![On 16 August 1943, [then] Lt. Col. Blakeslee's P-47 Thunderbolt WD-C, Serial No. 42-7863, was shot up by three Focke-Wulf Fw-190s - he was safely escorted home by Lt. James Goodson.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-14259.jpeg?itok=2muUZQUQ)
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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42-7863
P-47 Thunderbolt
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Col. Donald J. M. "Col. Don" Blakeslee, [Fairport Harbor, OH] 4th FG Headquarters Squadron. P-47D 42-7863 WD-C. This photo was taken following the mission of 16 August 1943 when Col. Don was set upon and shot up by three FW190s. Although heavily oil streaked, he brought it safely back to Debden thanks to Jim Goodson who shot one of them off his tail and provided escort.
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![On 16 August 1943, [then] Lt. Col. Blakeslee's P-47 Thunderbolt WD-C, Serial No. 42-7863, was shot up by three Focke-Wulf Fw-190s - he was safely escorted home by Lt. James Goodson.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media/media-14259.jpeg?itok=slzVWN5m)
On 16 August 1943, [then] Lt. Col. Blakeslee's P-47 Thunderbolt WD-C, Serial No. 42-7863, was shot up by three Focke-Wulf Fw-190s - he was safely escorted home by Lt. James Goodson.
P-47D Thunderbolt 42-7863 assigned 335th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF. Don Blakeslee's assigned A/C.
Set upon and shot up by 3 x Fw190's. Although heavily oil streaked, he brought it safely back to Debden thanks to Jim Goodson, who shot one of them off his tail and provided escort to base, 16 August 1943.
Crashed belly landing Illesheim/R-10, Germany, Cat 3 damage, pilot Charles J Kozak 410th FS, 373rd FG, 9th AF, 5-6-45.
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... -
335th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
The 335th Fighter Squadron was the offspring of No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron RAF. Formed on 21 May 1941, No. 121 was the second of the three Eagle Squadrons composed of American volunteers flying out of England. They were known as the "Chiefs" and were...
People
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Donald Blakeslee
Military | Colonel | Fighter pilot, Commanding Officer | 4th Fighter Group
Don Blakeslee was born on 11 September 1917 in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. As a boy, he became captivated with planes while watching the Cleveland National Air Races held only 30 miles away from his home at 529 7th St, Fairport Harbor, Ohio. In 1938,... -
George Carpenter
Military | Major | Pilot
Major Carpenter was born 14 May 1917 in Townville, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Oil City, where he graduated from high school in 1935. he attended Grove City College, meanwhile taking flight instruction under the Civilian Pilot Training Program. ... -
Roy Evans
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Fighter Pilot | 359th Fighter Group
As a youth, he was raised on a ranch near Santa Rosa, California. When his parents separated, he and his siblings lived with an English couple. While working at the railroad he wanted to be able to serve in defence of his country, so he took up... -
Victor France
Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot-1055 single engine | 4th Fighter Group
Victor France was from Dallas, Texas, and he appropriately named his P-47 and later his ...
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...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Manufactured | Farmingdale, NY 11735, USA | 1943 |
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Built by Republic. |
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| Delivered | United States | 1943 |
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To USAAF. |
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| Assigned | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | June 1943 |
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Assigned to 335th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF. 1943. |
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| E/A Destroyed | Arnhem, Netherlands | 28 July 1943 |
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Bf109 destroyed 15 miles W Arnhem, pilot Capt Roy W Evans 28/7/43. |
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| E/A Damaged | Arnhem, Netherlands | 28 July 1943 |
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Fw190 damaged 15 miles W Arnhem, pilot Capt Roy W Evans 28/7/43. |
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| Combat damage | France | 16 August 1943 |
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Set upon and shot up by 3 x Fw190's. Although heavily oil streaked, he brought it safely back to Debden thanks to Jim Goodson, who shot one of them off his tail and provided escort to base, 16-8-43. |
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| Transferred | Beauvechain Air Base, 1320 Beauvechain, Belgium | April 1945 |
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Transferred to 410th FS, 373rd FG, 9th AF. |
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| Crashed | Illesheim, Germany | 5 June 1945 |
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Crashed Belly Landing Illesheim/R-10, GER. Cat 3 damage, pilot Lt Charles J Kozak, 410FS, 373FG, 9AF. 5-6-45. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 07 September 2015 21:33:09 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, markings, description, events, unit associations, person associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=42-7863&Submit=Se... |
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