Bert W Marshal Jr
MilitaryOne of greatest quarterbacks in Texas High School history, Texas Hall of Fame in 1971, Collier's All American at Vanderbilt University 1938.
hot down his first German aircraft on his first day of Combat June 6, 1944. Shortest time from first air victory credit to five (ace) in the 355th FG. Promoted from pilot, to Flight leader to Squadron Operations officer in 10 days, Squadron CO in 55 days, Group Air Executive in 137 days
Forced down north of Paris in August 1944. Rescued by Capt. Royce Priest, who landed, the two of them riding home in a single-seater Mustang. Crashed into channel in P-51
Polish Cross of Valor/ Silver Star/ DFC w/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster/ AM w/ 12 Oak Leaf Cluster/Croix de Guerre with Palm
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Aircraft
Places
![P-51 Mustangs of the 355th Fighter Group break formation, ready for landing, over the ground support vehicles and control tower of Steeple Morden Airfield. Image signed on reverse with the approval of station censor. Handwritten caption on reverse: '355 FG Steeple Morden, Control Tower, read crew + P41 [sic] group peeling off for landing.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377141.jpg.webp?itok=zxxvSLfB)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Royce City, Texas | 9 November 1918 | |
|
Other Promoted |
10 June 1944 | 354FS Operations officer | |
|
Other promoted |
29 July 1944 | 354FS Commanding Officer | |
|
Other Promoted |
Steeple Morden, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8, UK | 26 August 1944 | Promoted to major |
|
Other Promoted |
23 October 1944 | promoted to Lieutenant Colonel | |
|
Other Promoted |
Steeple Morden, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8, UK | 23 October 1944 | 355FG Deputy Group Commander |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) (1) |
Steeple Morden, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8, UK | 29 November 1944 | |
|
Other promoted |
Gablingen, Germany | 2 September 1945 | 355FG Commanding Officer |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) (2) |
Gablingen, Germany | 3 October 1945 | |
|
Died |
Dallas, TX, USA | 31 March 1979 | |
|
Enlisted |
Revisions
James William Marshall - son and 355th FG Historian, author of Angels, Bulldogs and Dragons, Our Might Always - History of the 355th FG WWII
James William Marshall, author of Our Might Always - History of 355th Fighter Group. Texas High School Hall of Fame, Colliers All America, USAF
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45