On a photo recon mission over Stuttgart, Flight Officer Thomas R. Graffam, a 94th pilot, was shot down on his first or second mission by anti-aircraft gunfire. Damaged initially, on the return back he was hit again near Venice. His plane went down in the Adriatic and F/O Graffam died swimming with his chute (Germans were approaching). On the same mission, Lt James H. Hutchinson, Jr. from the 94th and Lt Robert Carrothers, 27th FS, were reported missing in action. The group ceased flying local combat missions until Operation ARGONAUT was completed.

Lt Frank T. McHugh, 27th FS killed in action near Vienna.

Maj Paul Ash, 27th FS, missing in action. Lt Steve Dostal, 71st FS, shot down over Yugoslavia and listed as missing in action. Lt Dostal eventually returned to the unit with a very interesting story.

During a fighter sweep in the Vienna area Col Arthur C. Agan, the group C.O. flew in a mission where the 94th and 71st ended up separated between cloud layers. When the aircraft dove through a hole in the clouds near the Russian front lines, a hail of antiaircraft gunfire awaited them. Colonel Agan and Lt. Rolla G. Gillen both were hit. With his plane on fire the Colonel bailed out over German front line trenches and taken prisoner. Eventually he reunited with member of the Group in May (1945). Lt R. G. Gillen, 94th, was killed in action. Two more P-38s were hit but one managed to return to base. Lt Norman Crawford, 71st, piloted the second damaged aircraft and last seen heading into the Russian lines. He eventually returned at the end of April.

The 27th shot down a FW 190 and an He-111 in addition to destroying a large amount of railroad stock. This occurred at the expense of two of their pilots, Lt Cary Hendrix and Lt Edgar Coury, the latter from anti aircraft and the former during the Heinkel chase. The day resulted in a loss of five during a month where 10 total aircrews were lost.

Lt Gerald Isbell, 71st FS, was killed in action in Italy.

A force of 32 P-38s escorted B-17s to Bologna, Italy in support of the U.S. 5th Army offensive in Northern Italy. During the milk run, the B-17s devastated the enemy ground troops and did much to aid the allied armies.

A second force of P-38s strafed rail lines in Southern Germany, specifically in Regensburg-Salzburg-Munich. After splitting up in squadron size formations., the 71st went to Lake Chiem toward Munich, the 94th went to Regensburg south toward Landshut, and the 27th strafed from Regensburg southeast parallel with the Danube toward Passaau. In addition to the multitude of ground targets either damaged or destroyed, the group also claimed an aerial victory over an FW-190.

Unfortunately, Five pilots did not return from this mission including all three squadron leaders. However one did survive - Capt Everett S. Lindley the 94th squadron and mission leader. The four fatalities consisted of Cpt Chester Trout, 27th leader, hit by flak just west of Passau and crashed in flames, Major Joseph Elliot, the 71st leader, also hit by anti aircraft fire, crashed at Feldkirchen east of Munich and was killed. Lt Edward Brickly, 27th FS, and Lt George McGrew, 71st, were both hit by flak, and were killed in ensuing crashes.

During this day's mission attacking targets of opportunity in northern Italy, Captain Larry Reynolds, 27th squadron leader and Captain John Hurst, flight leader, were both struck by flak and successfully bailed out. Both were on their second tour of duty with the 1st FG. The 71st leader, Cpt Clarence Knapp died when his aircraft was hit in the left wing at an altitude of only 50 feet, burst into flames, flipped over and dove in (wingman Steve Dostal's account on his first mission after rejoining the unit).