Arman Peterson

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-5315.jpeg UPL 5315

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Object Number - UPL 5315

78th FG 84FS. Col Arman Peterson, came from Flagstaff, Arizona, and called his Thunderbolt “Flagari”. He was the first CO of 78th Fighter Group at Duxford and was killed in action 1st July 1943 on the day the group had destroyed four FW 190s, and damaged five others. ‘ “The day ‘Pete’ didn’t come back “ reshaped the course of the 78th. Officers flew frantic and vain search missions. Ground personnel went around, scuffing their shoes into the dust and digging their hands deep into their pockets. Bob Hope and Francis Langford arrived to entertain us, but their show began to fall flat. “What’s wrong with these guys” Hope wanted to know. He was told. And what a show that trouper put on in the old theatre hangar, in an attempt to help the boys forget.’



‘The regard with which this man is held is still a source of amazement to visitors. In a way he has grown into a legend or a myth – a myth that is perhaps bigger than was the man himself. The fact that his life was cut off at the height of his glory when the group was outstanding in the E.T.O. adds to the story.’



‘There was something about Pete that eased nervousness and tension. I met him after he had finished his fight the other day. – wheeling slowly away from his plane on a bike. […] The young colonel rather shyly accepted congratulations on having shot down a German plane.[…] Pete had a bullet hole in his plane and asked why he had not said anything about it over the radio, he replied, “ I was doing all right. Just cut down my speed a little, that’s all.” ‘

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 84th Fighter Squadron

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

20 May 1915 Thatcher, Arizona

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

1 July 1943 Crashed into the North Sea

Enlisted

Revisions

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a Separator to aid readability.

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Contributordecwriter
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ContributorIWMPM
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AAM original imprest

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ContributorIWMPM
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AAM original imprest

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ContributorIWMPM
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AAM original imprest

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ContributorAnne Hughes
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78th FG Monthly History

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ContributorAnne Hughes
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Three Years with the Fighter Group (0484), 78th Fighter Group History (0473) March 1945, Duxford Diary, “When “Pete” didn’t come back” by Hugh Baillie

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ContributorAbove The Foe
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Through Dennis Notenboom, biographer Arman Peterson

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Arman Peterson: Gallery (3 items)