John Aitken Jr
Military
media-22449.jpeg
UPL 22449
"Major Aiken, pilot, points out an interesting feature to his ground crew as they stand by the wing of their North American P-51 of the 339th Fighter Group at 8th Air Force Station F-378, Fowlmere Airfield, England. 2 September 1944."
There's no telling what Major John Aitken is trying to relate to his crew chief S/Sgt. William B Helliger, (R) and armorer Sgt Robert T Markle (L). P-51D 44-14004 (Aitken's assigned ship, pictured here) eventually received the nose art "Annie May" - maybe he's telling them where he wants it painted.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12384-71860AC.
There's no telling what Major John Aitken is trying to relate to his crew chief S/Sgt. William B Helliger, (R) and armorer Sgt Robert T Markle (L). P-51D 44-14004 (Aitken's assigned ship, pictured here) eventually received the nose art "Annie May" - maybe he's telling them where he wants it painted.
NARA Ref 342-FH-3A12384-71860AC.
First tour of operations in the Mediterranean flying Spitfires in the 2FS, 52FG, 15AF USAAF as a Lieutenant. Credited with two victories and one shared in 1943. For second tour, assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. Credited with three aerial victories. Completed tour of duty (ETD) 2-Oct-44.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Annie May
- Unit: 339th Fighter Group 503rd Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA | 12 July 1941 | Fort McPherson Atlanta Georgia USA. |
Other Crashed |
Fort Myers, FL, USA | 20 August 1943 | Belly Landing due to Mechanical Failure Fort Myers AAF Florida Cat 4 damage, pilot Lt John Jr Aitken, 20-Aug-43. P-47D 42-74919 - 15FS 53FG |
Other Assigned |
Fowlmere, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8, UK | 25 May 1944 - 2 October 1944 | Assigned to 503FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Promotion |
Fowlmere, Royston, Cambridgeshire SG8, UK | 8 June 1944 | Promoted to Major. |
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | 2 October 1944 | Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). |
Born |
Elberton, GA 30635, USA | ||
Born |
Georgia, USA |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Unit History