Page 6 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, April 29, 2022

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57th Fighter Group’s Pa
by Daniel E. Wheaton
Nellis AFB, Nev.
April 18 marks an important day in the his- tory of the 57th Wing and the US. Air Force.
In 1943, the 57th Fighter Group — now known as the 57th Operations Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. — dealt a “fatal blow” to the German Air Force. The story of the unit’s achievement that day made headlines around the world and became known as the Palm Sunday Goose Shoot.
The 57th FG, stationed at El Djem, Tunisia, in North Africa, had 46 P-40 Warhawk fighters flying a routine mission over Cape Bon with 18 British Spitfire fighters providing top cover. The group’s pilots couldn’t believe it when they saw more than 100 JU-52s — German transport planes — resembling a large migration of geese flying slowly and very low over the Mediter- ranean. About 50 German Messerschmitt fighters escorted the transports that were filled with German troops. After deciding it wasn’t an enemy trick, mission commander Capt. James G. Curl said to his pilots, “Juicy, juicy, juicy. Let’s get ‘em, boys.”
The P-40s, splitting into pairs, quickly dove on the enemy with guns raging. They moved rapidly as they were low on fuel during the late afternoon mission. The enemy transports blew up in mid-air; others crashed into the water or
beach in frantic efforts to escape. Pilots later said they did not fear the Messerschmitts as they knew those planes would have to ascend to get organized to fight; once they did that, the Spitfires would take them out. As the British kept the German fighters occupied, the 57th FG had to dodge the falling enemy planes while continuing to press the attack on the transports
... and all the while keeping an eye on their fuel gauges. Friendly fire also became a worry dur- ing the chaotic, tightly packed event. The earth’s surface became a scene from hell, with both the land and sea catching fire. German troops jumped from falling planes and scrambled from the wrecked remains of transports.
The 57th FG destroyed 75 enemy aircraft
before it had to return home with extrem fuel. Eight American planes were missi two had landed safely in the friendly t during the battle. The British had eli three Messerschmitts; the 57th enthusia gave thanks for their important role in al the Americans to concentrate on the tra
Many interesting comments came fr pilots following the “massacre.” Lt. Mc Powers said the attackers seemed almost amongst themselves to get to the ene he was afraid he was going to get left ou J. Byrne commented, “I had a ringside the whole show. All you could see wer big ships coming apart in the air, plungi the sea and crashing in flames on the Captain Curl said the planes were so packed he missed the transport he had t but hit the enemy plane flying just beyon
Col. Arthur Salisbury (far right), group commander, reads a telegram of congratulations to group pilots from Chief of Staff Gen. George Marshall soon after the “Goose Shoot.”
Courtesy photograph
Courtesy photograph
A Ju-88 that crash landed to avoid bein
The 211 Group intelligence summary e
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