Giving Thanks, November 1943 style

  • Published
  • By Arlan Ponder
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  As many "Fighting 49ers" gather with their family and friends during this Thanksgiving holiday memories of our brethren who aren't able to come home to eat turkey, lounge on the couch and watch football shouldn't be far away. One memorable Thanksgiving for the 49th Wing stands as an example of how far a few men would go as World War II raged on.

The 49th Pursuit Group was established on Nov. 20, 1940 and activated at Selfridge Field, Mich., on Jan. 15, 1941. In 1942, the unit was redesignated the 49th Fighter Group. The groups played an important role in the battle in the Pacific - first by halting the Japanese advances and then by helping turn the tide.

By November 1943, the 49th Fighter Group had proved itself as a battle-tested combat organization. Initially protecting Australia from a potential Japanese invasion, the group included the 7th, 8th, and 9th Fighter Squadrons took the offensive and brought the fight to the enemy in liberating New Guinea. With almost two years of combat behind them, the group had numerous victories, over 15 aces and tremendous national recognition of the men Gen. Douglas McArthur dubbed the "Fighting 49ers."
Finding itself at its eighth home base in less than three years, the 49th Fighter Group relocated again in November 1943, this time to Gusap, along the banks of the Ramu River in Papua New Guinea. Gusap had recently been recaptured by Australian and U.S. forces. Described as a "perfect airfield site," the area wasn't "home" as Thanksgiving approached.

Despite its operational advantages, living and working conditions proved characteristically sparse: mess tents and offices were located in a fringe of jungle, which grew along river banks and a hodge-podge of poles. Buildings were made from scraps of lumber found around the area and slats from ration boxes. In addition to the harsh conditions, the men of the 49th Fighter Group also came under daily and nightly attacks from Japanese bombers.

Although life at the new home was far from comfortable, the "Fighting 49ers" received a break from their normal daily rations for a taste of home on Thanksgiving 1943. The group diarist recorded, "Sergeant Fennington and his boys dished out turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce--in short, all of the trimmings."

Despite this temporary respite from the difficulties of war, the men were back on the front lines within a matter of days. On Dec. 1, 1943, the 9th Fighter Squadron flew the group's first battle with its newest airplane, the P-47 Thunderbolt. The Knights escorted B-24 Liberator bombers on an escort mission over Wewak, New Guinea. Although the flyers recorded 11 kills in one day, while outnumbered against 40 enemy fighters, three B-24s were lost in the battle.

As we pause to give thanks for the freedoms of our nation, remember all those men and women who struggled, suffered and even gave their lives, while also remembering those continuing to serve as "Fighting 49ers." They are our heritage, and our family.