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Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa P7308 XR-D flown by Plt Off William R Dunn, No 71 'Eagle' Sqn, 27th August 1941. Hawkinge, UK.
William R Dunn was officially recognized in 1968 as the first American ace of WWII. Seen here at the seat of his fighter P7308 XR-D in RAF uniform, he had joined the Canadian army in 1939 and answered an appeal for pilots who had more than 500 hours of flying time.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa P7308, built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
Delivered to 24MU 30-7-40, Assigned to 74 Sqn 10-9-40, transferred to 54 Sqn 22-5-41, transferred to 308 Sqn 12-6-41, transferred to 71 [Eagle] Sqn coded 'XR-D' 20-8-41, Damaged Cat CB on ops 27-8-41, sent to Air Service Training, Converted to Mk Va 1-9-41, assigned to 133 Sqn 1-4-42, transferred to 421 Sqn 16-4-42, transferred to 164 Sqn 17-5-42, transferred to 61 Sqn 10-9-42, transferred to 61 OTU 21-7-43.
Squadron
'On 19 September 1940, No. 71 was reformed at Church Fenton as the first 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American personnel. The Squadron received Hurricanes in November and became operational on defensive duties on 5 February 1941. No. 71 converted...
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...
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Pilot | 406th Fighter Group
Bill Dunn was born on November 16, 1916, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on March 19, 1934, and served as an infantryman until receiving an honorable discharge on November 22, 1935. Dunn enlisted in the Canadian Army on...
Military site : airfield
An RAF Station with US lodger units. USAAF Spitfires and P-38s were attached to RAF No 11 Group stations in mid-1942 for training; also used for special operations by British and US forces.
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....
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...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured | Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, UK | July 1940 |
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Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. |
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| Delivered | Ternhill, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9, UK | 30 July 1940 |
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Delivered to 24 MU 30-7-40. |
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| Assigned | Coltishall, Norwich, Norfolk NR12, UK | 10 September 1940 |
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Assigned to 74 Sqn 10-9-40. |
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| Transferred | Hornchurch, Greater London, UK | 22 May 1941 |
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Transferred to 54 Sqn 22-5-41. |
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| Transferred | Speke, Merseyside, UK | 12 June 1941 |
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Transferred to 308 [Polish] Sqn 12-6-41. |
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| Transferred | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 20 August 1941 |
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Transferred to 71 [Eagle] Sqn coded 'XR-D' 20-8-41. |
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| Damaged in action | North Weald Airfield, Merlin Way, North Weald, Essex CM16 6HR, UK | 27 August 1941 |
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Damaged Cat CB whilst on ops 27-8-41. P/O William R Dunn was badly wounded in this aircraft, but managed to get himself and his crippled bird back to North Weald. |
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| Returned to Factory | Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire, UK | 1 September 1941 |
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To Air Service Training E, Converted to Mk Va Spec 1-9-41. |
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| Assigned | London Biggin Hill Airport, Main Road, Biggin Hill, Bromley, Kent TN16 3BH, UK | 1 April 1942 |
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Assigned to 133 Sqn 1-4-42. |
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| Transferred | RAF DIgby, Digby, Lincoln LN4 3LH, UK | 16 April 1942 |
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Transferred to 421 Sqn 16-4-42. |
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| Transferred | Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, UK | 17 May 1942 |
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Transferred to 164 Sqn 17-5-42. |
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| Transferred | Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, UK | 10 September 1942 |
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Transferred to 602 Sqn 10-9-42. |
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| Transferred | Handforth, Cheshire East, UK | 21 July 1943 |
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Transferred to 61 OTU 21-7-43. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 February 2016 10:29:30 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Spitfire production list. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 August 2015 21:33:12 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, description, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Spitfire production list. |
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