8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Jesse Auton
Military
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Brigadier General Jesse Auton
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High ranking officers of the 8th Air Force enjoy a drink at the 355th Fighter Group base, Steeple Morden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Kinnard, Spaatz, Gilchrist, Doolittle, Stewart, Auton, ? & Kepner.'
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A medal award ceremony at Bottisham, Cambridgeshire 1944. Brig. General Jesse Auton awarding an Air Medal to Lt. William J. Sykes who became leading ace of the 361st Fighter Group. Museum object reference no. BAM_0241
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The ‘brass’ visit Debden on April 1, 1944. (L-R) Brig General Jesse Auton, 65th Fighter Wing CO; Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower; Lt General Carl Spaatz, commander of US Strategic Air Forces; Mag General James Doolittle, commander of the 8th Air Force; Maj General William Kepner, head of VII Fighter Command; Col Don Blakeslee, commander of the 4th Fighter Group.
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Video featuring Captain Don Gentile after returning from a mission and Don Gentile and Don Blakeslee being awarded their DFCs by General Eisenhower at Debden. The sergeant guiding Shangri-La while taxing is John Ferra, Gentile's Crew Chief. The pilot sitting on the wing talking to Gentile is Captain Johnny Godfrey. The man standing beside Eisenhower is General Jesse Auton.
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(then) Colonel Jesse Auton and (then) Major James "Jim" Clark shaking the Colonel's hand after being awarded a medal by him. Clark served with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Squadron at Debden.
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"ENGLAND-Capt Don S Gentile [ Piqua, Ohio ] adds a cluster to his Distinguished Flying Cross. Brig General Jesse D Auton is decorating the USAAF ace on 25 March 1944. Later, with a score of 30, Gentile was decorated with the Distinguished Service by Gen Dwight D Eisenhower." NARA Ref 342-FH-3A06644A-50473AC.
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Brig Gen Jesse Auton of the 65th Fighter Wing at the celebration of the freedom of Saffron-Walden Essex England. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A07854-A60475AC.
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Brig Gen Jesse Auton of the 65th Fighter Wing at the celebration of the freedom of Saffron-Walden Essex England. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A07853-60475AC.
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Brig Gen Jesse Auton of the 65th Fighter Wing at the celebration of the freedom of Saffron-Walden Essex England. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A07853-60475AC.
Deployed to ETO with 65th Fighter Wing, 8AF USAAF. 12 combat missions. Killed in a plane crash at Offutt AFB, Omaha, 20-Mar-52, while returning on a flight from California.
Awards: AM, DFC, Bronze Star, Legion de Honour, Legion of Merit (OLC), PH, Croix de Guerre (French), Croix de Guerre (Belgian), EAME, American Campaign Medal, American Defense Medal.
Service
Units served with
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65th Fighter Wing
Wing
Browse 65th Fighter Wing photographs and other documents in the 2nd Air Division Memorial Library digital archive here: www.2ndair.org.uk/digitalarchive/Dashboard/Index/51 -
Headquarters (65th Fighter Wing)
Headquarters
Associated Place
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Saffron Walden
Military site : non-airfield
Headquarters 65th Fighter Wing. Exact location unknown.
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Covington, Kentucky | 1 December 1904 |
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Son of Robert Wesley and Julia E [Bagby] Auton. |
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| Enlisted | Kentucky, USA | 1928 |
| Died | Offutt AFB, NE, USA | 20 March 1952 |
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Killed in a plane crash at Offutt AFB, Omaha, 20-Mar-52, while returning on a flight from California. |
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| Buried | 4 July 1952 | |
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Interment Date: 04/07/1952 |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2017 21:28:28 | wirlaa | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Andrew Auton - great-nephew of Jesse Auton |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 August 2016 12:00:00 | Al_Skiff | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Brig-General-Jesse-Auton-Grouping-8th-AAF-6... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 August 2016 11:54:15 | Al_Skiff | Changes to biography, awards, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Brig-General-Jesse-Auton-Grouping-8th-AAF-6... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 March 2015 21:58:42 | apollo11 | Changes to highest rank |
| Sources | ||
Personal research & 'The Debden Warbirds' by Frank Speer. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:15:12 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Who's Who in the Eighth Air Force and/or Biographical Directory Command & Staff Officers Eighth Air Force 1942-45 |
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