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Timeline of Significant Events and Milestones in Group and Base History
1934
May - Experiencing engine problems, an RAF pilot sets his Bristol Bulldog down in a wheat field on a farm in Wimbish belonging to A. C. Kettley. Officers sent to investigate the crash quickly determined the site was perfect for an airdrome.
Eventually - and begrudgingly - Kettley sold 300 acres of his land to the RAF.
Eventually - and begrudgingly - Kettley sold 300 acres of his land to the RAF.
1936
January - Construction of the three main hangars begins.
1937
22 April - Debden Airdrome becomes operational as an RAF Fighter Station, under the command of Wing Commander S.L.G. Pope.
7 June - No. 87 Squadron, flying the Hawker Fury arrives at Debden, followed shortly thereafter by No. 80 Squadron (10 June) and No. 73 Squadron (14 June).
By this time all three squadrons were equipped with the Gloster Gladiator.
9 November - No. 73 Squadron returned to Digby, replaced immediately by No. 29 Squadron.
7 June - No. 87 Squadron, flying the Hawker Fury arrives at Debden, followed shortly thereafter by No. 80 Squadron (10 June) and No. 73 Squadron (14 June).
By this time all three squadrons were equipped with the Gloster Gladiator.
9 November - No. 73 Squadron returned to Digby, replaced immediately by No. 29 Squadron.
1938
29 April - No. 80 Squadron departs for Ismailia. The replacement squadron, No. 85, is made up of pilots from No. 87's A Flight.
12 July - No. 87 Squadron begins re-equipping with the Hurricane Mk I followed in short order by No. 85 Squadron.
19 December - No. 29 Squadron gives up their Hawker Demons for the Bristol Blenheim Mk. I
12 July - No. 87 Squadron begins re-equipping with the Hurricane Mk I followed in short order by No. 85 Squadron.
19 December - No. 29 Squadron gives up their Hawker Demons for the Bristol Blenheim Mk. I
1939
20 February - W/Cmdr Pope is replaced by Group Captain E. A. Fawcus. Pope is posted to No. 236 Squadron at Harwell.
1 September - A state of emergency is declared and a general mobilization of the RAF commences. At 1149 on 3 September, it is announced that a state of war exists between Germany and Britain.
During the month barrack blocks and the perimeter track are finished; excavation begins on the west side of the filed for underground facilities. No.'s 85 and 87 Squadrons are sent to France as part of No. 60 Wing under the command of G/Cpt Fawcus. He is replaced by G/Cpt C.L. King.
9 October - No. 504 Squadron (City of Nottingham) arrives with their Hurricanes
1 September - A state of emergency is declared and a general mobilization of the RAF commences. At 1149 on 3 September, it is announced that a state of war exists between Germany and Britain.
During the month barrack blocks and the perimeter track are finished; excavation begins on the west side of the filed for underground facilities. No.'s 85 and 87 Squadrons are sent to France as part of No. 60 Wing under the command of G/Cpt Fawcus. He is replaced by G/Cpt C.L. King.
9 October - No. 504 Squadron (City of Nottingham) arrives with their Hurricanes
1940
Paved runways installed; base construction finally completed.
2 April - No. 504 Squadron sees its first combat, attacking two He-115 seaplanes off the Suffolk coast, downing one.
11 May - No. 17 Squadron encounters the Luftwaffe in the Delft-Hague area, downing an Me-109 and an Hs 126 against the loss of four Hurricanes. The following day No. 504 Squadron is sent to reinforce No. 60 Wing in France. At this time, No. 85 Squadron was under the command of Sqdn/Ldr Peter Townshend.
10 June - G/Cpt King is relieved by W/Cmdr W.L.F. Fuller-Good. King was posted to H.Q. Technical Training Command.
19 June - No.29 Squadron destroys two He-111's while losing one Blenheim.
23 June - No. 17 Squadron arrives at Debden from Kenley.
25 June - The Luftwaffe attacks the station for the first time, dropping 12 bombs north of the airfield.
Squadrons were now frequently moving in and out of Debden to operate from satellite or nearby stations like Castle Camps, Church Fenton, Wick and Great Sampford. The departure of No'.s 29 and 85 Squadrons was mitigated by the posting of No 264 Squadron.
2 August - Attacking German bombers hole the east runway. Though repaired, a small rise remained in the spot for the rest of the war. Five people were killed and several buildings were destroyed. According to Grover Hall, Mr. Kettley lost "two cows, three calves, seven hogs and ...56 head of poultry, including geese" during the raid. Mrs. Kettley's two swans departed during the attack, never to return.
11 August - Nos. 17 and 85 Squadron claim 4 e/a destroyed in an engagement off Harwich.
31 August - Another Luftwaffe raid inflicts serious damage to the base.
19 September - The first squadron of American volunteers, designated No. 71 Squadron, is established at Church Fenton. Its roster consists of three pilots - Eugene Tobin, Vernon Keough and Andy Mamedoff.
8 October - Eagle Squadron No. 71 becomes operational but is kept out of combat initially so its pilots can receive more training.
2 April - No. 504 Squadron sees its first combat, attacking two He-115 seaplanes off the Suffolk coast, downing one.
11 May - No. 17 Squadron encounters the Luftwaffe in the Delft-Hague area, downing an Me-109 and an Hs 126 against the loss of four Hurricanes. The following day No. 504 Squadron is sent to reinforce No. 60 Wing in France. At this time, No. 85 Squadron was under the command of Sqdn/Ldr Peter Townshend.
10 June - G/Cpt King is relieved by W/Cmdr W.L.F. Fuller-Good. King was posted to H.Q. Technical Training Command.
19 June - No.29 Squadron destroys two He-111's while losing one Blenheim.
23 June - No. 17 Squadron arrives at Debden from Kenley.
25 June - The Luftwaffe attacks the station for the first time, dropping 12 bombs north of the airfield.
Squadrons were now frequently moving in and out of Debden to operate from satellite or nearby stations like Castle Camps, Church Fenton, Wick and Great Sampford. The departure of No'.s 29 and 85 Squadrons was mitigated by the posting of No 264 Squadron.
2 August - Attacking German bombers hole the east runway. Though repaired, a small rise remained in the spot for the rest of the war. Five people were killed and several buildings were destroyed. According to Grover Hall, Mr. Kettley lost "two cows, three calves, seven hogs and ...56 head of poultry, including geese" during the raid. Mrs. Kettley's two swans departed during the attack, never to return.
11 August - Nos. 17 and 85 Squadron claim 4 e/a destroyed in an engagement off Harwich.
31 August - Another Luftwaffe raid inflicts serious damage to the base.
19 September - The first squadron of American volunteers, designated No. 71 Squadron, is established at Church Fenton. Its roster consists of three pilots - Eugene Tobin, Vernon Keough and Andy Mamedoff.
8 October - Eagle Squadron No. 71 becomes operational but is kept out of combat initially so its pilots can receive more training.
1941
28 January - The station plays host to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
14 February - A Luftwaffe pilot mistakenly lands his Heinkel 111 at the station, believing he had returned to his base. After he taxied his plane right up to the control tower, a crew member actually got out and attempted to speak with the watch officer before realizing the extent of their error. With his shocked crew member back aboard, the pilot managed to turn around and take off before station personnel could react.
14 May - A second squadron of American volunteers - designated No. 121 Squadron - is established at Kirton-in-Lindsey.
21 July - No. 121 Squadron declared operational.
1 August - No. 133 Squadron, the third and last squadron of American volunteers, is established at Coltishall.
26 September - No. 133 Squadron, becomes "day operational."
14 February - A Luftwaffe pilot mistakenly lands his Heinkel 111 at the station, believing he had returned to his base. After he taxied his plane right up to the control tower, a crew member actually got out and attempted to speak with the watch officer before realizing the extent of their error. With his shocked crew member back aboard, the pilot managed to turn around and take off before station personnel could react.
14 May - A second squadron of American volunteers - designated No. 121 Squadron - is established at Kirton-in-Lindsey.
21 July - No. 121 Squadron declared operational.
1 August - No. 133 Squadron, the third and last squadron of American volunteers, is established at Coltishall.
26 September - No. 133 Squadron, becomes "day operational."
1942
19 August - Operation Jubilee, known to most as the Dieppe Raid, is launched with Allied reconnaissance forces put ashore in France. Flying from separate bases, all three Eagle Squadrons are assigned to cover the operation and are in the thick of the action - No.'s 71 and 133 Squadrons taking part in four missions while No. 121 Squadron takes part in three. For the day No. 133 Squadron takes the honors, reporting 6 destroyed and 8 damaged without a loss. Two of the six, a Fw-190 and a Ju-88, are the first kills for Don Gentile.
22 August - The USAAF constitutes the 4th Fighter Group.
12 September - The 4th Fighter Group is activated "with station at Bushey Hall, England." No.'s 71, 121 and 133 Squadrons are designated the 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons respectively.
26 September - On the first anniversary of becoming operational, No. 133 Squadron flies the Eagles last mission for the RAF, the infamous escort mission to Morlaix. All twelve planes and eleven pilots are lost. This is the only mission on which Spitfire Mk. IX's were used. Due in part to these horrific losses the 4th is equipped with their old standby, the Spitfire Mk. Vb.
29 September - The official ceremony transferring the men of the three Eagle Squadrons into the United States Army Air Force is held in a light rain at their new home in Debden, Essex. (Though 336 would operate out of the satellite field at Great Sampford for some time) Air Marshall Sholto Douglas thanks the Eagles for their service and hands them over to their new boss, 8th Air Force chief Maj. General Carl Spaatz. Special order No. 46 places the 4th Fighter Group under the command of Col. Edward W. Anderson, though W/Cmdr Raymond M.B. Duke-Wooley would still lead operations for the time being. Wrote Grover C. Hall, "The band struck up the Star Spangled Banner, and two corporals hoisted Old Glory to the top of the flagstaff: The United States Army had a fighter group operating in England."
2 October - On its first mission as the USAAF's 4th Fighter Group, W/Cmdr Duke-Woolley leads 334 and 335 on Circus 221 - a diversionary fighter sweep in the Calais-Dunkirk area. Encountering Luftwaffe fighters, Capt. Oscar Coen, Lt. Stanley Anderson and F/O Gene Fetrow each shoot down a Fw-190, while Duke-Woolley and Lt. James Clark share a fourth.
3 October - Squadron Headquarters are relocated from Bushey Hall to Debden, now USAAF station F-356.
4 November - First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visits Debden accompanied by VIII FC CO General Hunter and Air Marshall Leigh-Mallory.
22 November - Squadron CO's Daley (335) and McColpin (336) are reassigned to the ZI. Blakeslee assumes command of 335, Coen takes over 336.
29 November - A group of enlisted men 800 strong earmarked for Debden disembark from RMS Queen Mary in Greenock, Scotland.
22 August - The USAAF constitutes the 4th Fighter Group.
12 September - The 4th Fighter Group is activated "with station at Bushey Hall, England." No.'s 71, 121 and 133 Squadrons are designated the 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons respectively.
26 September - On the first anniversary of becoming operational, No. 133 Squadron flies the Eagles last mission for the RAF, the infamous escort mission to Morlaix. All twelve planes and eleven pilots are lost. This is the only mission on which Spitfire Mk. IX's were used. Due in part to these horrific losses the 4th is equipped with their old standby, the Spitfire Mk. Vb.
29 September - The official ceremony transferring the men of the three Eagle Squadrons into the United States Army Air Force is held in a light rain at their new home in Debden, Essex. (Though 336 would operate out of the satellite field at Great Sampford for some time) Air Marshall Sholto Douglas thanks the Eagles for their service and hands them over to their new boss, 8th Air Force chief Maj. General Carl Spaatz. Special order No. 46 places the 4th Fighter Group under the command of Col. Edward W. Anderson, though W/Cmdr Raymond M.B. Duke-Wooley would still lead operations for the time being. Wrote Grover C. Hall, "The band struck up the Star Spangled Banner, and two corporals hoisted Old Glory to the top of the flagstaff: The United States Army had a fighter group operating in England."
2 October - On its first mission as the USAAF's 4th Fighter Group, W/Cmdr Duke-Woolley leads 334 and 335 on Circus 221 - a diversionary fighter sweep in the Calais-Dunkirk area. Encountering Luftwaffe fighters, Capt. Oscar Coen, Lt. Stanley Anderson and F/O Gene Fetrow each shoot down a Fw-190, while Duke-Woolley and Lt. James Clark share a fourth.
3 October - Squadron Headquarters are relocated from Bushey Hall to Debden, now USAAF station F-356.
4 November - First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visits Debden accompanied by VIII FC CO General Hunter and Air Marshall Leigh-Mallory.
22 November - Squadron CO's Daley (335) and McColpin (336) are reassigned to the ZI. Blakeslee assumes command of 335, Coen takes over 336.
29 November - A group of enlisted men 800 strong earmarked for Debden disembark from RMS Queen Mary in Greenock, Scotland.
1943
15 January - 334 is taken off operational status to become the P-47 training squadron for the group. This begins what will be a laborious and sometimes painful transition to Republic Aviation's 7-ton Thunderbolt.
21 January - An entry from 335's unit history notes that "Lt. McMillan of the Ferry Command landed an aircraft at the squadron's dispersal today which is assigned to HQ and is to be delivered to 336 Squadron. She called the Watch Tower and Ops from this dispersal."
1 February - "The Officer's Mess officially changed from British to American rations." notes the 334 squadron history. "Farewell to sprouts, cabbage and kipper and imitation sausage. The officers go on American rations with a sigh of relief, but a dubious look in their eyes over increased cost. Now only pilots may go to tea at 16.30 hours."
15 February - The Enlisted Mess follows suit, switching over to American rations. The first 'American' breakfast consists of "a dipper of tomato juice (this was the first taste of fruit or vegetable juice for many of the boys in over two months), powdered eggs, oatmeal with cold milk, plenty of sugar and coffee."
20 February - Despite the fact that they had not yet seen combat, P-47's were already being mistaken for Fw-190's. VIII Fighter Command issues orders for recognition markings to be painted on all Thunderbolts. This includes painting a 24" white band on the engine cowling, an 18" white stripe on the wings and one of 12" on the tail/rudder. Changes were also made to the national insignia, including painting a 2" yellow band around the star.
27 February - A day after noting the squadron's serious issues with landings following missions, 335's operational diary notes: "Some of the boys again pulled the Grandstand takeoffs. There was also considerable trouble in landings. Major Blakeslee threatened to have the Squadron practice takeoffs and landings."
3 March - 334 CO Daymond, the last of the three original squadron commanders, leaves for the States. Oscar Coen moves over from 336 to take the reins from Daymond while John DuFour supplants Coen at 336.
16 March - Last day of Spitfire operations for 335. Their Spits are taxied over to 336 dispersal. 9 squadron pilots - who had been training in the Thunderbolts with 334 - returned the following day with their P-47's. They in turn would be paired up with other pilots to transition them to the Jug.
3 April - The two digit codes identifying each aircraft (the last two digits of the BuAer serial number) are removed and replaced with unique squadron code consisting of a pair of letters: QP for 334, WD for 335 and VF for 336. These codes had initially been assigned to the 52nd Fighter Group, but became available upon that group's transfer to the 12th Air Force in North Africa.
8 April - For the first time, all three squadrons put up P-47's on a mission, with both Cols. Anderson and Peterson going along. The show, designated Circus 280, a fighter sweep to St. Omer, France, was to prove uneventful. Thunderbolts from the 56th and 78th Fighter Groups also participated in the mission.
15 April - The new Thunderbolts square off with the Luftwaffe for the first time, with Peterson, Blakeslee and Boock each shooting down one Fw-190. Anderson and McMinn of 334 both went down in the North Sea after engaging Fw-190's. Neither survived. As the English coast came into sight , Col. Peterson's P-47 caught fire and he was forced to bail out low over the Channel. Though pilots from the group saw his chute open as he struck the water, the resilient colonel survived and was picked up by an ASR Walrus 45 minute later.
16 August - The group has its best day ever, downing 18 during FO 105, a Ramrod to Paris. Intercepting the Luftwaffe in front of the bombers, all three squadrons dueled with their German counterparts for 40 minutes during both the B-17's ingress to and egress from the target area. Joe Mathews was shot down but evaded and returned to Debden in October. The 18 kills on a single mission tied the Wolfpack - as the 56th Fighter Group was known - for the most ever.
20 August - Lt. Col. Chesley Peterson assumes command of the group. He is 23 years old.
27 October - Duane Beeson's claims of a pair of Me-109's destroyed on the 8 October mission to the Meppel-Zwolle area are confirmed, bringing his total to 6 and making him the first 4th Fighter Group ace.
21 January - An entry from 335's unit history notes that "Lt. McMillan of the Ferry Command landed an aircraft at the squadron's dispersal today which is assigned to HQ and is to be delivered to 336 Squadron. She called the Watch Tower and Ops from this dispersal."
1 February - "The Officer's Mess officially changed from British to American rations." notes the 334 squadron history. "Farewell to sprouts, cabbage and kipper and imitation sausage. The officers go on American rations with a sigh of relief, but a dubious look in their eyes over increased cost. Now only pilots may go to tea at 16.30 hours."
15 February - The Enlisted Mess follows suit, switching over to American rations. The first 'American' breakfast consists of "a dipper of tomato juice (this was the first taste of fruit or vegetable juice for many of the boys in over two months), powdered eggs, oatmeal with cold milk, plenty of sugar and coffee."
20 February - Despite the fact that they had not yet seen combat, P-47's were already being mistaken for Fw-190's. VIII Fighter Command issues orders for recognition markings to be painted on all Thunderbolts. This includes painting a 24" white band on the engine cowling, an 18" white stripe on the wings and one of 12" on the tail/rudder. Changes were also made to the national insignia, including painting a 2" yellow band around the star.
27 February - A day after noting the squadron's serious issues with landings following missions, 335's operational diary notes: "Some of the boys again pulled the Grandstand takeoffs. There was also considerable trouble in landings. Major Blakeslee threatened to have the Squadron practice takeoffs and landings."
3 March - 334 CO Daymond, the last of the three original squadron commanders, leaves for the States. Oscar Coen moves over from 336 to take the reins from Daymond while John DuFour supplants Coen at 336.
16 March - Last day of Spitfire operations for 335. Their Spits are taxied over to 336 dispersal. 9 squadron pilots - who had been training in the Thunderbolts with 334 - returned the following day with their P-47's. They in turn would be paired up with other pilots to transition them to the Jug.
3 April - The two digit codes identifying each aircraft (the last two digits of the BuAer serial number) are removed and replaced with unique squadron code consisting of a pair of letters: QP for 334, WD for 335 and VF for 336. These codes had initially been assigned to the 52nd Fighter Group, but became available upon that group's transfer to the 12th Air Force in North Africa.
8 April - For the first time, all three squadrons put up P-47's on a mission, with both Cols. Anderson and Peterson going along. The show, designated Circus 280, a fighter sweep to St. Omer, France, was to prove uneventful. Thunderbolts from the 56th and 78th Fighter Groups also participated in the mission.
15 April - The new Thunderbolts square off with the Luftwaffe for the first time, with Peterson, Blakeslee and Boock each shooting down one Fw-190. Anderson and McMinn of 334 both went down in the North Sea after engaging Fw-190's. Neither survived. As the English coast came into sight , Col. Peterson's P-47 caught fire and he was forced to bail out low over the Channel. Though pilots from the group saw his chute open as he struck the water, the resilient colonel survived and was picked up by an ASR Walrus 45 minute later.
16 August - The group has its best day ever, downing 18 during FO 105, a Ramrod to Paris. Intercepting the Luftwaffe in front of the bombers, all three squadrons dueled with their German counterparts for 40 minutes during both the B-17's ingress to and egress from the target area. Joe Mathews was shot down but evaded and returned to Debden in October. The 18 kills on a single mission tied the Wolfpack - as the 56th Fighter Group was known - for the most ever.
20 August - Lt. Col. Chesley Peterson assumes command of the group. He is 23 years old.
27 October - Duane Beeson's claims of a pair of Me-109's destroyed on the 8 October mission to the Meppel-Zwolle area are confirmed, bringing his total to 6 and making him the first 4th Fighter Group ace.
1944
1 January - Lt. Col. Donald J. M. Blakeslee assumes command of the group.
7 January - While protecting the low box of B-17's on a show to Ludwigshafen, Blakeslee is set upon by three FW-190's. Though he manages to down one, the other two are hot on his tail and riddling his Thunderbolt with cannon fire when Bob Wehrman and Jim Goodson swoop in to down the attackers. Goodson gets credit for two, and the colonel puts his oil-covered WD-C down at Manston with 71 holes courtesy of the Luftwaffe.
10 February - After the show, a Penetration Support of the 1st ATF to Brunswick on which the group destroyed 8, 334 pilots gathered to award £30 to the pilot who destroyed the 50th enemy aircraft for the squadron. Previously, I/O Ben Ezzell had secured £1 from each of the squadron's 30 pilots. Tom Biel, Gerry Montgomery and Vic France each claimed one, and they split the £30 prize.
20 February - The commencement of Operation Argument, the 8th Air Force's push to inflict significant losses on the Luftwaffe fighter corps. Six straight days of hitting targets involved in aircraft production or supporting industries designed to not only cripple fighter production, but destroy the fighters themselves when they came up to defend the factories. This offensive would come to be known as Big Week. On this day, the 4th was assigned Withdrawal Support, rendezvousing with 1st and 2nd Bomb Division B-17's and B-24's near Koblenz and shepherding them home. Duane Beeson, Pierce McKennon and Hank Mills each got a Fw-190; while Paul Riley and Richard Reed teamed up to get a Me-110. Reed was later shot down and killed.
25 February - This mission, a Penetration Support show to Stuttgart, marked not only the end of Big Week, but also the end of group operations in the P-47 Thunderbolt. Celebrating the Jug's swan song with the group, McKennon, Beeson, Gentile, Garrison and Herter each score once.
28 February - At long last, the much heralded P-51 Mustang is taken into combat for the first time. The show is a Free Lance sweep under Type 16 control first to Boulogne, then on to Compiegne in France.
3 March - It's Big B! The much anticipated first show to Berlin is on the docket, but the weather does not cooperate. Shortly after crossing the Channel, the recall is given, but 336 does not receive the order. Continuing on, 8 pilots plus 335's George Barnes run into 60+ German fighters. In the ensuing melee, Barnes and Glenn Herter are killed. Vermont Garrison and Pappy Dunn go down on the way home to become POW's. The remaining five, Gentile, Godfrey, Carlson, Millikan and Halsey make it back to Debden.
4 March - The group becomes the first fighter group to escort bombers over Berlin when it escorts a lone combat wing of 2nd ATF B-17's over the German capital.
6 March - The group is chosen again to escort bombers over the heart of Berlin, taking elements of the 1st Bomb Division into and off of the target. The Luftwaffe fighters come up in force to defend their capital, and the formation quickly breaks down into section and element sized dogfights. 4th pilots are credited with 13 victories, though Hank Mills, William Whalen, Cecil Manning and Robert Messenger fail to return. Back at Debden, a reporter from the NY Times caught McKennon outside 335 dispersal and asked if they had met up with any German fighters. Exclaimed McKennon, "Millions, boy! Millions!"
7 March - A new type of spark plug arrives at squadron hangars in the wee hours of the morning with the hope they will improve the rough engine performance of the new Mustangs. Crew chiefs with operational fighters are awakened so the plugs can be installed before the next mission.
8 March - The 4th returns to the southwest suburbs of Berlin, escorting Forts to the Erkner Ball Bearing Works. The three squadrons combine to destroy 16 enemy aircraft, six of which fall to the guns of 336's Don Gentile and John Godfrey. Flying together unexpectedly - and alone - due to the high number of aborts, the two pioneer combat tactics during their engagement by alternating as element leader and wingman throughout. By the time they run out of ammunition, Gentile has three kills, Godfrey two and they share a sixth. Not only does this mission make Godfrey an ace, he would be awarded the Silver Star for his exploits as well.
13-15 March - All three squadrons stand down to address the myriad of mechanical problems plaguing the new Mustangs. While spark plugs, engine and wing bolts were replaced, and glycol leaks, R/T issues and auxiliary tank feed problems are repaired, the 4th receives orders to paint their prop spinners and a 12" band on their noses red.
5 April - FO 288, a Jackpot Operation and the group's 152nd operational sortie (21st in Mustangs), proves to be a fruitful and ultimately costly day. The group fanned out to strafe airdromes in Friedersdorf, Stendal, Brandenburg, Potsdam and Plaue, destroying 43 on the ground and two in the air for good measure. With 5 e/a to his credit, Gentile pushed his total to 27 and became the first man to surpass Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker's Great War total of 26 destroyed. But the much heralded "ace race" between Gentile and Duane Beeson comes to an abrupt end when the latter goes down after hitting the field near Brandenburg. 334 also loses Lts. Allen Bunte and Chuck Carr, all three becoming POW's. Additionally, 336's Doug Hobert had to ditch in the North Sea on the way home. Upon landing, 336 CO Jim Goodson organizes an ASR flight to search for him, and though Hobert is located and rescued, he later dies from exposure.
11 April - General Dwight D. Eisenhower comes to Debden to personally pin DSC's on Col. Don Blakeslee and Capt. Don Gentile, to whom Ike refers as a "One Man Air Force." Also in attendance for the ceremony, covered heavily by the press, are General Spaatz (Commander, Strategic Air Forces, Europe) , General Jimmy Doolittle (Commander, 8th Air Force), General William Kepner (Commander, VIII Fighter Command) and General Jesse Auton (Commander, 65th Fighter Wing). A 55th FG P-38J Droop Snoot arrives and Eisenhower climbs aboard for a short hop.
13 April - Upon return from Schweinfurt, Don Gentile celebrates the completion of his tour with a buzz job for the press assembled to document the occasion. But Gentile comes in too low and his prop strikes the ground. He coaxes the stricken fighter over the shocked onlookers and crashes the famous "Shangri La" in a nearby field. While the dazed but unhurt and contrite Gentile waits on the wing of his broken fighter for the crash truck, Col. Blakeslee is heard to roar at the correspondents, "You people have just ruined one good man!"
16 April - 334 squadron call sign changed from PECTIN to COBWEB, effective 2400hrs. The 4th takes its trademark red nosed Mustangs into combat on a Target Support mission to Munich, destroying 13. Ernest Skilton was KIA after being struck by flak near Gussenstadt.
22 April - 335 and 336 get new their squadron call signs; 335 changing from GREENBELT to CABOOSE, 336 from SHIRTBLUE to BECKY.
6 June - D-Day! The day for the much anticipated cross-channel invasion had arrived. The group took off at 0320 on the first of the 6 missions they flew in support of the Normandy landings. Early on, Thomas Fraser went down east of Rouen to become a POW, as did Oscar Lejeunesse in the early afternoon. Harold Fredericks also went down about the same time, but evaded and eventually made his way back to Debden. The day's last mission, a fighter patrol in the vicinity of Rouen/Dreaux would take a high toll, as 335's Blue section was attacked by a German force four times its size and all four men - Bernard McGrattan, Cecil Garbey, Harold Ross and Walter Smith - were killed. Mike Sobanski and his wingman Edward Steppe, were caught alone by a superior force after attacking some trains and were both killed. Finally, Mike McPharlin of the 339th FG, who on this occasion had returned to fly with his old squadron, succumbed to engine troubles and attempted to return to Debden but never made it. He was the 10th and final casualty of the day.
21 June - The three squadrons of the 4th, bolstered by the 352nd Fighter Group's 486th Fighter Squadron, embark upon the first England-to-Russia Shuttle mission. Despite being engaged on the way, the escorting Mustangs arrived over their base at Piryatin, Russia at the designated time - 7 hours after leaving Debden. The group would operate out of Russia, and later Italy before returning to Debden on 5 July.
6 August - Struck by flak while strafing and with his P-51's engine streaming glycol, 336's John Godfrey is halfway out of his cockpit when over the R/T squadron mate Fred Glover implores him not to jump. Once back in his Mustang, Godfrey is instructed by Glover to pump the engine primer to bring the temperature of his engine back within normal limits. Without a canopy and with one hand reserved for the primer, Godfrey makes the 2+ hour flight home with wingman Joe Patteeuw providing cover. He lands at an emergency strip in Beccles with but a few gallons of gas in his tanks.
8 August - The group is one again picked for a landmark mission, this one a low level escort of RAF Beaufighters to attack a convoy off Norway. The Group flew the entire mission down on the deck. After covering the Beaufighter attacks, all but one section then turned inland to strafe airdromes in and around Sola. 334's Tom Underwood was struck by shipboard antiaircraft fire and bailed out, becoming a POW. 335 was hit hardest, losing both Frank Jones and Robert Fischer. Jones was flying his last mission before going on leave to get married. Additionally, squadron CO Leon Blanding was seriously wounded when flak struck his cockpit, shattering the canopy. Despite intense pain and great loss of blood, Blanding got his kite back to Scotland and managed to put it down. His wounds would take him out of the war.
18 August - The group flew two shows, an Area Support mission covering the 56th and 356th FG's dive-bombing Thunderbolts and a dive-bombing/strafing show of their own. At the end of the day the group had suffered its most casualties since D-Day with 10 pilots listed NYR. Though 3 would ultimately return - Tom Joyce landed his shot-up Mustang at strip A-1 in Normandy and both Otey Glass and Arthur Cwiklinski evaded back to Debden - 7 did not. Leo Daley, Robert Cooper, John Conley, Bernard Rosenson and Donald Smith all went in near Les Andelys after getting jumped by 50+ Me-109's, while Dean Lange and C.G. Howard went down after bouncing 15 Me-109's near Beauvais, Lange becoming a POW.
28 August - August was turning out to be a brutal month as 5 more pilots fail to return to Debden from a strafing show, FO 538. Pierce McKennon went down after being hit by flak, but managed to escape capture and evade back to Debden. Archibald Thomson eluded the Germans until taken in and sheltered until the area was liberated. But Ferris Harris, Herbert VanderVate and Albert Schlegel were all killed in the Strasbourg area.
1 September - Lt. Col. James A. Clark assumes command (acting) of the group.
15 September - Lt. Col. Claiborne Kinnard assumes command (acting) of the group.
27 October - Orders are sent to all three squadrons to remove the stripe on the vertical stabilizer of all planes and paint the rudders a solid color to aid in recognition. 334 kites are painted red, 335 white and 336 blue. Later, a thin red stripe will appear on the outline of 335 rudders.
2 November - Old hands Louis Norley and Fred Glover become the first 4 FG pilots to down "jet jobs," each getting an Me-163 Komet on the mission to Merseburg. Actually rocket-powered, the small and fast Komets were difficult targets to track and hit, and this pair would be the only Me-163's downed by the 4th.
3 November - Lt. Col. Claiborne Kinnard assumes command of the group.
29 November - Lt. Col. William A. Trippet assumes command (acting) of the group.
5 December - Lt. Col. Jack J. Oberhansly assumes command (acting) of the group.
7 December - Lt. Col. Harry J. Dayhuff assumes command of the group, with Lt. Col. Oberhansly becoming the deputy group commander.
13 December - In a meeting with all group pilots, Lt. Col. Dayhuff introduces himself and Lt. Col. Oberhansly and announces that the group will soon be using U.S. Standards of flight in place of the British standards which with the group was accustomed to using. The last vestiges of the Eagle Squadrons were reluctantly being removed from the group operations and culture.
25 December - Ground crews awaken to find the ground covered not with snow or frost, but with what would become known as the famous "frozen fog,' courtesy of the coldest day in England in 54 years. The frigid temps however, did not keep 334 from becoming the first squadron in the ETO to destroy 300 aircraft. But as was common at Debden, the joy was tempered with solemnness. 335's Charles Poage was shot down to become a POW, while 336's Donald Emerson, scurrying home on the deck after taking on six Fw-190's (and downing two) was killed when his Mustang was struck by ground fire and crashed just before crossing over friendly lines.
7 January - While protecting the low box of B-17's on a show to Ludwigshafen, Blakeslee is set upon by three FW-190's. Though he manages to down one, the other two are hot on his tail and riddling his Thunderbolt with cannon fire when Bob Wehrman and Jim Goodson swoop in to down the attackers. Goodson gets credit for two, and the colonel puts his oil-covered WD-C down at Manston with 71 holes courtesy of the Luftwaffe.
10 February - After the show, a Penetration Support of the 1st ATF to Brunswick on which the group destroyed 8, 334 pilots gathered to award £30 to the pilot who destroyed the 50th enemy aircraft for the squadron. Previously, I/O Ben Ezzell had secured £1 from each of the squadron's 30 pilots. Tom Biel, Gerry Montgomery and Vic France each claimed one, and they split the £30 prize.
20 February - The commencement of Operation Argument, the 8th Air Force's push to inflict significant losses on the Luftwaffe fighter corps. Six straight days of hitting targets involved in aircraft production or supporting industries designed to not only cripple fighter production, but destroy the fighters themselves when they came up to defend the factories. This offensive would come to be known as Big Week. On this day, the 4th was assigned Withdrawal Support, rendezvousing with 1st and 2nd Bomb Division B-17's and B-24's near Koblenz and shepherding them home. Duane Beeson, Pierce McKennon and Hank Mills each got a Fw-190; while Paul Riley and Richard Reed teamed up to get a Me-110. Reed was later shot down and killed.
25 February - This mission, a Penetration Support show to Stuttgart, marked not only the end of Big Week, but also the end of group operations in the P-47 Thunderbolt. Celebrating the Jug's swan song with the group, McKennon, Beeson, Gentile, Garrison and Herter each score once.
28 February - At long last, the much heralded P-51 Mustang is taken into combat for the first time. The show is a Free Lance sweep under Type 16 control first to Boulogne, then on to Compiegne in France.
3 March - It's Big B! The much anticipated first show to Berlin is on the docket, but the weather does not cooperate. Shortly after crossing the Channel, the recall is given, but 336 does not receive the order. Continuing on, 8 pilots plus 335's George Barnes run into 60+ German fighters. In the ensuing melee, Barnes and Glenn Herter are killed. Vermont Garrison and Pappy Dunn go down on the way home to become POW's. The remaining five, Gentile, Godfrey, Carlson, Millikan and Halsey make it back to Debden.
4 March - The group becomes the first fighter group to escort bombers over Berlin when it escorts a lone combat wing of 2nd ATF B-17's over the German capital.
6 March - The group is chosen again to escort bombers over the heart of Berlin, taking elements of the 1st Bomb Division into and off of the target. The Luftwaffe fighters come up in force to defend their capital, and the formation quickly breaks down into section and element sized dogfights. 4th pilots are credited with 13 victories, though Hank Mills, William Whalen, Cecil Manning and Robert Messenger fail to return. Back at Debden, a reporter from the NY Times caught McKennon outside 335 dispersal and asked if they had met up with any German fighters. Exclaimed McKennon, "Millions, boy! Millions!"
7 March - A new type of spark plug arrives at squadron hangars in the wee hours of the morning with the hope they will improve the rough engine performance of the new Mustangs. Crew chiefs with operational fighters are awakened so the plugs can be installed before the next mission.
8 March - The 4th returns to the southwest suburbs of Berlin, escorting Forts to the Erkner Ball Bearing Works. The three squadrons combine to destroy 16 enemy aircraft, six of which fall to the guns of 336's Don Gentile and John Godfrey. Flying together unexpectedly - and alone - due to the high number of aborts, the two pioneer combat tactics during their engagement by alternating as element leader and wingman throughout. By the time they run out of ammunition, Gentile has three kills, Godfrey two and they share a sixth. Not only does this mission make Godfrey an ace, he would be awarded the Silver Star for his exploits as well.
13-15 March - All three squadrons stand down to address the myriad of mechanical problems plaguing the new Mustangs. While spark plugs, engine and wing bolts were replaced, and glycol leaks, R/T issues and auxiliary tank feed problems are repaired, the 4th receives orders to paint their prop spinners and a 12" band on their noses red.
5 April - FO 288, a Jackpot Operation and the group's 152nd operational sortie (21st in Mustangs), proves to be a fruitful and ultimately costly day. The group fanned out to strafe airdromes in Friedersdorf, Stendal, Brandenburg, Potsdam and Plaue, destroying 43 on the ground and two in the air for good measure. With 5 e/a to his credit, Gentile pushed his total to 27 and became the first man to surpass Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker's Great War total of 26 destroyed. But the much heralded "ace race" between Gentile and Duane Beeson comes to an abrupt end when the latter goes down after hitting the field near Brandenburg. 334 also loses Lts. Allen Bunte and Chuck Carr, all three becoming POW's. Additionally, 336's Doug Hobert had to ditch in the North Sea on the way home. Upon landing, 336 CO Jim Goodson organizes an ASR flight to search for him, and though Hobert is located and rescued, he later dies from exposure.
11 April - General Dwight D. Eisenhower comes to Debden to personally pin DSC's on Col. Don Blakeslee and Capt. Don Gentile, to whom Ike refers as a "One Man Air Force." Also in attendance for the ceremony, covered heavily by the press, are General Spaatz (Commander, Strategic Air Forces, Europe) , General Jimmy Doolittle (Commander, 8th Air Force), General William Kepner (Commander, VIII Fighter Command) and General Jesse Auton (Commander, 65th Fighter Wing). A 55th FG P-38J Droop Snoot arrives and Eisenhower climbs aboard for a short hop.
13 April - Upon return from Schweinfurt, Don Gentile celebrates the completion of his tour with a buzz job for the press assembled to document the occasion. But Gentile comes in too low and his prop strikes the ground. He coaxes the stricken fighter over the shocked onlookers and crashes the famous "Shangri La" in a nearby field. While the dazed but unhurt and contrite Gentile waits on the wing of his broken fighter for the crash truck, Col. Blakeslee is heard to roar at the correspondents, "You people have just ruined one good man!"
16 April - 334 squadron call sign changed from PECTIN to COBWEB, effective 2400hrs. The 4th takes its trademark red nosed Mustangs into combat on a Target Support mission to Munich, destroying 13. Ernest Skilton was KIA after being struck by flak near Gussenstadt.
22 April - 335 and 336 get new their squadron call signs; 335 changing from GREENBELT to CABOOSE, 336 from SHIRTBLUE to BECKY.
6 June - D-Day! The day for the much anticipated cross-channel invasion had arrived. The group took off at 0320 on the first of the 6 missions they flew in support of the Normandy landings. Early on, Thomas Fraser went down east of Rouen to become a POW, as did Oscar Lejeunesse in the early afternoon. Harold Fredericks also went down about the same time, but evaded and eventually made his way back to Debden. The day's last mission, a fighter patrol in the vicinity of Rouen/Dreaux would take a high toll, as 335's Blue section was attacked by a German force four times its size and all four men - Bernard McGrattan, Cecil Garbey, Harold Ross and Walter Smith - were killed. Mike Sobanski and his wingman Edward Steppe, were caught alone by a superior force after attacking some trains and were both killed. Finally, Mike McPharlin of the 339th FG, who on this occasion had returned to fly with his old squadron, succumbed to engine troubles and attempted to return to Debden but never made it. He was the 10th and final casualty of the day.
21 June - The three squadrons of the 4th, bolstered by the 352nd Fighter Group's 486th Fighter Squadron, embark upon the first England-to-Russia Shuttle mission. Despite being engaged on the way, the escorting Mustangs arrived over their base at Piryatin, Russia at the designated time - 7 hours after leaving Debden. The group would operate out of Russia, and later Italy before returning to Debden on 5 July.
6 August - Struck by flak while strafing and with his P-51's engine streaming glycol, 336's John Godfrey is halfway out of his cockpit when over the R/T squadron mate Fred Glover implores him not to jump. Once back in his Mustang, Godfrey is instructed by Glover to pump the engine primer to bring the temperature of his engine back within normal limits. Without a canopy and with one hand reserved for the primer, Godfrey makes the 2+ hour flight home with wingman Joe Patteeuw providing cover. He lands at an emergency strip in Beccles with but a few gallons of gas in his tanks.
8 August - The group is one again picked for a landmark mission, this one a low level escort of RAF Beaufighters to attack a convoy off Norway. The Group flew the entire mission down on the deck. After covering the Beaufighter attacks, all but one section then turned inland to strafe airdromes in and around Sola. 334's Tom Underwood was struck by shipboard antiaircraft fire and bailed out, becoming a POW. 335 was hit hardest, losing both Frank Jones and Robert Fischer. Jones was flying his last mission before going on leave to get married. Additionally, squadron CO Leon Blanding was seriously wounded when flak struck his cockpit, shattering the canopy. Despite intense pain and great loss of blood, Blanding got his kite back to Scotland and managed to put it down. His wounds would take him out of the war.
18 August - The group flew two shows, an Area Support mission covering the 56th and 356th FG's dive-bombing Thunderbolts and a dive-bombing/strafing show of their own. At the end of the day the group had suffered its most casualties since D-Day with 10 pilots listed NYR. Though 3 would ultimately return - Tom Joyce landed his shot-up Mustang at strip A-1 in Normandy and both Otey Glass and Arthur Cwiklinski evaded back to Debden - 7 did not. Leo Daley, Robert Cooper, John Conley, Bernard Rosenson and Donald Smith all went in near Les Andelys after getting jumped by 50+ Me-109's, while Dean Lange and C.G. Howard went down after bouncing 15 Me-109's near Beauvais, Lange becoming a POW.
28 August - August was turning out to be a brutal month as 5 more pilots fail to return to Debden from a strafing show, FO 538. Pierce McKennon went down after being hit by flak, but managed to escape capture and evade back to Debden. Archibald Thomson eluded the Germans until taken in and sheltered until the area was liberated. But Ferris Harris, Herbert VanderVate and Albert Schlegel were all killed in the Strasbourg area.
1 September - Lt. Col. James A. Clark assumes command (acting) of the group.
15 September - Lt. Col. Claiborne Kinnard assumes command (acting) of the group.
27 October - Orders are sent to all three squadrons to remove the stripe on the vertical stabilizer of all planes and paint the rudders a solid color to aid in recognition. 334 kites are painted red, 335 white and 336 blue. Later, a thin red stripe will appear on the outline of 335 rudders.
2 November - Old hands Louis Norley and Fred Glover become the first 4 FG pilots to down "jet jobs," each getting an Me-163 Komet on the mission to Merseburg. Actually rocket-powered, the small and fast Komets were difficult targets to track and hit, and this pair would be the only Me-163's downed by the 4th.
3 November - Lt. Col. Claiborne Kinnard assumes command of the group.
29 November - Lt. Col. William A. Trippet assumes command (acting) of the group.
5 December - Lt. Col. Jack J. Oberhansly assumes command (acting) of the group.
7 December - Lt. Col. Harry J. Dayhuff assumes command of the group, with Lt. Col. Oberhansly becoming the deputy group commander.
13 December - In a meeting with all group pilots, Lt. Col. Dayhuff introduces himself and Lt. Col. Oberhansly and announces that the group will soon be using U.S. Standards of flight in place of the British standards which with the group was accustomed to using. The last vestiges of the Eagle Squadrons were reluctantly being removed from the group operations and culture.
25 December - Ground crews awaken to find the ground covered not with snow or frost, but with what would become known as the famous "frozen fog,' courtesy of the coldest day in England in 54 years. The frigid temps however, did not keep 334 from becoming the first squadron in the ETO to destroy 300 aircraft. But as was common at Debden, the joy was tempered with solemnness. 335's Charles Poage was shot down to become a POW, while 336's Donald Emerson, scurrying home on the deck after taking on six Fw-190's (and downing two) was killed when his Mustang was struck by ground fire and crashed just before crossing over friendly lines.
1945
21 February - Colonel Everett W. Stewart, CO of the 355th Fighter Group since November, 1944, assumes command.
18 March - Shot down over Neubrandenburg airdrome, Pierce McKennon barely has time to shed his parachute when squadron mate George Green lands his Mustang in the plowed field to pick up his startled CO. While approaching soldiers were kept at bay by the rest of the squadron, Green sheds his own parachute in order to make room in the cramped cockpit for his boss. Sitting on McKennon's lap, Green gets his Mustang airborne in a fraction of the normal distance required. Thus rescued, McKennon repeatedly shouts "Oh, you crazy bastard! You crazy bastard you!" on their way back to Debden. It is the second such rescue in the VIII FC. Also on this date, David Howe of 334 completes his second combat tour, having "piled up 502:05 combat hours." Howe is believed to be the first ETO fighter pilot to complete two tours, and did so without a single abort - a testament to his crew chief Ray Larmouth's abilities and dedication.
7 April - 334's commanding officer Louis Norley embarks upon his third tour of operations with the 4th. Norley served with all three squadrons while racking up 553:35 hours of combat time.
16 April - In what turned out to be the last big beat-up of the war, 62 fighters in two groups ranged far to the east to strike Luftwaffe aircraft pulled back from the front. Lt. Col. Wood's A group struck three Praha airdromes in Czechoslovakia loaded with 175+ German aircraft. After making multiple passes through heavy flak A group set course back to Debden, destroying 61 and leaving another 35 damaged. In the process 8 fighters went down, resulting in the deaths of Leroy Carpenter and Carl Alfred. The remaining 6, including Woods, became POW's.
While Praha was burning under A group's onslaught, Maj. Norley's B group completed their escort of 1st ATF Liberators and went in search of targets of their own, finding Gablingen A/D packed with aircraft. After 40 minutes of continuous strafing, B group added 44 more destroyed to the 4th's total. Though the final tally for the day was 105, the show exacted the high cost of 8 pilots. Many of the group's Mustangs had to land on the Continent to refuel before making their way back to Debden, the high fuel consumption the result of the mission's distance from Debden and protracted periods over the targets.
18 March - Shot down over Neubrandenburg airdrome, Pierce McKennon barely has time to shed his parachute when squadron mate George Green lands his Mustang in the plowed field to pick up his startled CO. While approaching soldiers were kept at bay by the rest of the squadron, Green sheds his own parachute in order to make room in the cramped cockpit for his boss. Sitting on McKennon's lap, Green gets his Mustang airborne in a fraction of the normal distance required. Thus rescued, McKennon repeatedly shouts "Oh, you crazy bastard! You crazy bastard you!" on their way back to Debden. It is the second such rescue in the VIII FC. Also on this date, David Howe of 334 completes his second combat tour, having "piled up 502:05 combat hours." Howe is believed to be the first ETO fighter pilot to complete two tours, and did so without a single abort - a testament to his crew chief Ray Larmouth's abilities and dedication.
7 April - 334's commanding officer Louis Norley embarks upon his third tour of operations with the 4th. Norley served with all three squadrons while racking up 553:35 hours of combat time.
16 April - In what turned out to be the last big beat-up of the war, 62 fighters in two groups ranged far to the east to strike Luftwaffe aircraft pulled back from the front. Lt. Col. Wood's A group struck three Praha airdromes in Czechoslovakia loaded with 175+ German aircraft. After making multiple passes through heavy flak A group set course back to Debden, destroying 61 and leaving another 35 damaged. In the process 8 fighters went down, resulting in the deaths of Leroy Carpenter and Carl Alfred. The remaining 6, including Woods, became POW's.
While Praha was burning under A group's onslaught, Maj. Norley's B group completed their escort of 1st ATF Liberators and went in search of targets of their own, finding Gablingen A/D packed with aircraft. After 40 minutes of continuous strafing, B group added 44 more destroyed to the 4th's total. Though the final tally for the day was 105, the show exacted the high cost of 8 pilots. Many of the group's Mustangs had to land on the Continent to refuel before making their way back to Debden, the high fuel consumption the result of the mission's distance from Debden and protracted periods over the targets.