Gentile's Spitfire

[Greebo]

This skin was requested by Devil for a future event.

This Spitfire Mk Vb was flown by Lt Don Gentile of the USAAF's 336th Fighter Squadron.

Don Gentile was an experienced pre-war civilian pilot whose application to join the USAAF was rejected due to the lack of a college education. Undaunted he joined the RCAF instead and after training was posted to the RAF's 133 "Eagle" Squadron in December 1941. Here he scored his first two kills during Operation Jubilee in August 1942. A month later the Eagle Squadrons were transferred to the USAAF as the 4th Fighter Group and Gentile became part of the 336th Fighter Squadron. Extremely aggressive pilots Gentile and his Canadian wingman John T Godfrey became know as "The Two-Man Air Force" on one occasion shooting down six Bf109s between them. In April 44 having scored almost 22 kills he was grounded after crashing his Mustang during a beat up of the airfield and sent home for a War Bond drive. Post war he continued serving in the USAAF but was tragically killed in 1951 when his T-33 trainer crashed during a routine flight.

[Devil 505]

Beautiful. Thanks Greebo.

[lyric1]

 

[JimmyD3]

Very nice Greebo. 

[Vraciu]

Nice job.

Godfrey's book,  "The Look of Eagles" is riveting,  sad,  and sheds light on the wingman duo story.   Turns out it was mainly propaganda.   Yes, they flew as wingmen sometimes, but mostly not.    In all I think they flew together around 10-12 times.   Their big day was a six-victory mission to Berlin.

Godfrey is often overshadowed by Gentile but the latter was at least equally successful in his own right.

USAAF Totals

Gentile 19.83* Aerial, 6 Ground - 25.83*
Godfrey 16.33 Aerial, 13.67 Ground - 30**

* 2 Victories with the RAF not included here. (21.83, 0 - 27.83)

** Some sources state 18, 18 - 36