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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EP179
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb EP179 Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
Delivered to No 9 MU 14-6-42, assigned to 71S 20-7-42, transferred to 309th FS, 31st FG 9-42, transferred to 334th USAAF 1-10-42, transferred to 15TRS, 67TRG 3-44, Accident(TOA) at Chilbolton Cat 4 pilot James F McCormick 5-3-44, Cat CB AST 31-3-44, 1 Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit 8-1-45, to Armee de l'Air 19-1-45.
Service
Units
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31st Fighter Group
Group
The 31st Fighter Group only flew missions from England between June and September 1942 but during this period they supported the Dieppe raid, the assault on occupied Europe, predominantly by the Canadian army. The attack was forced into early retreat... -
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... -
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
Group
The four Squadrons of the 67th Recon Group (12th Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron; 107th Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron; 109th Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron and 153rd Observation - later Reconnaissance Squadron)... -
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309th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
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334th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
The 334th Fighter Squadron was the successor to No. 71 Eagle squadron of the Royal Air Force when the 4th Fighter Group was activated on 12 September 1942. They were based at Debden Field, Essex. The "Fighting Eagles" as they were called, flew... -
No. 71 'Eagle' Squadron
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...
People
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Harrison Thyng
Military | Brigadier General | Fighter Pilot, Commander | 31st Fighter Group
/Thyng led his squadron to a field in Algeria. There, American aircraft in the landing pattern were under attack by Vichy French Dewoitine 520 fighters. The 309th pilots downed three of the four Dewoitines, one of them falling to Thyng's guns for his...
Places
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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... -
Westhampnett
Military site : airfield
Acquired in 1938 as an Emergency Landing Ground for RAF Tangmere, Westhampnett was upgraded to satellite status in 1940. It had eventually three grass runways, 19 pan hardstandings, 32 small pens, and one T1 plus eight over-blister hangars. Occupied by...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Transferred | Westhampnett, Chichester, West Sussex PO18, UK | September 42 |
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Transferred to 309th FS, 31st FG 9-42. |
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| Manufactured | Castle Bromwich, West Midlands, UK | June 1942 |
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Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory. |
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| Delivered | Royal Air Force Museum, Lyssander Ave, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire TF11 8UP, UK | 14 June 1942 |
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Delivered to No 9 MU 14-6-42. |
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| Assigned | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 20 July 1942 |
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Assigned to 71 [Eagle] Sqn RAF 20-7-42. |
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| E/A Destroyed | Gravelines, France | 27 August 1942 |
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Fw190 Destroyed South Gravelines 27-8-42, pilot W/C Raymond Miles Beecham Duke-Woolley. |
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| E/A Probable | Cap Gris-Nez, 62179 Audinghen, France | 29 August 1942 |
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Fw190 Probable Cap Griz Nez 29-8-42, pilot W/C Raymond Miles Beecham Duke-Woolley. |
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| Dieppe Participant | Dieppe, France | 19 September 1942 |
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W/C R.M.B. Duke-Woolley (Debden Wing)-Four sorties (Spitfire Vb EP179). No claims. |
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| E/A Probable | France | 22 September 1942 |
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Ju88 Probable 22-9-42, pilot Maj Harrison R Thyng. |
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| Transferred | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 1 October 1942 |
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Transferred to 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF 1-10-42. |
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| Crashed | Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20, UK | 5 March 1944 |
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Take Off Accident Chilbolton /Sta 404, Cat 4 damage, pilot James F McCormick, 5-3-44. |
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| Crashed | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 31 March 1944 |
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Flying accident Cat CB damage 31-3-44. |
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| Factory repair | Perth, Perth, Perth and Kinross, UK | 1 April 1944 – 5 June 1944 |
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To AST for repair. |
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| Prepared for Shipping | Portreath, Redruth, Cornwall TR16, UK | 8 January 1945 |
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Transferred to Overseas Aircraft Despatch Unit 8-1-45. |
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| Shipped Abroad | France | 19 January 1945 |
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To Armee de l'Air 19-1-45. |
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| Transferred | Chilbolton, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20, UK | |
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Transferred to 15TRS, 67TRG, 9AF 3-44. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 February 2016 18:20:28 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Spitfire Production List. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 September 2015 12:23:18 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, events, unit associations, person associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Spitfire Production List. |
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