Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Rafe35 on January 03, 2005, 11:43:02 PM
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Well, It's been long time that I haven't post any WWII Trivia since 6-29-04 (http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122190&highlight=World+War+Two+Trivia) and decide to come back for new WWII Trivia.
Question:
What was the unofficial designation of the group of American volunteer pilots who flew for Great Britain during the Battle of Britain(1940)?
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Eagle Squadron.
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Tom Cruise
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Luftwaffe
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Eagle Squadrons. ES 71 "First From the Eyries", ES 121 "For Liberty", and ES 133 "Let us to the Battle"
From the time the first Eagle Squadron was formed in September 1940 until all three squadrons were disbanded and incorporated into the USAAF in September 1942, they destroyed 73 1/2 German planes while 77 American and 5 British members were killed.
Technically, don't most Brits reckon the BoB was pretty much ended in September though? Even though I have seen references to it as ending in October, I remember in 2000 when they had the 60th anniversary it was held on September 17th (although I'm not sure why that exact date was chosen). Also, according to the USAF museum, Eagle squadron pilots did not fly a combat mission until February 5, 1941.
While some nationalities had their own squadrons (like the 303 "Polish" squadron) during the BoB in the summer of 1940, I am not aware of any specific American squadrons before the Eagles. I believe there were 44 Americans serving in the RAF during the summer of 1940, but they were mixed in with other nationalities in various squadrons.
(http://history.acusd.edu/gen/WW2Pics5/PDRM8846c.jpg)
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Thought it was Ben Affleck :D
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Yes, must be Affleck. Cruise was the Lost Samurai.
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Pongo and StarofAfrica got the right answer, Congrats both of you! :D
Blah on Tom and Ben. :p
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Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Eagle Squadrons. ES 71 "First From the Eyries", ES 121 "For Liberty", and ES 133 "Let us to the Battle"
Technically, don't most Brits reckon the BoB was pretty much ended in September though? Even though I have seen references to it as ending in October, I remember in 2000 when they had the 60th anniversary it was held on September 17th (although I'm not sure why that exact date was chosen). Also, according to the USAF museum, Eagle squadron pilots did not fly a combat mission until February 5, 1941.
While some nationalities had their own squadrons (like the 303 "Polish" squadron) during the BoB in the summer of 1940, I am not aware of any specific American squadrons before the Eagles. I believe there were 44 Americans serving in the RAF during the summer of 1940, but they were mixed in with other nationalities in various squadrons.
(http://history.acusd.edu/gen/WW2Pics5/PDRM8846c.jpg)
Sept. 17 is BoB day because that was the day of the heaviest attacks, IIRC.
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Cool, thanks! Always looking for bits of trivia I didnt know to add to my store. :)
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Originally posted by Rafe35
Well, It's been long time that I haven't post any WWII Trivia since 6-29-04 (http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=122190&highlight=World+War+Two+Trivia) and decide to come back for new WWII Trivia.
Question:
What was the unofficial designation of the group of American volunteer pilots who flew for Great Britain during the Battle of Britain(1940)?
OK guys lets get it straight. The Eagle Squadrons did not participate in the Battle of Britain at any point in time.
71 Eagle Squadron was declared operational in October 1940. But this was not accurate. At the end of October 1940 it had recieved 3 Brewster Buffalos for training. It did not fly a combat mission until May of 1941.
There were 7 Americans recognized as having flown for the RAF in the Battle Of Britain. There were clearly others who did as well, but as Canadian citizens.
BUT The Eagle Squadrons were not involved.
Dan/Slack
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Read my post above.
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Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Read my post above.
Saw it, so clearly the answer was not the Eagle Squadrons :)
Dan/Slack
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Sorry, Guppy, The correct answer is Eagle Squadron which I got the Questions/Answers from Armchair General Magazine (From Vol. 1/No. 4).
Wanna talk to them? Contract them at http://armchairgeneral.com/page_left_column.php?content=contact_us
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Originally posted by Rafe35
Sorry, Guppy, The correct answer is Eagle Squadron which I got the Questions/Answers from Armchair General Magazine (From Vol. 1/No. 4).
Wanna talk to them? Contract them at http://armchairgeneral.com/page_left_column.php?content=contact_us
Guess I'll have to :)
There's no doubt that the Eagle Squadrons did not fly during the Battle of Britain.
The Americans were scattered among regular RAF Squdrons. Three were with 609, Tobin, Mamendoff and Keogh one was with 54, Art Donahue from my home state of Minnesota, one with 601. Billy Fiske, who was killed in a Hurricane. Not remembering the other two guys off the top of my head. Same Leckrone was the name of one of them Not sure what Squadron.
71, 121 and 133 just weren't there yet however
Dan/Slack
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Technically he's right Rafe. Even though there were Americans there during the BoB, the Eagle Squadrons 71, 121 and 133 did not exist until the end of September 1940 (71 sq.). Even if you want to stretch the BoB to October, no operational sorties were flown by the squadron until February. They had to undergo familiarisation with the planes, be brought up to operational strength, and wait for standard rotation into front line service like every other squadron. USAF museum at WPAFB in Ohio says in their display of Eagle Squadron memorabilia that the first combat mission flown was on February 5th 1941 by 71 sq. Formation of 121 and 133 quickly followed as American volunteers at the end of 1940 and early 1941 were brought in and given assignments. Some people may consider that "BoB" refers to any fighting that occured from the time Germany attacked until the US 8th AF was on the ground in 1942. Maybe thats what your reference was saying.
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Art Donahue, who was one of the Americans who did serve in the B of B was assigned to 71 on September 29, 1940. He transferred back out on October 23, 1940 because they had no aircraft and he wanted to get back into action.
71 got three Brewster Buffalos the next day to start training.
Dan/Slack