Republic P47-D and pilot Capt. Dewey E. Newhart

Captain Dewey E. Newhart and his P47-D "Mud n' Mules"

 

Coloured by Doug Banks

USAAF Capt. Dewey Ernest Newhart stands in front of his Republic P-47D-15-RE Thunderbolt LH-D s/n 42-76141"Mud N' Mules". He was the Squadron Leader of the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, 8th Air Force.

     Capt. Newhart was killed in action on the 12th of June 1944 during a mission over Northern France. He was leading the squadron down to strafe an enemy truck convoy near Saint-Saëns, Normandy when he was jumped by 8-10 Bf 109s whilst flying a P-47D LH-U(s/n 42-26402) named "Soubrette", he was hit and radioed that he was attempting to make landfall. Before he could escape, he was attacked by two more fighters, and was shot down and killed.

     The pictured aircraft was re-assigned to Capt. Lonnie M. Davis who renamed it "Arkansas Traveler" but retained the mule artwork, on the left side cowl, out of respect for Newhart.

 

 

Below is the Missing aircraft report for Capt. Newhart

(divided to allow for better reading)