American Eagles: American Volunteers, The RAF, 1937-1943

130 Pages·2001·17.6 MB·English

by  Tony Holmes

RICA |
GILL:

|

AMERIC!
VOLUNTEERS

THE RAF 1937-19:

now! ge

Tony Holme
AMERICAN EAGLES

his volume is the first in

a series of books dealing
with American fighter pitots,
and their aircrap in the
European theatre of
Operations during the Second
World War The exploits of
Lightning, Thunderbolt and
Mustang pitots flying ‘starred.
and-barred fighters from
Fortress Britain’ will be
detuited in the later titles ins reser ans mn
this series. The book you Setiangesn
“presently bold in your hands focuses exclusively on those individuals who
volunteered for action in wartorn Europe with the Royal Air Force prior to
the American declaration of war, and the subsequent arrival of the US
Army Air Forces in Britain.

Coverage of the early operations of VHT Fighter Command is also
included up until its trio of Spitfire-equipped fighter groups eitber
transitioned to the P-AT or were posted 10 the Mediterranean
Theatre of Operations.

The large format of this book has allowed a substantial number of
photographs of both men and their machinery to be incheded within its
128 pages. Sourced from both private and official archives, the photographs
published in American Fagles represent the most comprehensive collection of
carly-war images of Yanks in Britain’ ever published. Newly commissioned
profiles have also given an essentially black and white' war a colour
dimension, and the majority of those aircraft depicted in artwork by
leading British artist Mark Styling have been linked to notable pilots
and/or events.

Although not altenapting to be the definitive work on this litle publicised
aspect of RAE Fighter Cominand (please check the comprebensive
bibliography at the back of this volume for other works of note), American
Eagles instead complements these textually-driven books through the sheer
voltume of photographs contained within ts covers.

The mix of images, firs-band accounts and thoroughly researched text anid
captions should make this volume a useful reference tool for historians,
aviation enthusiasts and hobbyists alike.

Tony Holmes. january 2001
Pre-War

1108 non. Pyne
(Gitoag wah
Goreme
Sense a

‘gv ee
Beetort
irene
Ghee Neate chet
‘re paaet a be
{then chow bs
con a ie
‘Sheraton eo
Seema fom

Pilots

te ang ot Fist Weld, se weertycesed Rol A
en ata ef ony of the comaa.nt mains raed che com. eempr sed
cpreuinesty 2500 sera and fever tan 250,000 ren and waren st betwen a8
peered 18 tannins, Desc’ # having poe inthe way, the woes ret wseperdent
rece val boon sipoed fet 0 Perce jf is personnel wit 48 mort ote

Force pasossea Wages.

By Meh 21620, an en
sniy soe oe atl 922049 eK Tha S20
ingot oun £16 forte wet Tae jes. in sorpisan ts ay

en Sto, sen 01 had en spe

conn! RAF could bt 38 25 oper inal sours, uf nar
fone owes orc nas aie

Shamus “rbuils
nyunore ding al a! fh wa Pa
fn demubisng end oeeandng hw RAF in S920!
ins per tence cee stored te Coatine government's teeing st Bein a 94
mpie cout sent we gh aeoor rir wa for ek asta decade, Dubed te Te
Seen ite arauretion slowed te Tewsury 1 dery the speréng of money on
eaten peri ature cones, Suh 2 pi rena ff: nt! 4882
ern ut ote ate wn reveaed ms sal 6 1323, whan che netvalecied Constr
sosrnnert onions hot thee woe rapes Bere spr Seo ah ond Fee at
eee, a iar tine Perce was covered to 2e th any coum Eye cpa’ ot
earner eon miary andrew free, ane trarefoe prs» veto ta seve of
Faeee a Cobiot east ty mean ambsing uno a pe sre of emansion hat
ie dee ihe ostoiset a mettepo‘to arse of 52 squares, Hawever, seit RAF
ao a red te govern hot suc 8 ston could Pot he lene fr 3 os 3
aeeeror rene 82 squatarm, 13 of Yom would be nore aunts he Aula A Foe

nd Speia Reserve.
1p mid 1992 jee 12 uns Ma ber ste,
mz chancel tare sm mons ites, otawes ole
pores ste fie Ra's eer ogee ws oem
ideas tne nes Ned Lusso could boos: a lst 28
torre ty the ert of 1918, wher eanciled approx
(Stes miched the RAF Kone nce i> rin ot he

1 yh te elaron of colt ier 08

hoi ole vie mRersaue, che
rou nn shar ous.

oie uni of Fats a

fotos 860 aor, These QUES
ime abough the Germans Nad
rene

sireny erred on an Pepansion pon to

Fotste Prime Mins tin Chien,
hated fore cf 79 tomer and 3 tarter

‘ommerporary sow that Nrure aka
‘woud suo tne bortorunts of eppesing nation Battirg it» arf aon, sy Fats
ang 9 protec hee bases Tor atk,

Dye to the pared iroveae i ve rarine strato! the RAF, the sorvice wae cco
reo ou" aN command. 8 pn ef “Sehero Co as to allew to be adie mare
elective. Bombo. Coast, Figar a aang Commanes wor ts rete.

ger Commansessume tho eis ots irmedateoresecessr, 4 Deter of Gt
Dia DSB, 97 14 Juy 1936, and at Fs hem was paced Air Merehal HE T Dovdng. &
veteran of corn i he Fst World War anc in Paleine dung te 19208, Cova nt the
‘al an forthe ob dus te Ws previous comin RAF land area, ston wes the
igre group atin 2 now eunet ADS. I> che Sx years oror to BooHnng A OMeer
‘Commarsr Figstr Cennard, Dowlrg. nad Served ss ir Member for SupD and Resear
tone Ar Cour

In his rol, Fe had cverssen te inpleentatios of amerus tances to priate Ineustry
that are resid ne RAF eyontua prct'emert bath te Hawk Hier and he
Supo'rane Spit, wl! a6 persone encouraging tho ceveloament af ado aaction
‘nang ROR, wie ster bare knoe a ae. Tse he eeron's woul! rove cuca
‘emo the suman of 1840.

“The Mi

‘Tre feo alts serng nthe RAF a the ing of h creator ater Command r61936
vere very nue" the glamour 298 the ar foe. The subeelofadhatn nthe oes, and
the eve af oussras of schoolbovs geass the coun. ese your men whe saeenneet a
zing ok “wings and oni 2 o'7e igen wor a the onde tal praression.
Hering thkiedthca ion ca zine edsB nan tésca eameanea'Be the cera artes etic ee geen

fionaires’ Club”

ier
ied
Bk ie ananiee
pete ok
tos at ni

cer

Ne steli cuanpardie noyrarne alsisd for Suma tue
vse atacks on the gavernmene exerualy ethic rthe

Fesuted inthe souoior oF Sevens CAF ume

‘an ae
“he bare poses of ths par ssoued cen ct
Sat es woud be ade aie ara ko ie
‘squadrons, all t which wer2 tebe operatinsal Suche neg +

by 1989. The bonbor ‘ss releced the Gear meter
Vilirs lia Davies, Cor Aapmere. vous.
(yf Dampier “Puss Fame’ and ila
Wr tay Stag

le Tor Staignt. who breare 9
‘ash ctze" in 1936, i 1s sins: e3ain
Brat the Aenining le wart hele dual
‘sytiisn ctzoshin, 0" Parr ard Daves
had Erish pers, and al our id cuss
et ben sthooles rhe UK pie Jnr
tre air ufo, OF His quar, che Fst t cor
he aliegfe unerm af tie RAF ws 255
‘le Car Dai, whe ping he Rea! Aulary
1 Fevce 1936,

Born in Souh Alea to American
permis, Davis orion te tenets of cub school eden emt age of 23, sting
Shorr Seto are Tinks Colao, n Gani, Upon grzAutlor, Dees une othe JSS
rclemeledin MGI Us, ahs he quad a a Pking engeer. Haig comple his
rar, neal tetrad tothe UK.

‘Seleg a yun ro seme Harel ears, and 2 Keen pratt, Cavs pine he
unary ere ores bac Enon is "2c squaar a Mo EDL County of Lo
‘San, sased at RAF non One ae tie uns establishes wt the formation of ie Rey
Antony Ai Tree #1925, No ANY Si hat besn states “ort tie stort by al 2 20!
ferlemen ‘rom the cepts and he sursinding hem eumies. Sh was ths epson
‘nl ty teu nett £06n erame koa the RAF as Tre iionaies! Hb"!

ye te Cat vi nae canmigsone a 3 let ow in the aula ar free or 7
ave £988, No GOL Sam had bapncxipsed wih he sleeker Het irae or mare
tan tee yeore, Pere ver sutra, and tintin mira th sees ar black Tees
bonds! on th beige an 99" wing. the lar nao become fair st inthe shies of
huthonst Enlnch a the equation aveoiss = vatcun fight bases wien Sv 11 re.
Win £2 months! Dave's nia ot tender, ve unt hse rssarsd is Mare wy the casey
‘elated Domon, which boacled rate \aeh ya sunt fr te ganes sat ahi ple

The bath Fen tho chose ho 604 San prowar was fre veinfored hy

totais
feet

Not sqehat ewe
peeaaras
Pre-War Pilots @ 5

... a pretty wild and high-spirited gathering”

Anx,

eevee pearantaris wa ewe yn hr | pr te loa ox

Sinn bconging ts corned Ping chi hou the eons
ier nl expences of al etree never comme sth ag
irs eaeofixaqutonnites the Hono John Wii ‘mort mmc
‘en cn ec a ace di the Seen Wie Teestemr i
Si yas sieges fined. 196), sce ae
"he Milpares| Mob in vhe follow quite peaecaa
OE papers in 1: Aetiotocan oR M0,
‘One dy in 1954 end ne Roger Huse dw me gence ce
or or om oe tary Ae Hore Sa ic ws ‘corsa
fot pip of excl skis of ny sogaianee at mga mm 40
wcll rir, collection of ren who at the vght ie avin eeu Foie:
pee, won cos he Chane wih thet as al ee at a ees
: ‘ee ies
he ius 0S Antone ae so ‘ocean nea wate

"The ies of Sing am acne acted he yrs ee, a ‘en cpeinsh Ma |

aes
Danner DO.

1 et she I Yer mu ado corsecvence,

Imps poe 9 GD RARER SAAC WHE HS

tera Hee

hy contsions hes ws 8301 wossd cape cy Wd nl ipl iring my of lon ally knew Hoe ion =

arse pics 18 Anton Tey were the sr yn en hoa eq Doe expla rom Cet scans wh ir
‘hele danes against ~ vais ~ wh sted up ato te at parties ad he when everyone was ha dead wi aie wet 96

the pts Docs at sr at route a il est?! do aie Snow, Bui Hose das they were que comton Ad they cheered
leas at te beadgaarers of Nr S38:

imarsge, for n 1938 C31 Davis was etished tte siser of squado-mae Sir Aha
ope, ar Hop in tut Cin’. Steal oe its ako “ook vies nha ee the —_pem AF ane
Stee of coisa low memes. of fhe "Miinares' Mob’, eneh causes sortenee omni tame
task ower Cosel to rena Bis Sr hie e055 on ach roe. is sexson wb _“imAS A ane
20 as med os ar Assia age ote
By ben Cal Das no he nly Anan sevigith No 504 Ser for 9 1927 faroue Na he
stom mlierare rac car dee, ara esigrer ar acemplshed ve plot oiine tins enon
thins Sra hod nod the uit afer bocorng a Bish exer te previous goa. The
nethew cf ort Querborugh, and a gre of Cantu, Svalg Yas sent meng yes eve hu
djing rtm nih, ehere he hae seen at Fsvand he ise of German irs, SH mn
Canine ha aaa Fate be stop aa ss, heed Jona he aut aes anc nator MC arn
thee ans, Pah a be
3) Decerber of 1938 gente
he AOL San fe beaun 29
reac ts neous osc
mors wi) manna ess
mln Giser Gaunt

“soane fates. These acre ita

eady careuaged in 23%
reed dak enh Pare
foread socuate with ether
Nos 49 of T9 Sars a Bes
il” Hastiy wessined oxng
prevous September, th
Reimann
Bhatt
‘merce same
Grp on 3
Senet ec th
Shara
it ia
Behny 0

foveal and Tgtar bar bedeeses Devs
fehich yes ow passed on xo Tal
Corr

“Meanwhile, No 6OL Sop sd bee
rwoa or 26 September 1936) dng the
Murch er sis ane sotto Big Mee
Fomine sr dered veo to Neaon 0° 32
beta

“Te unit's iad teen with shale
oat eons yas © last ust @ mer of
Socks oy January 1998 the Fest Bris}
fenhcin IF oneav? "ghte rived at
Horaon nike tre naary ox gtr Commas
Sunes they replaced, the teinengied
Aimnheims were ‘fash of? he Bristol
roauton Ie Ponsa te avaton wad rine arnt dtc

{UP ends ana wre! sx ete
soe otbn othe squation’s tration oven he Blah came fn Magus: 1559 =
the ure aad tay evn terrg ear, whch on i 2zason was hla ot neat
Ting. on the Susies coal, %ovousl
howe as more tan sumer “Ns
Tp moniers of No EO Se his year's eam
wt awe far more Seon. ern agent
‘Gimary vo seemed est = nh
vaten bays of returirg w Kerdon 1S unit
Vas oh sed, stents beg Sent 10
‘agin Al on 2 Sesterber. “he "anaes
nt ineeng Fg OMS Cath Davis end
Tah Seem row prepareD tneMsere~
fowar

Fighter Command

st eral of No £04 Si a Big“ th eile: poston 2 America i weld
tn eT aah Re 79 Syn was lies aes, Born h nodal, New Jory, Dre ra
eee ve Uk us Fs gree sometie prt Nim sting the RAF sar 1936, Ue
serps wing’ news posta tren efeme: He TO Sana Sino Mare 18

re boon coated as part of "Sename Ctx rucus of lots af ground
cen ra ern igi Hi resident, NO 32 So. Te Ir unit spt went ES
ae a othe new squad fet Ma raring cept Filo uve
Tra ing esos ad nant of ater un. Get pane fees wee
Te aie oy af Fonte us, n¢ytirg Nes 11,32 24, $6 and {44 Sore, thou

Sclemiecsermat
Pre-War Pilots @ 7

the buk of ts attamas — 11 ntl — wore roviybu ara: thst ad been dovetod teh
nam te sostertectory a Hyco e No 1 Sue's Sov Un Su a Waasngon, These
DsNo £ ASL Gaunots wore amongst the vory ast exaripios aut for tha 3AF

Panted in he tarda oe Ami sia eon ce al ebiceoseed seas wrheut
poses rata areas, 2s pa King's ogy sions, Yo 79'Sqyaooted a cstietve red 2ew a5
unt raking thes o sion pass though the fuselage sre, Lie Sn 32 Sq, the
row unit mnediate st 2000: cl rotiro Sat was he iat For Corman squares
Inthe fra 1 oaths pict re Meh Bri

Eat ory marin kounderws woul wre the sorecoabe Bsumets at ofthe No 79
Sqn “anga’ ard ine Be NaN upon he tana, ng tip watip. Same ne er 8,60

ede

‘sere

Seto ns
stm er ped
Dan oes Da
|

the ant woul taceotf, ane whch ie Ue Fete" ale ack race, sens, craseoouRry
iigaon (oration tra o-meek ntercepions of omer serwes akcan in he via a Bigg
Hil oeeasionaly pies weuld te nthe romng and arc “he 3fotmoon,atneugh 2s a
Ener lo the or pti as usualy set aside fo my nionance ef ae.

‘great way son aut up aenecan the two grt its a ey 1 Hl fb squacans
‘ew Gaus, sd Geol nuriber ef plots Mh T9 Sqn as preMously Served wah No 32
‘Sn. Mares of te senior unt potsed that hes Not tanetos a hooking msoaogs
ard re wumpetifon baleen the wo scans care to hea 1 the bis san ate
moe airy 1337, nie whew Grea Walos desonced the wert n he volume 24
Bien Hat pubihed ig 2957:

‘ere 20,000 people wsted the
san, Now 32 and 79 Sens eompeied
fsaainst each otha na meciy 2° avers,
herours sing caualy divide, the ros
Sec ing the 2ach fe athe a
the weedertu cer weathor the Gaunt
ould be seen wih she raked ae 5
2008

Despite te sat tu tthe a
sy, 2 inecveness of the silane
Tahsr a8 @ modoie meapor 0! war 42d
been graphiesy eveaied aurrg. the
‘mua ot exe-cses eld by pte
Command tat vers same surime The
irs’ free had eluded some ry
Abtved lernei | bembers In tse
arc tho Gaur pots at Beg ll tad

tas pot mae
wc
Sr ng eset
‘mis hotens

yee
ee we
Borin

Pre-War Pilots @ 9

sue eS of wea he Bio ernment pl Fore
Srugerg blareteia's wan ey tad aermpted eet an nlerce pt.

Ph Ae is soe deed he ee saan ir as ea
feaure more pramine=yir plots" agbeoks cor 1938, Such sartes nee encouraged By
‘ees sch st eRe Da ae, eprom ns Mae Hs
Siggir Hi in ony interesea in meieging ara airy weiner

112 dp 1928, No 79 Sqr exnttes ts Hecke ome when &pevormed FRR
Sorvmara ss: ng fomezen lg. Me Gaus 100% et inly se Be Wy blames
Snajonen\p a 8.000 f ovr Severosks mn squackor format on. Fr NAP LO NMED, we
Fund red stator ceeprgis, te pats ther Faaded due north ate Manes an ce
he rier own Io Shes‘ness,tefre compete an are exer Hocnehirek, Labi, Ebsom
ory ana tal sak to gn Hl. Fg CH Dales sarteiates tis tesa, and We
sso 99 of 2 ollow up fom ien Might mak ar tae ror

(On 5 August 1938 “he peseline re.tne ct gg HITS Heer squacons care to @
sucen ats ait he Tsing Ine onde wand “Dito” om Figeer Command HO at Bentley
rorya te ston cominarce, ig Cah G'W Fer Lack Ths insured =I bi Ben
“illo asta of “radiate readiness fer Nar. Ths signa aap Ser In osaonse to Semary's
rmoinant insson of he demi tarsee Sudeteriard Me Munich Cis vad ste

No 79 Sw as sorta te tino. wt x pbs ans eure rgjng 2 week's oar,
oveve al personne: were scon ecalad, and ene ether st Jobs as tn came ages
Saurtlss ong, wih tre sssocoararco ofthe fez aro wert the squadkon crest ~ =
‘Seamrarders3 ari ares ~ ebiazered on 8 fn of eh ee.

Ine mast of oss «Miles Miglstor moraslenetraner fav Ino the ston or 21
Augustin prepartn ‘or the lof he est Aur/maces assed to Bsn il Fe woes
hale \o 22 San tok doivery of te fst Hamer fetes. ad Ha T9 Sap ould emeuD
Nowemast. though acts iil Mewes he apereeats loner, an less manoeuMe
Hurréane wh suspen, aera ight ar twe in the Tonepane fgter teu emerea tn
passing ofthe Gauri.

Persone or 2th ans rw werked hao become ful conversant wth he oapai is
fre nen unt, “ani sing thers with rezoase> desing sped for nereeptone

Ther Cas
‘Srl males wc

Sow ste
‘ecg he