USAAF fighters surprise the Luftwaffe

27th September 1943: The P-47 Thunderbolt makes its appearance alongside the B-17 bombers of the 8th Air Force in Europe, along with the P-51 Lightnings

American Air Force Ground Crew Service a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in England, 1943. The ground crew servicing the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt flown by Captain Johnson. Sergeant George Baltimore is working on the petrol tank, Corporal Jack Kazanjac on top of the engine, Sergeant Howard Buckner by the cockpit, and Private Albert Asplint on the wing

The USAAF had only just started to give publicity to their new fighters which were now arriving in England in numbers. A P-47 Thunderbolt flown by Lieutenant Colonel Hough taxiis past a P-38 Lightning. Passed for publication 3rd August 1943.

In the bombing war against Germany, the early expectation that the USAAF Flying Fortresses would be sufficiently well-armed to defend themselves had proven to be misplaced. Furthermore, the Germans had been quick to re-organise their air defences to cope with attacks from the RAF at night and the USAAF by day.

But the bombing war saw constantly evolving tactics on both sides. It was obvious from the heavy losses that they were suffering that the bombers needed fighter escorts. They now began to make their appearance, although they still did not have the range to go all the way deep into Germany.

Heinz Knoke (1921 1993) was credited with 33 confirmed aerial victories, all claimed over the West, and claimed a further 19 unconfirmed kills in over 2,000 flights. His total included 19 USAAF heavy bombers.

Heinz Knoke¹ was already an accomplished Luftwaffe pilot by 1943, well on his way to his possible final tally of 52 aircraft. He and his fellow pilots in his flight had mastered a successful approach for taking on the B-17s. Today, however, there was a surprise: