Littge, Raymond Henry, Capt

Raymond H. Littge was born in Altenberg, Missouri on October 18, 1923 to Henry and Martha Abner Littge. His father died when he was 4, and he was raised by his mother and sister. In 1939, he became obsessed with flying, reading every magazine about flying he could find. He repeatedly asked his mother about flying lessons, and worked as a farm hand to pay for lessons. He attended Altenberg High School for 2 years, but graduated from Perryville High School in 1942.

He enrolled in the Aviation Cadet Program on July 1, 1942, but was not inducted until January 19, 1943 at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In December 1943, he graduated from the program and was awarded his pilot wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant.

In May 1944, he was assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group and deployed to England, stationed at Bodney Field. His first combat mission came on July 1, 1944, after training in the P-51. He flew 18 missions, and, on November 27, 1944, he engaged enemy aircraft and destroyed three of them. He was credited with 2, but on review, he was awarded the 3rd.

He describes the mission in his encounter report: "Flying White 3, our flight of 4 bounced 8+ FW-190s on the deck. They started a loose Lufberry to the left, and my wingman, Lt. Ross and I got behind the last boy in the Lufberry. I got strikes on the wing and tail, and he snapped to the left and hit the ground and exploded. This was verified  by Lt. Ross's statement. I got behind another one and got many strikes on cockpit and wing root area. He rolled over on his back and went into the ground. In the meantime, all but 1 of the 190s had been shot down or dispersed and I started trailing him. I got strikes on him several times. He straightened out, jettisoned the canopy, and started pulling up. Then an unidentified P-51 came down on him from above and got several strikes as the pilot of the e/a bailed out." He submitted a claim for 3 aerial victories. Gun camera film backed him up, and he was credited with all three kills.

On a fighter sweep later in the year, Littge was shot down and bailed out. He escaped capture, evaded, and was back in England within 12 days. He completed the war with a confirmed 10.5 aerial victories and 13 aircraft destroyed on the ground. He also shot down 3 "Buzz Bombs" over the English Channel, but they were not included in any total.

He was discharged in December 1946, but stayed in the Reserves. Called to active duty in March 1947 for jet training, he was assigned to the 83rd Fighter Squadron as Operations Officer.

On May 20, 1949, while flying to an air meet at Coulee Dam, Washington, his F-84 jet fighter crashed near Maupin, Oregon, killing Captain Littge. It is suspected that a faulty oxygen system was the cause.

A memorial to Captain Raymond H. Littge stands on the courthouse square in Perryville, Missouri.


www.crazyhorse.be/Mustangs/Aces
www.veterantributes.org
352nd Fighter Group Records
USAAC/USAAF Aircraft Inventory Records
www.uk.warbirds.net/histories
www.winbourne.org/bodney

Captain Raymond H. Littge was first assigned P-51C #42-103320, nicknamed "Silver Dollar." This aircraft was subsequently lost in a mid-air collision over Bodney Field, while it was flown by another pilot who escaped injury.

His next aircraft was P-51D #44-11330, named "E Pluribus Unium." It survived the war and was salvaged in February, 1945.

Littge then flew P-51D #44-72216, "Miss Helen," named after his fiancee, Helen Fischer, whom he later married.

This last aircraft was sold to the Swedish Air Force, and after 5 years service there, was sold to the Israeli Defense Command in 1953. After being phased out of the Israeli Air Force, the aircraft remained in a children's playground at a kibbutz until a English warbird collector bought it. Returned to England, it was re-fitted with wings from P-51D #44-72770, and made airworthy. It was painted in the original 352nd Fighter Group colors, and is a hallmark at UK air shows. It is believed to be the only original 352nd Mustang that exists.