VIII Fighter Command
Command
VIII Fighter Command was established as VIII Interceptor Command at Selfridge Field on 2 February 1942.
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Joseph L Bennett
Military
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![2nd Lt Joseph L Bennett 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF former 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF Spitfire pilot.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-18861.jpeg?itok=N3ttDQG-)
2nd Lt Joseph L Bennett 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF former 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF Spitfire pilot.
Joined RCAF, assigned to 133S, transferred to 336FS 4FG 8AF USAAF, promoted 1st Lt
Engineering officer, Assigned to Headquarters, VIII Fighter Command Mar-44
Awards: DFC, AM (3OLC), PH.
Post War: Remained in the Air Force after the war, serving at bases in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, as well as one tour in England as a maintenance officer. Retired from the USAF as a Lieutenant Colonel Nov-63
Engineer for Custom Pools Co. in Albuquerque, NM, retiring in 1980.
Service
Units served with
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4th Fighter Group
Group
Some of the pilots of the 4th Fighter Group had seen many hours of combat by the time they joined the 4th Fighter Group as they had volunteered with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. The three 'Eagle Squadrons' of RAF Fighter... -
336th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
The 336th Fighter Squadron was constituted by the War Department on 22 august 1942, and was activated at Bushey Hall, England, on 12 September. It had been designated as No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, and was made up of American volunteers to the Royal Air... -
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No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
Squadron
'On 1 August 1941, No. 133 reformed at Coltishall as the third 'Eagle' Squadron manned by American personnel. Equipped with Hurricanes it became operational at the end of September. The next month the Squadron moved to Northern Ireland, returning to...
Aircraft
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42-7881
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. 2nd Lt Vincent R 'Bud' Castle lost in this A/C 19 June 43 - KIFA (Take-off crash). Crashed just off the base while returning from a local flight. Witnesses noted he was “flying low and climbing. He reached the top of... -
42-7873
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 336FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed North Weald due to an engine fire on 17-Jun-43, pilot Joe L Bennett OK. -
41-6574 'Miss San Carlos'
P-47 Thunderbolt
16-8-43 Destroyed 2 x Fw190's and damaged another over Paris
Associated Place
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Biggin Hill
Military site : airfield
An RAF Station with US lodger units. USAAF Spitfires and P-38s were attached to RAF No 11 Group stations in mid-1942 for training; also used for special operations by British and US forces. -
Debden
Military site : airfield
RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Boise, ID, USA | 19 January 1917 |
| Joined RCAF | Canada | 1940 |
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Joined Royal Canadian Air Force. Fl/Sgt Pilot. |
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| Lived in | Boise, ID, USA | 1941 |
| Assigned | Biggin Hill, London SE19 3HY, UK | 1941 – 9 October 1942 |
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Assigned to 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF. Commissioned P/O. |
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| Transferred | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 9 October 1942 – 29 February 1944 |
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Transferred to 336th FS 4th FG 8AF USAAF. 2nd Lieutenant. |
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| Promoted | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 11 March 1943 |
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Promoted 1st Lieutenant. |
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| Crashed | 17 June 1943 | |
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Crashed into pub after engine failure P-47 42-7881. RTD. |
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| Assigned | March 1944 – 1945 | |
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Engineering officer, Assigned to Headquarters, VIII Fighter Command 3-44 |
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| Died | Hobbs, NM, USA | 17 November 2010 |
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 November 2021 13:55:49 | Al_Skiff | Changes to biography and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/336_be... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 November 2018 15:13:24 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to events and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from: |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 14:46:54 | Al_Skiff | Changes to role, biography, events and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Bennett&Submit=Se... |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 November 2015 16:25:32 | Al_Skiff | Changes to biography, awards and events |
| Sources | ||
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 November 2015 16:11:46 | Al_Skiff | Changes to highest rank, role, biography, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:17:23 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list |
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