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Piggyback in a P-38 – A Daring Rescue under Fire

An 82nd FG P-38 heads out to another target from its base in Foggia, Italy. (Photo courtesy of Jack Watson via Warren Thompson.)

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The early morning light glittered on the whirling propellers of 48 82nd FG P-38J Lightnings as they taxied for takeoff at Foggia-11/Vincenzo airfield in southern Italy. “Tail-end Charlie” in group commander Col. Litton’s flight was Flight Officer Dick Andrews, a 100-hour P-38 pilot who had celebrated his 20th birthday the day before and was looking forward to his first strafing mission. Just behind in the pack of Lightnings was 23-year-old Capt. Richard “Dick” Willsie, the...

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