Virgil Cephus Fields Jr
Military
JCook Photo Collection & Archives
Object Number - UPL 30058 - Major Virgil Fields 31st FG
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.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Bakersfield, CA | 3 November 1921 | Son of Virgil Cephus Sr and Lola [Phillips] Fields. |
|
Enlisted |
Santa Maria Ave, Vandenberg AFB, CA 93437, USA | 10 January 1942 | Santa Maria AAF, California |
|
Enlisted |
Santa Maria AAF, CA | 10 January 1942 | Santa Maria AAF, California |
|
Died |
Anzio RM, Italy | 6 February 1944 | Shot down in flames by lone Bf109G crashed at Anzio KIA 2-6-44. |
| Ventura County, CA, USA | Ventura County, California, USA. | ||
|
Other Assigned |
Nettuno RM, Italy | Assigned to 307th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, 12th AF USAAF. | |
|
Buried |
Bethel Cemetery Gravette, Benton County, AR | Bethel Cemetery Gravette, Benton County, Arkansas |
Revisions
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.'
Spitfire Production List.
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/31st/307th.html
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=30959
American Spitfire Aces of World War 2 By Andrew Thomas
