Eagle squadron
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The Eagle Squadrons were Royal Air Force fighter squadrons formed during World War II from American volunteer pilots.
As a result of the Battle of Britain the RAF was short on pilots and a call went out for American volunteer pilots to replace the RAF's depleted ranks.
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Training
The basic requirements for those interested in joining the Eagles were a high school diploma, between 20 and 31 years of age, eyesight that was 20/40 correctable to 20/20, and 300 hours of certified flying time. These requirements were somewhat less strict than those required for service in the USAAF which is the reason some of the pilots joined the squadrons place. Most Eagle Squadron pilots did not have a college education or prior military experience. The reason most of them volunteered was quite simply for a romantic sense of adventure.
Once in British Isles, the new volunteers were sent to an operational training unit (OTU) for two to four weeks, to learn to fly Miles Master trainers, Hawker Hurricanes, and Spitfires before being posted to a squadron. After OTU some of the men went straight to one of the Eagle Squadrons while others first served with other RAF squadrons before being transferred to an Eagle squadron.
Formation and evolution
The first Eagle Squadron (71) was formed in September 1940, and became operational for defensive duties on 5 February 1941.
The last Eagle Squadron was disbanded in September 1942, with most of the members transferring into the United States Army Air Forces. The three Eagle Squadrons were numbered 71, 121, and 133. Of the thousands that volunteered, 244 American served with the Eagle Squadrons; 16 Britons acted as Squadron and Flight commanders.
Only during the Dieppe Raid all three Eagle Squadrons saw action operating together. From the time the first Eagle Squadron was formed in September 1940 until all three squadrons were disbanded and incorporated into the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in September 1942, they claimed to have destroyed 73 1/2 German planes while 77 American and 5 British members were killed.
When informed of the Pearl Harbor attack most of the Eagle Squadron pilots wanted to immediately join the on the fight against Japan. Representatives from the 71 and 121 Squadrons went to the American Embassy in London and offered their services to the United States. The pilots from the 71 squadron decided they wanted to go to Singapore to fight the Japanese and a proposal was put to Fighter Command but it was turned down. It would take some time however for the USAAF to organize and ship to England the elements necessary to support air operations.
In September of 1942 the three squadrons were officially turned over by the RAF to the fledgling Eighth Air Force and became the famous 4th Fighter Group. They were numbered the 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons and transferred as complete units.
Negotiations regarding transfer to the USAAF between the Eagle Squadrons, USAAF and the RAF were not as easy as expected and had to resolve a number of issues. Determining what rank each pilot would assume in the USAAF had to be negotiated, with most being given a rank equivalent to their RAF rank. None of the Eagle Squadron pilots had served in the USAAF and did not have US pilot's wings. It was decided to give them US pilots wings upon their transfer. Major General Carl Spaatz, commander of the 8AF, wanted to spread the experience of the Eagles amongst various new US fighter squadrons. However the three Eagle Squadrons wanted to stay together as units. Additionally, the RAF wanted some compensation for losing 3 front line squadrons in which they had heavily invested. An agreement also had to be reached in regard to supplying the squadrons with aircraft after their transfer to the USAAF. Being short of suitable airplanes at the time, the agreement reached called for the new squadrons to be equipped with Spitfires.
Individual pilots
The first three members of the Eagle Squadron were Eugene Quimby "Red" Tobin, Andrew Mamedoff and Vernon "Shorty" Keough, all with 609 Squadron out of Warmwell at Middle Wallop. These three men were assigned to 71 Squadron in September 1940.
It is reported that Art Donahue stayed with the Eagle Squadron only a short time before requesting a transfer back to his original RAF unit. He did not appreciate the unruly behavior of many of the American pilots.
Famous air force and civilian test pilot Bob Hoover also flew with the Eagle Squadron.
See also
- Flying Tigers
- Lafayette Escadrille of World War I