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Capt Richard Lear Alexander 335th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF, formerly a 133 [Eagle] Sqn RAF Spitfire pilot.
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Lt. Richard “Dixie” Alexander POW card
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Photo of Richard "Dixie" Alexander and another man, both in leather flight jackets, standing in front of aircraft nose art with hand painted:
"Vivo Per Destruggerre", "DIXIE MK. VI", a winged logo, and 2 swastikas - all below "S.L. ABORTION"
Vivo Per Destruggerre = I live to destroy.
He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in October 1940, and was awarded his pilot wings on September 15, 1941, joining the 133 Eagle Squadron in England. Alexander was credited with destroying 1 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 1 probable, before transferring to the U.S. Army Air Forces and joining the 4th Fighter Group on September 23, 1942. He joined the 109th Observation Squadron in January 1943, and then the 2nd Fighter Squadron of the 52nd Fighter Group in North Africa in April 1943. Lt Alexander destroyed another 4 enemy aircraft in the air from February to May 1944, giving him a total of 5 destroyed and 1 probable for World War II. He was shot down and taken as a Prisoner of War on May 30, 1944, and was held until his camp was liberated in May 1945. While serving with the 60th Fighter Squadron of the 33rd Fighter Group in Germany in January 1947, he was involved in an accident and lost his right arm. Capt Alexander was medically retired from the Air Force on February 7, 1948.
Post War: Owner/operator Dick Alexander Limited
National Sales Manager, Herschede Hall Clock Co.
Author, They Called Me Dixie (1988)
DFC Citation:
'His Distinguished Flying Cross Citation reads: For extraordinary achievement in aerial flight as pilot of a P-51 type aircraft. On 24 May 1944 Lt. Alexander participated as escort to heavy bombers attacking enemy installations in Austria. Turning from the target after a highly successful bombing run the bomber formation was attacked from the rear by five enemy fighters. With complete disregard for the overwhelming odds Lt. Alexander immediately turned into the enemy aircraft forcing them to break off their attacks. In the ensuing engagement he singled out one enemy fighter and through outstanding combat skill he succeeded in destroying it. Re-joining his formation he escorted the bombers safely to base without loss. By his outstanding courage, combat proficiency and devotion to duty together with personal combat record of three enemy aircraft destroyed and over sixty five successful missions against the enemy Lt. Alexander has upheld the highest traditions of the Military service thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States of America.'
Service
Units served with
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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...
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Group
Two of the Squadrons of the 52nd Fighter Group flew Spitfires with RAF Fighter Command in August and early September 1942 from Northern Ireland. After these preparatory missions, the Group joined the Twelfth and then Fifteenth Air Force in the...
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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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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...
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Aircraft
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Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BL722 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
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Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BL773 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
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Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BM353 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
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Associated Place
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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.
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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...
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Grant Park, IL 60940, USA |
22 July 1914 |
Son of Harry and Ada [Zimmerman] Alexander.
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Lived in |
Grant Park, IL 60940, USA |
1930 |
Based |
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23 September 1942 – 30 May 1944 |
Transferred to USAAF. Assigned to 133FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF.
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Prisoner of War (POW) |
Zagan, Poland |
30 May 1944 – May 1945 |
Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III.
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Baled out POW |
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30 May 1944 |
Shot down, baled out. POW
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Died |
Piper City, IL 60959, USA |
19 April 1993 |
Buried |
Brenton Cemetery, Piper City, IL |
22 April 1993 |
Brenton Cemetery, Piper City, Illinois, USA.
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