He was met by Colonel William W

Davis had the original inkling away from just what you to ideas might be when he advertised on head office of one’s combatant category in order to that 99 th might be affixed inside the handle. “Spike” Momyer, this new 33 rd Fighter Group’s leader, “not for the a casual style, but privately authoritative.” Considering Chris Bucholtz’s account of your own appointment in the equipment background, Momyer didn’t return the fresh salutes off Davis or even the 99 th is why deputy commander.

New snub would-be a great harbinger out-of what you should been. For the moment, although, Davis got obligations to handle, thus he set aside the brand new condescension he had came across. Performing satisfactorily from the upcoming actual-community attempt is really what mattered to him.

When you find yourself escorting twelve Douglas An effective-20 bombers back from a great raid more than Pantelleria, four of your own 13 P-forties broke off the formation within the beautiful search for the fresh new fighting Messerschmitt Bf 109s

According to Gropman, Davis gained his guys prior to their baptism out of flame and you will told them: “We’re here to complete work, and also by Goodness, we’re going to do it well, thus why don’t we log on to involved.” Led because of the Davis, new 99 th ran towards step on the Summer 2, 1943, traveling from a former Luftwaffe ft at Fardjouna on the Tunisia’s Cover Bon Peninsula. Adversary ranks with the area away from Pantelleria was targeted within the dive-bombing raids as part of Procedure Corkscrew.

Into the age into experience of Luftwaffe competitors for the first time. Added from the Charles W. Dryden, such five P-forties scattered as they chased the faster adversary airplanes inside a good useless make an effort to knock her or him from the air.

Instance aggressiveness was not ultimately unwanted; at all, combatant pilots had been likely to feel pugnacious floating around. But adhering to your squadron mates try a cardinal code when you look at the sky attacking. While flaking off to give pursue was not a rare impulse off greenhorn fighter pilots, about future days the new incapacity in order to maintain the latest formation’s stability in this one for example perform provide a narrative aimed at unraveling the latest black traveling program.

Complete, Davis is happy with the new squadron’s abilities, and on Summer eleven th Pantelleria fell, getting, in the Davis’ conditions, “the original defended standing regarding reputation of warfare getting beaten by the applying of air energy by yourself.” Davis noticed confirmed throughout the his look at the fresh 99 th whenever he acquired a note throughout the colonel providing since the Allies’ town chief, stating: “You’ve got found the problem of your own adversary and have been from your initially christening with the battle more powerful certified than ever before.”

Inside the mid-June, objectives incorporated taking defense having shipments throughout the Mediterranean. On ensuing find, the fresh 99 th lost two of the pilots, Sherman W. White and you will James L. McCullin, although squadron also scored their first aerial winnings with Charles B. Hall’s shootdown regarding an excellent Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

The situations impacted new squadron’s psyche. The very first time the latest males of 99 th considered brand new combined thinking away from losing best friends when you look at the combat additionally the elation off downing an opponent. The second caused an effective congratulatory see by the best Allied leader, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was simply accompanied by elderly air commanders, Lieutenant general Carl A beneficial. Spaatz and you can Biggest Generals James H. Doolittle and John K. Cannon.

Up coming, on July 2 nd , Davis added a dozen from their squadron mates towards a good bomber escort mission in order to Castelvetrano from inside the southwestern Sicily when the development is popped from the opponent fighters away from more than

The new attack from Sicily proceeded apace in addition to 99 th moved towards the isle, setting up functions in the Licata toward July 19 th . The brand new squadron travelled various objectives, but did not have much contact with enemy competitors. Fighting proceeded up until the German and you may Italian pushes finished an enthusiastic evacuation to the August 17 th . Early another day, Davis try shocked to-be recalled to your Us so you can bring command of your recently-molded all of the-black 332 nd Combatant Classification.