Budd J Peaslee

Military
media-5436.jpeg UPL 5436 Col. Budd Peaslee, Commanding Officer, Scouting Force (Experimental) with his P-51D Mustang 44-13283 YF/-A "Carolyn Ann" named for his daughter. Photo via NARA.

biography/newspapers

Object Number - UPL 5436 - Col. Budd Peaslee, Commanding Officer, Scouting Force (Experimental) with his P-51D Mustang 44-13283 YF/-A "Carolyn Ann" named for his daughter....

First Commanding Officer of 384th Bomb Group and instigator of the Scouting Force concept, to enable the bomber stream to change course in good time if target area was obscured.



Activated on 1st December 1942 in Idaho, the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was placed under the command of Col Budd J Peaslee. In May 1943 the 384th moved to Grafton Underwood Airfield in Northamptonshire, England, and Col Peaslee was the Commanding Officer until 1 October 1943.

Col Peaslee later became well-known for being the primary founder of The Scouting Force. Lockheed P-38s, P-51 Mustangs and Dehavilland Mosquitos were used to range ahead of a bomber strike and report back on target weather conditions. They were also used to check for Anti-Aircraft sites and Luftwaffe interceptor airfields and units. The first Scouting Force Mission flew on July 16th 1944.

The “triangle-P” insignia emblazoned on Grafton Underwood’s B-17 aircraft may have been chosen to honour Col. Budd Peaslee.





Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ten men in Air Force combat flying gear posed in front of a military airplane.  Six men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.  Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (384th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-727080
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Group Bombardier
Ten men in Air Force combat flying gear posed in front of a military airplane.  Six men standing to the rear and five men kneeling in front.  Large canvas bags are laying in front of kneeling men
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-346838
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group Headquarters (384th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-572895
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Public Relations Officer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Peaslee's Payoff
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Carolyn Ann
  • Unit: 364th Fighter Group 1st Scouting Force 383rd Fighter Squadron Scouting Force (Experimental) (SFX)

Places

Aerial photography of Honington airfield looking south, the technical site with four C-type hangars and bomb dump are at the top, 21 June 1946. Photograph taken by No. 540 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/1589. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: RAF Honington

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Transferred

Santa Cruz, CA, USA 26 May 1902

Other

Commissioned

28 February 1927

Other

Retired

30 September 1953

Died

Salinas, CA, USA 3 April 1983

Revisions

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=4490
Personal conversation with Budd J. Peaslee's son, Richard Peaslee, in October 2014.

Date
ContributorAnne Hughes
Changes
Sources

www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org; websites of 384th Bombardment Group and Little Friends

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE 1942-1945

Date
Contributorbombercommand
Changes
Sources

384thbombgroup.com

Date
ContributorPyker
Changes
Sources

Added decorations.

Date
ContributorPyker
Changes
Sources

Personal research plus that of Ted Damick.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Budd J Peaslee: Gallery (21 items)