Military
![Chesley Peterson, of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, with his Supermarine Spitfire, 30 March 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30-3-43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Sport & General, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps].](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-401061.jpg?itok=dd1RjG6Q)
Chesley Peterson, of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, with his Supermarine Spitfire, 30 March 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30-3-43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Sport & General, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps].
Lieutenant Colonel Roy W. Evans is pictured second from right. (L-R) Lt Col. Chesley 'Pete' Peterson, Maj. Oscar Coen, Col. Don Blakeslee and 2nd Lt. Roy W. Evans talk with Lt Gen. Ira Eaker, commander of the Eighth Air Force at Debden in late 1942.
Cartoon of the "Debden Aces:, 4th FG.
![Chesley G Peterson 334FS 4FG 8AF former 71[Eagle] Sqn RAF pilot.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-17181.jpeg?itok=uss0dt1_)
Chesley G Peterson 334FS 4FG 8AF former 71[Eagle] Sqn RAF pilot.
Fl Lt Chesley G 'Pete' Peterson (far right) and F/O Gregory A 'Gus' Daymond (second from right) along with other Eagle Squadron pilots. F/O Thomas C Wallace 3rd from left.
Acting Sqn Leader Chesley Gordon Peterson, DFC. - No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF. Distinguished Service Order Citation: “This officer has completed a large number of sorties over enemy-occupied territory. He has at all times displayed high qualities of leadership and courage which have contributed materially to the fine fighting efficiency of his squadron. During the operations over Dieppe, Squadron Leader Peterson destroyed a Junkers 88, bringing his victories to 6. His devotion to duty has been outstanding.” Peterson spoke to reporters after his March 10, 1943 investiture by King George at Buckingham Palace. "I got the gong for my part in the Dieppe raid. I went in three times and ended up in the drink, coming back to England by boat."
![Flying Officer Chesley Gordon Peterson No 71 [Eagle] Sqn RAFVR.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-17178.jpeg?itok=vDhMq7rM)
Flying Officer Chesley Gordon Peterson No 71 [Eagle] Sqn RAFVR.
Flight Lieutenant Chesley Gordon Peterson of No 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF.
![Flight Lieutenant Chesley Gordon Peterson of No 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF, at North Weald, Essex following his award of the DFC. In August 1942 Peterson transferred, was promoted to full Colonel at the age of 23, and commanded the 4th Fighter Group until 1943.
IWM Photo [Partial] CH 3738.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-17176.jpeg?itok=cKgLfhL2)
Flight Lieutenant Chesley Gordon Peterson of No 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF, at North Weald, Essex following his award of the DFC. In August 1942 Peterson transferred, was promoted to full Colonel at the age of 23, and commanded the 4th Fighter Group until 1943. IWM Photo [Partial] CH 3738.
Col Chesley Peterson (leaning over map) with members of Eagle Squadron. The Photograph was signed "Best from Pete" and was in the memorabilia collection of Sq Ldr William "Bill" G Curtin OBE RAFVR, who was Controller in the Operations room at Debden for the Eagles Squadrons 1941-43. Also identified in the photograph: Major Oscar H. Coen is 1st left and Captain W.T. O’Regan is 4th from Left
Whilst serving with No. 71 Eagle Squadron, he was promoted to Flt Lt - the first American in the Eagle Squadrons to be promoted above the enlisted rank of Pilot Officer.
In October 1941 he received the RAF Distinguished Flying Cross, and in November that year he became Squadron Leader at the age of 21.
With the entry of the U.S. into the war, he eventually transferred to the USAAF with the 4th Fighter Group based at Debden. The transfer was completed on 12 September 1942, when the 4th Fighter Group was officially activated. Peterson was made a Major upon transfer. A month later he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
4th Fighter Group Commanding Officer, from 20 August 1943 to 23 December 1943.
On 15 April 1943 he had to bail out of his P-47 about 30 miles from the English coast when his plane caught fire. He was later picked up and returned to base. In August 1943 he became Commander of the 4th Fighter Group replacing Colonel Anderson, becoming the youngest Colonel in the USAAF. In October he was promoted to full Colonel at the age of 23. He was retired from flying duties, having completed 200 flying sorties, and left to serve as Combat Operations officer for the 9th Air Force and was credited with seven enemy aircraft destroyed. He served in Korea and Viet Nam and stayed in the service until retirement as a Major General in July 1970.
Military | Squadron Leader | Fighter Controller
William G Curtin joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve in 1938, where he trained at Hornchurch, Essex to become a flight controller, working in the operations room. He was stationed at Hornchurch throughout the Battle of Britain, when the station came under...
Military | Flight Lieutenant | Pilot
James Gray was in college and taking a civilian pilot training course when the European war began. "I tried for the U.S. Army Air Corps and couldn’t pass the physical," he says. "I heard that the British were recruiting pilots for the Royal 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
The 334th Fighter Squadron was the successor to No. 71 Eagle squadron of the Royal Air Force when the 4th Fighter Group was activated on 12 September 1942. They were based at Debden Field, Essex. The "Fighting Eagles" as they were called, flew...
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...
P-47 Thunderbolt
This aircraft was at one time or another, assigned to the following pilots:
Lt. Charles Carr,
Capt. James A. Clark,
Maj. Oscar Coen,
Lt Col. Chesley Peterson,
1st Lt. Thomas J. Andrews.
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire W3627 Mk Vb, Const #1954, Built at Chattis Hill.
...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire AB810 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
Delivered to No 12 MU 17-8-41, assigned to 71S 26-8-41, shot down by Fw190s on sweep to Hazebrouck 12-4-42 P/O Ben F Mays KIA. SOC.
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire AB909 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
Delivered to No 6 MU 16-8-41, assigned to 71S 2-9-41, shot down by Bf109 on sweep over France 7-9-41, SOC 30-11-41.
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire AB199 Mk Vb, Const #2391, Built at Eastleigh.
...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BL449 Mk Vb, Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
...
Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire BM361 Mk Vb, Built at Built at Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory.
...
Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane Mk IIb Z3170 assigned to 258 Sqn.
...
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Salem, Idaho | 10 August 1920 |
| Lived in | Santaquin, UT, USA | 1940 |
| Died | Riverside, CA | 28 January 1990 |
| Buried | Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, CA | February 1990 |
|
Chesley Peterson rests at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 25 March 2021 14:52:03 | Al_Skiff | Changes to events and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14868552/chesley-g.-peterson |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 July 2020 10:09:33 | ED-BB | Changes to middlename, biography and events |
| Sources | ||
VA Gravesite Locator |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 30 November 2018 14:23:12 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II - https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 September 2017 06:59:40 | fugari | Changes to service number, highest rank, role, biography, awards and events |
| Sources | ||
JCook Photo Collection & Archives |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2016 21:55:37 | WD-C Mustang | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Fixed minor error in bio |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 February 2016 17:52:16 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Eagle squadron re-alignment. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 07 July 2015 09:29:53 | Emily | Changes to media associations |
| Sources | ||
Associated media from the Freeman collection. Combined information from two records into one, additional information from Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 March 2015 11:08:07 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM Database. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 March 2015 15:29:05 | apollo11 | Changes to biography and awards |
| Sources | ||
All information correct as far as I am aware. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 03 November 2014 16:09:46 | Lucy May | Changes to middlename, biography, events, place associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
Combined two entries for Chesley Peterson. This entry now includes information from the following sources: Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/pilots.html |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:06:07 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey, p. 103, Aces of the Mighty 8th by Scutts and Stanaway pp. 102-103, National Gravesite Locator |
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