8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Donald Arthur Baccus
Military
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Lt. Col. Donald A. Baccus of Los Angeles, CA, served as CO of the 359th Fighter Group from April 1945 through September 1945. Before serving with the 359th Fighter Group, Lt. Col. Baccus, an Ace, flew with the 356th Fighter Group. His A/C included P-51D CV-U 44-72746. .
Assigned to 322FS, 365FG, 1 Fighter Command. Commander 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to HQ Sqn 356FG, 8AF USAAF. 116 total missions. ETD.
Transferred to HQ Sqn 359FG, 8AF USAAF. ETD.
June 43-Apr 26 44, to Headquarters; 116 total missions.
Later Commander 359 FG, 8AF.
Air Ace:13.5 Air; 0 Grd; Total 13.5
Service
Units served with
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356th Fighter Group
Group
The 356th Fighter Group flew 413 missions between 15 October 1943 and 7 May 1945 and suffered the highest ratio of losses to enemy aircraft claims of any Eighth Air Force Group. This gave the Group the reputation of being the 'hard luck' outfit. The... -
359th Fighter Group
Group
The 359th Fighter Group flew 346 missions from East Wretham between December 1943 and April 1945. In the main these missions were escorting bombers flying over occupied Europe. The Group, soon after converting from Thunderbolts to Mustangs, were... -
359th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
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Headquarters (359th Fighter Group)
Headquarters
Aircraft
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44-14993
P-51 Mustang
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42-8568 'The Bloody Shaft'
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. Crashed on takeoff 28 May 44 - Lt. William G Craig. -
42-76583
P-47 Thunderbolt
Assigned to 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Lt Col Donald Baccus. Written off after Forced Landing due to Engine Failure Way Farm, Minster, Ramsgate.
Associated Place
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Martlesham Heath
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...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Born | Jamestown, ND, USA | 29 April 1916 |
| Assigned | Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, MA 01022, USA | April 1943 – June 1943 |
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Assigned to 322FS, 365FG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Commanded | June 1943 – 26 April 1944 | |
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Commander 359FS, 356FG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Promotion | March 1944 | |
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Promoted to Lt Colonel. |
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| Transferred | 26 April 1944 – 10 January 1945 | |
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Transferred to HQ Sqn 356FG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| End Tour of Duty (ETD) | England, UK | 10 January 1945 |
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Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). |
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| Transferred | 6 April 1945 – 16 September 1945 | |
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Transferred to HQ Sqn 359FG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| End Tour of Duty (ETD) | England, UK | 16 September 1945 |
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Ended Tour of Duty (ETD). |
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| Died | Carmichael, CA, USA | 28 April 1986 |
| Buried | Golden Gate National Cemetery San Bruno San Mateo County CA | May 1986 |
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Golden Gate National Cemetery |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 26 April 2021 11:52:50 | Al_Skiff | Changes to biography, events and unit associations |
| Sources | ||
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41804627/donald-a-baccus |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 April 2017 15:23:27 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to biography |
| Sources | ||
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from: |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 August 2016 14:21:32 | Al_Skiff | Changes to awards |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 25 August 2016 14:06:26 | Al_Skiff | Changes to middlename, highest rank, role, biography, awards, events, unit associations, place associations and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Merged with Duplicate record - Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / ESCORT, 356 FG Assoc data. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:07:23 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list |
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