VIII Bomber Command
Command
VIII Bomber Command was constituted and activated in 1942. It oversaw heavy bombardment operations until February 1944, when it was redesginated as the 8th Air Force.
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Military
Took command of Debden Wing [3 x Eagle Sqn]
Transferred to command 4th FG USAAF as an RAF officer, 12 September 1942 — December 1942. RAF Squadron Leader with temporary rank of Wing Commander placed in operational command of the 4th Fighter Group at the time of its transfer to the USAAF. Was the first British pilot to be awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross.
Post 4th Fighter Group:
Eventually attained the rank of Group Captain
Decorations:
Distinguished Service Order, Distinguished Flying Cross (with Bar, British), Distinguished Flying Cross (American), 1939-45 Star, 1939-45 War Medal, Defense Medal.
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/wing-commander-raymond-my...
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Command
VIII Bomber Command was constituted and activated in 1942. It oversaw heavy bombardment operations until February 1944, when it was redesginated as the 8th Air Force.
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...
Squadron
'On 19 September 1940, No. 71 was reformed at Church Fenton as the first 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American personnel. The Squadron received Hurricanes in November and became operational on defensive duties on 5 February 1941. No. 71 converted...
Squadron
'On 14 May 1941, No. 121 was reformed at Kirton-in-Lindsey as the second 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American volunteers. Equipped with Hurricanes, it began defensive patrols in October but in November it converted to Spitfires. It moved to North...
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...
Headquarters
The Headquarters Squadron was made up of true leaders. Most had flown Hurricanes, Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Mustangs.
...
Spitfire
Spitfire Mk Vb EN915 was built at the Vickers-Armstrong aircraft factory, Castle Bromwich, and delivered to the RAF at 37 Maintenance Unit, Burtonwood, on 17 May 1942. It was issued to 154 Squadron at Hornchurch on 12 June 1942. During its time with...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BM582 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
...
19 August 1942
31st Fighter Group despatches 123 Spitfires in support of the landings at Dieppe, France. 8 are lost. These are the first operations of VIII Fighter Command units under VIII Fighter Command control.
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27 August 1942
97BG despatches 9 B-17s to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland.
29 August 1942
31FG despatches 36 Spitfires to patrol along the French coast; 1FG despatches 2 P-38s on a fighter intercept on enemy raiders. First use of P-38s by 8th AF in the ETO.
2 October 1942
1FG despatches 31 P-38s to escort bombers attacking the aircraft factory at Meaulte, France, sustaining one loss. 1FG also despatches 34 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 52FG despatches 7 Spitfires on a sweep over the English Channel; 4FG...
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.
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...
Military site : airfield
Used as an RFC and RAF Home Defence landing ground during the First World War, Kirton-in-Lindsey was built during 1938-40 as an RAF fighter station. It had two grass runways, 10 hardstandings, three grouped C hangars and four over-blister hangars....
Military site : airfield
Opened in 1917 as home to the RFC Aeroplane Experimental Unit, Martlesham Heath became well known during the 1920s-30s as home to the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment. Used as an RAF fighter station from 1939, with only a grass airfield...
Event | Location | Date |
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Born | Manchester, England | 16 October 1916 |
Born 16 October 1916 Manchester, England. |
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Educated | Marlborough College, Bath Rd, Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 1PA, UK | 1934 |
Educated Marlborough College. |
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RAF Educated | RAF Cranwell, 10 Cranwell Ave, Cranwell Village, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8HG, UK | 1935 – 1936 |
RAF College Cranwell 1935-36. |
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Assigned | Northolt, Greater London, UK | 1936 |
Assigned to 23 Sqn 1936. |
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E/A Kill | 18 June 1940 – 19 June 1940 | |
2nd recorded night kill, claimed He111 E/A kill in Blenheim NF whilst 23 Sqn B Fl Commander 18/19 June 1940. |
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Transferred | Kenley, Greater London, UK | 12 September 1940 |
Transferred to 253 Sqn 12th Sept 1940. |
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E/A Probable | 15 September 1940 | |
Probable Do17 15th Sept 1940. |
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E/A Shared | 6 October 1940 | |
Shared Do17 6th Oct 1940. |
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E/A Damaged | 21 October 1940 | |
Damaged Ju88 21st Oct 1940. |
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E/A Destroyed | 9 November 1940 | |
Destroyed Ju88 9th Nov 1940. |
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1 x E/A Damaged, 1 x Shared | 22 November 1940 | |
Shared and damaged Do17 22nd Nov 1940. |
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Awarded DFC | Kenley, Greater London, UK | 24 December 1940 |
Citation: |
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Rested from Op's | Digby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN4, UK | January 1941 |
Rested from Op's 12 Grp HQ, Digby Jan 1941. |
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Formed 124 Sqn | Castletown, Thurso, Highland KW14, UK | May 1941 – June 1942 |
Formed 124 Sqn Castletown, May 1941, led same till June 1942. |
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E/A Kill | 7 December 1941 | |
Destroyed Ju88 7th Dec 1941. |
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Awarded Bar to DFC | Castletown, Thurso, Highland KW14, UK | 29 May 1942 |
Citation: |
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Took command of Wing | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | June 1942 |
Took command of Debden Wing [3 x Eagle Sqn] June 42 Wing Ldr. |
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Dieppe Veteran | Dieppe, France | 19 August 1942 |
Flew 4 x sorties with 71 [Eagle]Sqn leading the wing over Dieppe on Operation Jubilee 19th Aug 42. |
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E/A Kill | 27 August 1942 | |
Fw190 Destroyed 27th Aug 42. |
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E/A Probable | 29 August 1942 | |
Fw190 Probable 29th Aug 42. |
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Transferred | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 12 September 1942 – December 1942 |
Transferred to command 4th FG USAAF as an RAF officer, Debden wing. |
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E/A Shared | 2 October 1942 | |
Fw190 shared 2nd Oct 42. |
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Transferred | Great Britain, United Kingdom | January 1943 – July 1943 |
Transferred to 8th US Bomber Command as fighter liaison officer. |
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Awarded DSO | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 8 January 1943 |
Citation: |
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Awarded DFC [US] | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 5 March 1943 |
Granted permission to wear the decoration DFC US March 5th, 1943. |
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Transferred | July 1943 – January 1945 | |
Set up mobile command for 84 Grp 2nd TAF, thereafter to Normandy with same as 2nd IC. July 43. |
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Instructor | Turkey | 1945 – 1948 |
To Turkey instructor air war college. Wars end to 1948. |
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Instructor | Bulstrode, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL9 8SZ, UK | January 1945 |
To RAF Staff college as instructor. Jan 45. |
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Re-promoted Wing Co | Acklington, Morpeth, Northumberland NE65, UK | 1948 – 1950 |
Re-promoted Wing Commander, commanded RAF Aklington 1948-50. |
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Instructor | Bracknell, Bracknell Forest, UK | 1951 |
To RAF Staff college instructor 1951. |
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Commanded RAF Debden | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 1951 – 1953 |
Commanded RAF Debden 1951-53. |
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Posted overseas | United States | 1953 – 1956 |
Posted to USA 1953-56. |
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Promoted | 1954 | |
Promoted Group Captain 1954. |
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Transferred | United Kingdom | 1956 – 1958 |
Transferred to Fighter command 1956-58. |
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Post RAF Career | London, UK | 1961 – 1971 |
Worked for Life Insurance Co till retirement. |
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Retired RAF | England, UK | 30 January 1961 |
Retired RAF 1961. |
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Parliamentary Role | Houses of Parliament, House of Lords, Parliament Square, Westminster, London SW1A 0PW, UK | 1973 – 1979 |
Served as 'Black Rod' in the House Of Lords. |
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Died | Chichester, Chichester, West Sussex, UK | 10 October 1991 |
10th October 1991 Chichester, England. |
Date | Contributor | Update |
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16 November 2021 19:38:44 | Al_Skiff | Changes to events and unit associations |
Sources | ||
https://www.bbm.org.uk/airmen/Duke-Woolley.htm |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 July 2016 12:29:36 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to media associations |
Sources | ||
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from: |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
25 February 2016 10:40:00 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations and place associations |
Sources | ||
Men of The Battle of Britain: A Biographical Dictionary of The Few By Kenneth G. Wynn |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
24 September 2015 23:30:21 | Al_Skiff | Changes to middlename, nickname, biography, events, unit associations and mission associations |
Sources | ||
Men of The Battle of Britain: A Biographical Dictionary of The Few By Kenneth G. Wynn |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
24 September 2015 17:09:51 | Al_Skiff | Changes to surname, middlename, nickname, nationality, service number, role, biography, awards, events, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
Sources | ||
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/hq_duk... |
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Date | Contributor | Update |
27 September 2014 18:22:01 | AAM | AAM ingest |
Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia |