No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

Squadron

media-388253.jpg FRE 5334 Insignia of the No 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF and the 4th Fighter Group. Handwritten on slide case:"wall insignia E Ritchie" Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 5334 - Insignia of the No 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF and the 4th Fighter Group. Handwritten on slide case:"wall insignia E Ritchie"

'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 to Spitfires in August and took part in sweeps over northern France. On 29 September 1942, the Squadron was transferred to the 4th Pursuit Group, US Army Air Force as the 334th Pursuit Squadron and ceased to be an RAF unit.'

From raf.mod.uk

Commanding Officers

William E G Taylor

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Highest Rank: Squadron Leader
Role/Job: Pilot / Sqn Ldr

Ernest Ralph Bitmead

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: British
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: 34139
Highest Rank: Wing Commander
Role/Job: Pilot / CO

Walter Myers Churchill

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: British
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: 90241
Highest Rank: Wing Commander
Role/Job: Pilot

Stanley Thomas Meares

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: British
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: 37683
Highest Rank: Squadron Leader
Role/Job: Pilot / Sqn Commander

Henry de Clifford Anthony Woodhouse

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: British
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: 34189
Highest Rank: Wing Commander
Role/Job: Pilot / Sqn C/O

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Unit stations

Station	Location	Date
Based	Martlesham Heath	9 April 1941
Based	Kirton-in-Lindsey	8 April 1941
Based	Debden

People

Newton Anderson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: 87008
Highest Rank: Squadron Leader
Role/Job: Pilot

Lieutenant Robert Boock, Lieutenant James Clarke, Captain William T O'Regan, Lieutenant-Colonel Chesley G Peterson, Captain Richard McMinn, Captain Stanley Anderson and Captain Oscar Coen of the 4th Fighter Group with a Spitfire at Debden Passed by the U.S. Army censor on 30 March 1943.

Printed caption attached to print:
'Lt. Col. Chesley G. Peterson D.S.O., D.F.C., U.S. Army Air Force 4th (crossed through with censor's red pencil) Group Britain, who formerly commanded the old Eagle Squadron, seen at

Stanley Moore Anderson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: O-885096
Highest Rank: Captain
Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Thomas J Andrews

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 496th Fighter Training Group 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 555th Fighter Training Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: O-885151
Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Role/Job: Squadron Commander

John Butler Ayer

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: 83702
Highest Rank: Flying Officer
Role/Job: Pilot

Duane Willard Beeson

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Service Numbers: O-885184
Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

AA759

Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

AA855

Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

AA857

Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

AA881

Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Nicknames: Manchester Corporation Transporter
Unit: 313th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron 66th Fighter Squadron

AB802

Aircraft Type: Spitfire
Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

Revisions

Date6 Mar 2017 16:57:18

Contributorhighasakite88

ChangesChanges to stations

Sources

ORB Summary April 1941

Date28 Feb 2016 14:46:12

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to category, aircraft types and commanding officers associations

Sources

Addition of Sqn commanders.

Date23 Feb 2016 23:13:39

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to aircraft associations

Sources

AAM DB Entries

Date23 Feb 2016 22:01:29

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to commanding officers associations and stations

Sources

AAM DB Entries

Date23 Feb 2016 18:08:28

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to media associations

Sources

AAM DB Entries - Transfer from Eagle Group to RAF Sqn

Date23 Feb 2016 17:42:35

ContributorAl_Skiff

ChangesChanges to person associations, aircraft associations and media associations

Sources

AAM DB Entries

Date23 Feb 2016 16:47:16

ContributorLucy May

ChangesCreated entry with type, name, motto, description, aircraft types and unit became association

Sources

http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/71squadron.cfm

No 71 'Eagle' Squadron: Gallery (137 items)

Object number: UPL 24509 -

Guest of honour, Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, and other dignatories review soldiers of the 4th Fighter Group on the parade ground at Debden, Essex. Passed by the U.S. Army on 25 June 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'DUCHESS OF KENT PRESENTS PLAQUES TO FORMER EAGLE SQUADRON PILOTS. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into

Object number: FRE 13 -

Soldiers of the 4th Fighter Group march across the parade ground at Debden, Essex in front of the guest of honour, Princess Marina, the Duchess of Kent, and other dignatories. Passed by the U.S. Army on 25 June 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'DUCHESS OF KENT PRESENTS PLAQUES TO FORMER EAGLE SQUADRON PILOTS. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry

Object number: FRE 14 -

Personnel talk to Lieutenant-Colonel Oscar Coen of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Groupin the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt after a mission over Paris, 15 October 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'American Thunderbolt fighters are proving a terror to the German pilots (former members of the R.A.F.). Flying their high altitude fast diving fighters, that have accounted for many enemy planes. In the raid over Paris the fighters of this station accounted for 17 down, 5 probables and one damaged. 1

Object number: FRE 2268 -

The Duchess of Kent, Colonel Edward Anderson and General Frankel D. Hunter inspect aP-47 Thunderbolt of the 4th Fighter Group during a royal visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed as censored 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into the

Object number: FRE 2359 -

The Duchess of Kent inspects personnel of 4th Fighter Group during a royal visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into the war. Keystone Photo Shows: Left to Right: Col. Anderson, of Ta

Object number: FRE 2360 -

Object number: FRE 2361 -

The Duchess of Kent during a royal visit to the 4th Fighter Group at Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into the war. Keystone Photo Shows: Left to Right: Col. Anderson, of Tampa, Fla., Comm

Object number: FRE 2362 -

The Duchess of Kent gives Captain Thomas J. Andrews of the 4th Fighter Group an Eagle Squadron insignia plaque during a royal visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into the war. Keysto

Object number: FRE 2363 -

The Duchess of Kent, General D. Hunter and Colonel Edward Anderson of the 4th Fighter Group inspect a P-47 Thunderbolt during a royal visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed as censored 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into the war. Ke

Object number: FRE 2364 -

Captain Thomas J. Andrews, Captain Gilbert Halsey and Major John G. Dufour of the 4th Fighter Group after receiving the Eagle Squadron Insignia during a royal visit, June 1943. Passed for publication 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.

Object number: FRE 2365 -

Object number: FRE 2366 -