Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)

Headquarters
media-14369.jpeg UPL 14369 Colonel Donald Blakeslee is leading a formation of 335th, 336th and 334th Fighter Squadron P-51 D models.

Personal research & 'The Debden Eagles' by Garry L. Fry.

Object Number - UPL 14369 - Colonel Donald Blakeslee is leading a formation of 335th, 336th and 334th Fighter Squadron P-51 D models.

The Headquarters Squadron was made up of true leaders. Most had flown Hurricanes, Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Mustangs.

Some had flown in the RCAF, the RAF, and the USAAF, while others had flown in the Pacific Theatre in P-40s and P-38s.

They were not necessarily high scoring, but attentive to their duties of melding three squadrons into a group with a high degree of readiness and esprit-de-corps.

Connections

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Debden

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Highest Rank: Corporal
  • Role/Job: Ground personal
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group) No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885264
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot, Commanding Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 24th Station Complement Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O- 488341
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Chaplain
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 361st Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: 16026203 / O-391228
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Captain Edwin Caudill, the Station Adjudant at Debden air base, home of the 4th Fighter Group, practises with his bow and arrow in order to kill game. Passed for publication 15 October 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'American Thunderbolt Fighters are proving a terror to the Germans. The pilots (former members of the RAF) flying their high altitude fast diving fighters that have accounted for many enemy planes. In one raid over Paris the fighters of this Station accounted for 17 down, 5 probables
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 336th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-?
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Group Materiel Officer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
A two seat P-51 Mustang (VF-S, serial number 44-72210) of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. "P.51D Mustang, coded VF-S, right-sided view, with cockpit double-split open. This was because the aircraft was modified to take a second seat for a radar operator, with antenna fitted on the wing and was the personal machine for Colonel Stewart, dated June 1945." Information provided by Debden historian Keith Braybrooke.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)

Revisions

Date
ContributorWD-C Mustang
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Date
ContributorWD-C Mustang
Changes
Sources

Merged pictures from duplicate entry

Date
ContributorWD-C Mustang
Changes
Sources

Merged info from duplicate entry

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

Headquarters (4th Fighter Group): Gallery (20 items)