Baldwin still going down with bombs still on. I saw no flak; however, one other pilot 
said he saw some small arms fire. No emergency radio call was heard. 

 Art doesnt say what happened to Baldwin but I heard from someone that he went 
straight in? An accompanying map indicated that Baldwins aircraft hit the ground at 
the north edge of a tributary stream/river (emptying into the Serchio river) running 
southwest from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. It looks like the impact may have been 
across the stream from a small hamlet identified as Torrite, or somewhere not far 
to the east or west of that habitation, on the north side of the stream? 

That was the end of Little VIC II. 


 