Raymond Knight enlisted in the Army Air Corps on Oct 12,
1942. His flight training took place in his home state of Texas and upon
completion, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in May 1944. He served
at various duty stations within the U.S. before being shipped overseas and
assigned to the 350th FG/346th FS operating in Italy
around November of 1944. During his assignment with the 346th FS he
flew 82 combat missions where he earned various air medals including the DFC.
Unfortunately, now 1st Lt. Raymond lost his life in April 25, 1945
while returning from a series of missions he personally led over a two-day
period. Such a shame since the end of the war was only a couple of weeks away.
For his actions and selflessness, Lt. Knight was awarded the Congressional Medal
of Honour (CMH) posthumously. Rather than try to explain how Lt. Knight earned
his CMH, I'll let the citation describe his feats:
He piloted a fighter-bomber aircraft in a series of
low-level strafing missions, destroying 14 grounded enemy aircraft and leading
attacks which wrecked 10 others during a critical period of the Allied drive in
northern Italy. On the morning of 24 April, he volunteered to lead 2 other
aircraft against the strongly defended enemy airdrome at Ghedi. Ordering his
fellow pilots to remain aloft, he skimmed the ground through a deadly curtain of
antiaircraft fire to reconnoiter the field, locating 8 German aircraft hidden
beneath heavy camouflage. He rejoined his flight, briefed them by radio, and
then led them with consummate skill through the hail of enemy fire in a
low-level attack, destroying 5 aircraft, while his flight accounted for 2
others. Returning to his base, he volunteered to lead 3 other aircraft in
reconnaissance of Bergamo airfield, an enemy base
near Ghedi and known to be equally well
defended. Again ordering his flight to remain out of range of antiaircraft fire,
1st Lt. Knight flew through an exceptionally intense barrage, which heavily
damaged his Thunderbolt, to observe the field at minimum altitude. He discovered
a squadron of enemy aircraft under heavy camouflage and led his flight to the
assault. Returning alone after this strafing, he made 10 deliberate passes
against the field despite being hit by antiaircraft fire twice more, destroying
6 fully loaded enemy twin-engine aircraft and 2 fighters. His skillfully led
attack enabled his flight to destroy 4 other twin-engine aircraft and a fighter
plane. He then returned to his base in his seriously damaged plane. Early the
next morning, when he again attacked Bergamo, he sighted an enemy plane on the
runway. Again he led 3 other American pilots in a blistering low-level sweep
through vicious antiaircraft fire that damaged his plane so severely that it was
virtually nonflyable. Three of the few remaining enemy twin-engine aircraft at
that base were destroyed. Realizing the critical need for aircraft in his unit,
he declined to parachute to safety over friendly territory and unhesitatingly
attempted to return his shattered plane to his home field. With great skill and
strength, he flew homeward until caught by treacherous air conditions in the
Appennines Mountains, where he crashed and was killed. The gallant action of 1st
Lt. Knight eliminated the German aircraft which were poised to wreak havoc on
Allied forces pressing to establish the first firm bridgehead across the Po
River; his fearless daring and voluntary self-sacrifice averted possible heavy
casualties among ground forces and the resultant slowing on the German drive
culminated in the collapse of enemy resistance in Italy.
The Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt entered service in May 1942 with the introduction of the P-47B. It had a Razorback, a high dorsal spine behind the side-ways opening canopy that reduced visibility. As improvements were made a D variant was produced with 12,602 being manufactured. The British developed a sliding bubble canopy for their Typhoon and this was adopted by the USAAF starting with the P-47D-5. With its ability to survive enemy fire along with impressive armament and bomb load the P-47 excelled at ground attack roles.