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Debden After Hours

Picture
    Like any combat unit, the men of the 4th Fighter Group needed some time and a place to relax or wind down after a mission, blow off a little steam, celebrate a milestone or simply hang out and have a cold one with some friends.
     Being based at a permanent RAF station had its advantages, and the 4th had at its disposal many facilities, resources and amenities that most of the other fighter stations lacked.  Debden was known as the place with the parties everyone wanted to attend.  While it didn't make flying the missions or maintaining the aircraft any easier, it made forgetting about a hard day's work or a tough mission a bit easier.    
    The famous photo at left appeared in the book Escort To Berlin.  It shows a group of officers enjoying themselves in the Officer's Bar in the spring of 1944.  How many of those present can you name?  Take the Debden Bar Exam, then check your answers below.  Our thanks to Escort To Berlin co-author Garry L. Fry for providing the photo - and of course the answers! 
         


Gallery 1

Gallery 2


The Bar Exam

Picture
1. Neil Van Wyk          pilot, 336
2. Reuben Simon        pilot, 336
3. Jack Raphael          pilot, 336
4. Herb Blanchfield      pilot, 335
5. Verd Mitchell          grd officer
6. Robert Church         pilot, 335
7. Robert Tussey         pilot, 336
8. Harold Frederick      pilot, 336
9. O.K. McCullough    grd officer
10. Conrad Ingold      grd officer
11. Jim Clark                CO, 334
12. Carl Leverock       grd officer
13. Kendall Carlson     pilot, 336
14. Fred Glover           pilot, 336
15. Don Blakeslee          CO, 4FG
16. Paul Riley                 pilot, 335
17. J. Forrest Ihinger    Red Cross
18. Albert Schlegel         pilot, 335
19. Warren Johnson       pilot, 336
20. David Van Epps        pilot, 334
21. Glenn Smart            grd officer
22. Joe L. Bennett           pilot, 336
23. Robert Sheridan      grd officer
24. George Carpenter      CO, 335
25. Leon Blanding          pilot, 335
26. Charles Anderson     pilot, 335
27. Ben Ezzell                 I.O., 334

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