UPL 15405
IMAGE1 April 1944 - A visit by the 'brass' to Debden was capped by this dinner featuring a host of famous faces. Lt. Col. Oscar Coen (left, facing camera), Maj. Gen. William Kepner, Mr. Banks (standing), Lt. Col. Jim Clark, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, Col. Don Blakeslee, Gen. Carl Spaatz, Capt. Don Gentile, Brig. Gen. Jesse Auton, Capt. Joe Lang, Col. Fallows (left, nearest camera), Brig. Gen. Curtis, Maj. Jim Goodson, Lt. Gen. Doolittle, Capt. Bob Johnson, Commander Harry Butcher, Capt. Alfred Markel, and Lt. William Rowles. On the far row in the centre is Supreme Allied Commander Gen Dwight D. Eisenhower, and to his left is Col Don Blakeslee, Lt Gen Carl Spaatz, commander of US Strategic Air Forces, and Capt Don Gentile. Second from left in the back row is Maj Gen William Kepner, head of VII Fighter Command. Sitting opposite Gen Eisenhower is Brig Gen Jesse Auton, 65th Fighter Wing CO, and to his left is Maj James Godson and, turning, with his back to the camera, Mag Gen James Doolittle, commander of the Eighth Air Force.
Connections
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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 65th Fighter Wing Headquarters (65th Fighter Wing)
- Service Numbers: O-17938
- Highest Rank: Brigadier General
- Role/Job: Commanding General
- 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: 334th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group) No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885106
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot; Deputy Commanding Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 356th Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 336th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885105
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot / Squadron Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Headquarters (Eighth Air Force) Fifteenth Air Force
- Service Numbers: O-271855
- Highest Rank: General
- Role/Job: Commanding General
Locations
- Site type: Airfield
Revisions
Added names to the caption and associated persons.
Source: '1000 Destroyed' by Grover Hall
Personal research & 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris Bucholtz.