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Four pilots of the 353rd Fighter Group at Raydon air base, November 1944. Second from the right is Lieutenant Robert C. Strobell of the 351st Fighter Squadron.
Left to right looking at the picture are 351st Fighter Squadron pilots Lt. Hardy L. Biddy of Hobart, OK, Lt. Robert E. Banchard of Chicago, Il, Lt Robert C. Strobell of Fairfox Village, Washington D.C., and Lt. Henry J Carbonneau of Dover, NH. The photo was taken at Raydon sometime before the end of August 1944 as Strobell completed his tour by this time. I believe the photo originally came to Roger via Strobell who cooperated with him on his book 'Experiences of War - The American Airman in Europe (Weidenfield, 1991).
This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.
Four pilots of the 353rd Fighter Group at Raydon air base, November 1944. Second from the right is Lieutenant Robert C. Strobell of the 351st Fighter Squadron.
Group
The 353rd Fighter Group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force on 7 June 1943. The group flew P-47 Thunderbolts, and from October 1944, P-51 Mustangs, as escorts for bombing missions across occupied Europe and to strafe targets on the ground. Tactical...
Squadron
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot
Assigned to 351FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF. End Tour of Duty (ETD).
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter pilot
Graduated from Hobart High and attended Oklahoma University. He entered the USAAC in May 1942, trained in San Antonio and Victoria TX, Sikeston MO and Enid OK. Shipped overseas in February 1944 and served in England with 351FS, 353FG, 8AF USAAF....
Military | First Lieutenant | Fighter pilot
Flew with the 351st Fighter Squadron/353rd Fighter Group based at Raydon, Suffolk, England from 28-May-44 until Nov-44. On 8-Jun-44 Carbonneau shot down an Me109 for his only aerial victory.
Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Second Lieutenant
Military site : airfield
Although never used as such, Raydon was built during 1942-43 as an Eighth Air Force bomber base, with three concrete runways, 50 loop and one pan hardstandings, and two dispersed T2 hangars. Initially on loan to the Ninth Air Force, it was first...
