Colonel Don Blakeslee (left) and Major General Kepner (right) after the return home of Blakeslee and his Mustangs from the first Russia Shuttle Mission. Official caption on back: "Col. Don Blakeslee, 26, of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, (left) alights from his North American P-51 Mustang in England upon His return from Russia, Hungry, Rumania, Italy and France, and it met by Maj. Gen. William E. Kepner, 8th Fighter Command Chief. Gen. Kepner chose Blakeslee, former Eagle Squadron Commander, to lead that 8th AAF Mustang Squadrons from Russian and Italian bases, Blakeslee led the fighters as the bombers attacked targets in Rumania, Hungary and Southern France. He shot down a ME-109 over Budapest, his 15th in combat (6 more on the ground)."