Freddie Hutchins scored his first aerial victory on 26JUL44 while escorting B-24 Liberators on a raid against Markendorf, Germany. In August he was credited with four strafing victories in Romania. On 06OCT44 the 302nd Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group was assigned another airfield to strafe at Megara, Greece. This time Hutchens was not so lucky. Pulling off his first run, his Mustang was hit by flak. He managed to nurse his aircraft over a nearby mountain, but came down on the other side. Although injured, Hutchins managed to evade capture and return to his unit with the help of local Greek civilians. Freddie Hutchins survived the war, and went on to serve in Korea and Vietnam.
Inch High Guy 