There’s no evidence to indicate Santa Claus flew the P-47 Thunderbolt with Frisky during the war, but if he had, he might have taken part in one of the six combat missions the 371st Fighter Group flew on Christmas Eve, 1944, before his night work. Perhaps his missions would have been recorded as seen below? His all-weather flying skills would have been quite handy in those missions flying supplies to beleaguered troops such as the men of the “Lost Battalion” on the ground in late 1944. He could have been handy up north around Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge too!
Santa Claus signals mission success from a late-model P-47D Thunderbolt. (Courtesy “Panzer Juan” posting on the Philippine Scout Heritage Society Facebook page)
Flying from Tantonville (Y-1), France, during Christmas of 1944, Frisky might have heard French Christmas carols echoing around the surrounding villages or countryside. Maybe something like:
Regardless, from Frisky (and Santa above) to all readers of this web log, a hearty Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
