Goose Shoot -Palm Sunday Massacre

By Keith Ferris 
High Resolution Giclee Print on Canvas signed by the artist

April 18 marks an important day in the history of the 57th Wing and the United States Air Force. In 1943, the 57th Fighter Group – now known as the 57th Operations Group at Nellis AFB – dealt a “fatal blow” to the German Air Force. The story of the unit’s achievement that day made headlines around the world and became known as the Palm Sunday Goose Shoot.

The 57 FG, stationed at El Djem, Tunisia, in North Africa, had 46 P-40 Warhawk fighters flying a routine mission over Cape Bon with 18 British Spitfire fighters providing top cover. The group’s pilots couldn’t believe it when they saw over 100 JU-52s – German transport planes – resembling a large migration of geese flying slowly and very low over the Mediterranean. About 50 German Messerschmitt fighters escorted the transports that were filled with German troops. After deciding it wasn’t an enemy trick, mission commander Captain James G. Curl said to his pilots, “Juicy, juicy, juicy. Let’s get ‘em, boys.”