Chesley Gordon Peterson
MilitaryCanopy is a Spitfire - "XR" squadron identifier denotes RAF 71 Squadron, which later became the nucleus of the AAF's 334th Fighter Squadron.
Whilst serving with No. 71 Eagle Squadron, he was promoted to Flt Lt - the first American in the Eagle Squadrons to be promoted above the enlisted rank of Pilot Officer.
In October 1941 he received the RAF Distinguished Flying Cross, and in November that year he became Squadron Leader at the age of 21.
With the entry of the U.S. into the war, he eventually transferred to the USAAF with the 4th Fighter Group based at Debden. The transfer was completed on 12 September 1942, when the 4th Fighter Group was officially activated. Peterson was made a Major upon transfer. A month later he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
4th Fighter Group Commanding Officer, from 20 August 1943 to 23 December 1943.
On 15 April 1943 he had to bail out of his P-47 about 30 miles from the English coast when his plane caught fire. He was later picked up and returned to base. In August 1943 he became Commander of the 4th Fighter Group replacing Colonel Anderson, becoming the youngest Colonel in the USAAF. In October he was promoted to full Colonel at the age of 23. He was retired from flying duties, having completed 200 flying sorties, and left to serve as Combat Operations officer for the 9th Air Force and was credited with seven enemy aircraft destroyed. He served in Korea and Viet Nam and stayed in the service until retirement as a Major General in July 1970.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: British
- Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: 109187
- Highest Rank: Squadron Leader
- Role/Job: Fighter Controller
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Highest Rank: Flight Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Nicknames: Mespotamia
- Unit: 31st Transport Group No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Salem, Idaho | 10 August 1920 | |
Died |
Riverside, CA | 28 January 1990 | |
Santaquin, UT, USA | |||
Buried |
Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, CA | Chesley Peterson rests at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California |
Revisions
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II - https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044…
"The Mighty Eighth", Roger Freeman.
Associated media from the Freeman collection. Combined information from two records into one, additional information from Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
Combined two entries for Chesley Peterson. This entry now includes information from the following sources:
http://littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=searchItem&Item=0&…
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/pilots.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey, p. 103, Aces of the Mighty 8th by Scutts and Stanaway pp. 102-103, National Gravesite Locator