Ruthless Jug Jockey – Flying with the 317th Fighter Squadron

The world’s only flying example of the type, the Planes of Fame P-47G bears down on the camera ship with Steve Hinton at the controls in the airspace south of Chino Airport. It was temporarily painted for this photoshoot to represent Lt. Cameron Hart’s UN-B 63rd FS Razorback based at Halesworth, England, in 1944 with the 56th FG. (Photo by John Dibbs/Facebook.com/theplanepicture)

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I had always wanted to be a fighter pilot, the “man in charge,” if you will. After I had earned my wings in 1943, I was given the choice of single-engine fighters or bombers. Although multi-engines may have sounded safer, I knew that the only person who would be able to put my flying abilities to the test was me! I was sent to the 54th Fighter Group in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to begin my...

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