8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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AR341
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire AR341 Mk Vb, Built at Westland.
Delivered to No 38 MU 24-2-42, assigned to 331S 28-3-42, Cat AC on Ops 29-7-42, ROS, assigned to 133S 29-9-42, transferred to 336th Sqn 1-10-42
Ditched after engine cut on a shipping patrol 13-2-43 5 miles E of Harwich.
Pilot, 2nd Lt Jap A Powell baled out, but was drowned before he could be rescued. His body was recovered later.
Service
Units
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4th Fighter Group
Group
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The three 'Eagle Squadrons' of RAF Fighter... -
336th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
The 336th Fighter Squadron was constituted by the War Department on 22 august 1942, and was activated at Bushey Hall, England, on 12 September. It had been designated as No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, and was made up of American volunteers to the Royal Air... -
No. 133 'Eagle' Squadron
Squadron
'On 1 August 1941, No. 133 reformed at Coltishall as the third 'Eagle' Squadron manned by American personnel. Equipped with Hurricanes it became operational at the end of September. The next month the Squadron moved to Northern Ireland, returning to...
People
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Jap Powell
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot
Shot down 13 February 1943 in Spitfire MkVb AR341, 4FG/336FS. Killed in Action (KIA). Assigned at one time to 4FG/335FS. Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 p. 75 by Bishop and Hey states engine trouble when on convoy patrol off England's east...
Missions
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VIII Fighter Command SHIPPING PATROL
13 February 1943
4th Fighter Group despatches 24 Spitfires on patrols over of the English Channel to spot enemy shipping. 1 Spitfire is lost (mechanical failure suspected). The pilot is drowned but his body is recovered.
Places
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Debden
Military site : airfield
RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots... -
Kirton-in-Lindsey
Military site : airfield
Used as an RFC and RAF Home Defence landing ground during the First World War, Kirton-in-Lindsey was built during 1938-40 as an RAF fighter station. It had two grass runways, 10 hardstandings, three grouped C hangars and four over-blister hangars.... -
Martlesham Heath
Military site : airfield
Opened in 1917 as home to the RFC Aeroplane Experimental Unit, Martlesham Heath became well known during the 1920s-30s as home to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment. Used as an RAF fighter station from 1939, with only a grass airfield...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Manufactured | Yeovil, Somerset, UK | February 1942 |
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Built at Westland. |
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| Delivered | Royal Air Force, Saint Athan, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan CF62 4WA, UK | 24 February 1942 |
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Delivered to No 38 MU 24-2-42. |
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| Assigned | North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Essex CM16 6HR, UK | 28 March 1942 |
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Assigned to 331 Sqn 28-3-42. |
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| Combat damage | North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Essex CM16 6HR, UK | 29 July 1942 |
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Cat AC damage on Op's 29-7-42. |
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| Repair On Site ROS | North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Essex CM16 6HR, UK | 30 July 1942 – 28 September 1942 |
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Repair On Site. |
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| Assigned | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 29 September 1942 |
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Assigned to 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF 29-9-42. |
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| Transferred | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 1 October 1942 |
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Transferred to 336th Sqn, 4th FG, 8th AF 1-10-42. |
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| Crashed | 13 February 1943 | |
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Ditched after engine cut 13-2-43 5 miles E of Harwich while on a shipping patrol. Pilot, 2nd Lt Jap A Powell baled, drowned, body recovered. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 February 2016 09:52:35 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Spitfire Production List. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 August 2015 14:32:51 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, description, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Spitfire Production List. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 January 2015 20:08:48 | Lee8thbuff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, manufacturer, description, unit associations, person associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 29-Jan-2015. All information per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A.Hey MBE and American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) record. |
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