BL776 Buckeye Don

media-17346.jpeg UPL 17346 1st Lt Dominic 'Don' Gentile and Spitfire BL255 'Buckeye-Don', 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF.

Object Number - UPL 17346 - 1st Lt Dominic 'Don' Gentile and Spitfire BL255 'Buckeye-Don', 336th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF.

1st Lt Don Gentile's Spitfire wore two kill markings above the boxing eagle, denoting the Ju 88 and Fw 190 he claimed north of Dieppe while flying BM530 during the ill-fated 19 August 1942 landing.  After months of flying EN951, Don Blakeslee flew BL776 first then he and Gentile alternated missions with it before it became Gentile's most flown Spitfire (one of dozens).  Gentile flew his last mission with it on 1 Apr 1943 before converting to a P-47C.

Supermarine Spitfire BL776 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. 
39MU 14-2-42 
145S 13-6-42 
133S 30-9-42 
336S 1-10-42 
DeH 18-8-43 
Cunliffe-Owen 28-2-44 Cv 
RNAS 880S Henstridge 9-4-44 
as trainer 759S Yeovilton 9-44 
761S Henstridge 1-45

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group) No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885264
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot, Commanding Officer
A pilot, Domenic "Don" Gentile, of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group - Debden with his P-51 Mustang, nicknamed "Shangri-La"
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885109
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorjfbecker
Changes
Sources

Air Force Historical Records Agency, reel A0775, pg 1903 and on.  Spitfires flown by Blakeslee and Gentile from Jun 1942 to Apr 1943.  Added more serial number information to the description.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Information provided by Peter Randall from No 133 Squadron Operational Record Book (ORB)

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Spitfire Production List.
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/hq_bl…
American Eagles - American volunteers in the RAF 1937-1943 by Tony Holmes

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Spitfire Production List.
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/hq_bl…
American Eagles - American volunteers in the RAF 1937-1943 by Tony Holmes

BL776: Gallery (3 items)