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Quiz about Extra Long Dogfight
Quiz about Extra Long Dogfight

Extra Long Dogfight Trivia Quiz


Few people know about the major role American Air Force pilots played in various battles. And even fewer know about the rivalry between two renowned American Fighter Groups: the 4th and the 56th. Well, play and learn!

A multiple-choice quiz by Mariamir. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
Mariamir
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
344,640
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
652
Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (7/10), Guest 69 (6/10), Guest 5 (6/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which group was formed first, the 4th fighter group or the 56th? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which two leaders of the American 4th Fighter Group led the 4th through World War II? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. When many of the American 4th Fighter group were still Eagles, around how many enemy aircraft did they destroy during World War II? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Who led the Wolf Pack (American Air Force 56th Fighter Group) through many World War II campaigns? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In the scoring race between the 4th and the 56th, who did better from the start?

Answer: (One Word .. 4th or 56th)
Question 6 of 10
6. Colonel Don Blakeslee, leader of the 4th Fighter Group, set a goal that in one month the 4th would reach 500 enemy planes destroyed (including previous ones.) Did they do so?


Question 7 of 10
7. From which of these did the pilots of the 4th and 56th suffer the most casualties in World War II? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Who ultimately won the scoring duel between the 4th Fighter Group and the 56th Fighter Group during World War II?

Answer: (One Word ... 4th or 56th)
Question 9 of 10
9. During World War II, many races and friendly rivalries between American pilots existed, but who was the ace of aces, he who downed the most enemy airplanes? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. As long as you down an enemy plane that is considered a kill and is added to your record, but only if you have proof or witnesses.



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Most Recent Scores
Feb 22 2024 : Guest 1: 7/10
Feb 18 2024 : Guest 69: 6/10
Feb 01 2024 : Guest 5: 6/10
Jan 30 2024 : Guest 71: 7/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which group was formed first, the 4th fighter group or the 56th?

Answer: 4th

Most of the 4th fighter pilots were formed from Eagle pilots who were American pilots volunteering in Britain's air force. They were transferred into the American Air Forces and formed the center of the 4th Fighter Group (sometimes known as the Blakesleewaffe) in September, 1942.
The 56th Fighter Group (aka the Wolf Pack) was formed soon after the 4th, and instantly took to the P-47 Thunderbolt, which the 4th detested because it was slow and clumsy in comparison to the slight, nimble Spitfires they were used to.
The scoring race between the groups lasted throughout the war.
2. Which two leaders of the American 4th Fighter Group led the 4th through World War II?

Answer: Peterson and Blakeslee

All the fighter pilots were distinguished American pilots who fought during World War II. However, only Blakeslee and Peterson were commanders. Colonel Chesley Peterson, as a young man, tried to enlist in America, but was refused due to lack of "flying abilities". He then went to Canada, and was sent off to Britain, where he became the most renowned pilot of the Eagles.
Apparently, when he had been shot down once and had to bail out, he aimlessly fired at the water with his pistol just for amusement.
Colonel Donald Blakeslee was called the "iron man" because of his extraordinary endurance. He replaced Peterson, and led the 4th until near the end of the war.
Both were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross: Peterson by King George VI, and Blakeslee by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.
3. When many of the American 4th Fighter group were still Eagles, around how many enemy aircraft did they destroy during World War II?

Answer: 75

Of these, forty-one were destroyed by the 71st Squadron led by Peterson, a brilliant Eagles commander.
4. Who led the Wolf Pack (American Air Force 56th Fighter Group) through many World War II campaigns?

Answer: Colonel Hubert Zemke

Nicknamed "Hub", Zemke was an old hand at flying, though still in his twenties. He led the 56th from when they were formed till he was captured by the Germans. The 56th's 1000+ kills were mostly done during his leadership. When Zemke was captured, such was his fame that the Germans were delighted, and said 'Ah, Zemke! When we get Blakeslee the war will be over.' As soon as news of his capture reached the US, Blakeslee was grounded. Two of the best fighter pilots and leaders would never again fly a fighter plane.
5. In the scoring race between the 4th and the 56th, who did better from the start?

Answer: 56

The 56th did mostly well from when they were formed until the enemy stayed on the ground because they were in many dogfights. The 4th met few enemy aircraft until Blakeslee took command and sent them on long distance flights.
On August 16, 1943, the 4th set a record in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) of eighteen enemy planes downed with only one of their own planes downed. However, the 56th was still ahead.
By October, 1943, four out of five aces in the ETO were in the 56th Fighter Group.
6. Colonel Don Blakeslee, leader of the 4th Fighter Group, set a goal that in one month the 4th would reach 500 enemy planes destroyed (including previous ones.) Did they do so?

Answer: Yes

Much credit for the completion was given to Don Gentile and John Godfrey, "Damon and Pythias" of the air world, and Duane Beeson, Gentile's friendly rival.
7. From which of these did the pilots of the 4th and 56th suffer the most casualties in World War II?

Answer: Anti-aircraft gunners

After they defeated the Luftwaffe, the pilots began strafing the Germans on the ground and patrolling the air, taking much damage from anti-aircraft gunners. One member of the 56th discovered a disheartening fact: out of the twenty-two aces in the 56th, one only remained. The rest had been downed by gunners.
Sadly, some American pilots were shot down by friendly fire.
8. Who ultimately won the scoring duel between the 4th Fighter Group and the 56th Fighter Group during World War II?

Answer: 4

Both groups were part of the Eight Air Force, which was deployed against the Luftwaffe. Therefore, for the two groups, the war ended when the Germans surrendered. They had nothing to do with the Japanese.
Near the end, the 56th slipped ahead, and when the curtain closed on the European Theater of Operations, the 56th led by 14 1/2 planes. In great disappointment, the 4th even wished that the war had continued for longer, when several members who were imprisoned by the Germans were freed, and presented evidence of fifteen more planes downed.
Final score: 4th: 1006 1/2; the 56th: 1006
9. During World War II, many races and friendly rivalries between American pilots existed, but who was the ace of aces, he who downed the most enemy airplanes?

Answer: Richard Bong

Major Richard Ira Bong shot down, alone, more than eighty enemy planes. However, less than half of them counted because they lacked witnesses. Still, forty victories was outstanding, and as of 2012 no other American pilot has ever equaled that record. Probably none ever will.
Bong was called a "bad boy" because he looped-the-loop around the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and then buzzed (flew low over) Market Street and waved to people gaping at him in shock.
Just before sending him home after his fortieth victory, General MacArthur decorated him with the Congressional Medal of Honor.
10. As long as you down an enemy plane that is considered a kill and is added to your record, but only if you have proof or witnesses.

Answer: True

Pilots' victories only count if there are witnesses who saw them, or if it was caught on cameras on the plane's wings.
For example, Major Richard Bong shot down, alone, more than eighty enemy planes. However, less than half of them counted because they lacked witnesses.
Source: Author Mariamir

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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