Inside ‘The Hangover Raid’ — The WWII air battle of New Year's Day, 1945

ILLUSTRATIONS: (1) 1st Lt. Alden Rigby takes off during the raid on the Y-29 airfield near Asche, Belgium, in his 487th FS, 352d FG P-51D. (2) 1st Lt. Alden Rigby downs an Me-109G with his 487th FS, 352d FG P-51D near the Y-29 airfield. (3) 352d FG Mustangs scramble to meet German attackers on New Year's Day, 1945. (4) 352d FG's 1st Lt. Bill Whisner nails an Me-109G with his 487th FS P-51D "Moonbeam McSwine" over the Y-29 airfield. (5) 487 FS CO Lt. Col. John C. Meyer takes off in his 352d FG P-51D "Petie 3d" during the German attack on his airfield. (6) Capt. Donavon Smith chases a Me-109G over Belgium in his 61st FS, 56th FG P-47D "Ole Cock III" on 1 Jan. 1945. (7) Sqdn. Ldr. "Pablo" Sheward flies over the B-70 airfield in his 263 Sqdn. Typhoon Ib as Germans attack on 1 Jan. 1945. (8) 56 Sqdn. Tempests on their Belgian airfield during the German 1 Jan. attack.

Capt Rich Buckley Cpl Bruce Stokes 1SG Ken Rossi CPT (Join to see) SN Jeffrey White MSgt Stephen Council SPC Luis Borges CH (MAJ) Eric Dye SSG Eduardo Alegría LTC Martin Metz SPC Charles Nesbitt LTC (Join to see) SGM Major Stroupe LTC Tom Jones MAJ Karen Wall SPC Marley Ngwa MAJ Wayne Wickizer A1C Thomas Lenner CPO Linda Aberdeen MAJ (Join to see)

Not enough Oomph against formidable defenders.