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Military
Major Virgil Fields 31st FG
Major Virgil C Fields Jr commander of the 307th FS, 31st FG, 12th AF Nettuno, Italy 2nd Feb 1944. USAAF caption - "Major Virgil C. Fields, Jr., Commanding Officer Of The 307Th Fighter Squadron, Poses In The Cockpit Of His Supermarine 'Spitfire' Plane At Nettuno, Italy. Major Fields Has Six Enemy Planes Destroyed To His Credit. 2 Feb. 1944. "
Supermarine Spitfire JK707 Mk VcT, 307th FS, 31st FG, 15th AF USAAF, shot down by return fire Do217, pilot Major Virgil C Fields crash landed on beach off Salerno 9-9-43.
Major Virgil Fields 31st FG and Monk
CO 307th FS 31st FG Oct 1943 - Feb. 1944 (assigned April 1943 - Feb. 1944).
6 air kills (3 x ME-109 + 3 x FW-190) + 2 damaged (1 x FW-190 + 1 x DO-217).
KIA over Anzio on Feb. 6, 1944 shot down by ME-109F
Awarded the DSC posthumously:
Major Virgil C Fields Jr. (ASN O-727434) United States Army Air Forces, is awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a Spitfire fighter airplane in the 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, 12th Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces during World War II. Major Fields' unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 12th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
He was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. He has a large family still living within their tribal nation in Jay, Oklahoma, United States of America.
Group
The 31st Fighter Group only flew missions from England between June and September 1942 but during this period they supported the Dieppe raid, the assault on occupied Europe, predominantly by the Canadian army. The attack was forced into early retreat...
Squadron
Military site : airfield
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Bakersfield, CA | 3 November 1921 |
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Son of Virgil Cephus Sr and Lola [Phillips] Fields. |
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| Lived in | Ventura County, CA, USA | January 1942 |
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Ventura County, California, USA. |
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| Enlisted | Santa Maria Ave, Vandenberg AFB, CA 93437, USA | 10 January 1942 |
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Santa Maria AAF, California |
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| Enlisted | Santa Maria AAF, CA | 10 January 1942 |
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Santa Maria AAF, California |
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| Assigned | Nettuno RM, Italy | 1943 |
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Assigned to 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, 12th AF USAAF. |
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| Died | Anzio RM, Italy | 6 February 1944 |
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Shot down in flames by lone Bf109G crashed at Anzio KIA 2-6-44. |
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| Buried | Bethel Cemetery Gravette, Benton County, AR | 1948 |
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Bethel Cemetery |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25 March 2021 14:37:31 | Al_Skiff | Changes to service number, biography, events and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.fold3.com/image/591402392 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 23 September 2017 01:36:29 | fugari | Changes to nickname, role, biography, awards, place associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
JCook Photo Collection & Archives |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 October 2016 17:29:44 | Lucy May | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
Correcting spelling of source's name - it's spelt Terri Fields. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 October 2016 17:28:02 | Lucy May | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
After correspondence with Terry Fields, added her information: 'VC Fields (WWII) Flying Ace was also a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. He has a large family still living within their tribal nation in Jay, Oklahoma, United States of America.' |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 28 September 2015 14:54:05 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, suffix, nationality, service number, highest rank, role, biography, events, unit associations, aircraft associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
Spitfire Production List. |
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