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Text originally published in 1943 under the same title.
Pickle Partners Publishing 2016, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.
Publishers Note
Although in most cases we have retained the Authors original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern readers benefit.
We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.
WAR EAGLES:
THE STORY OF THE EAGLE SQUADRON
BY
JAMES SAWN CHILDERS
Colonel, United States Army Air Forces
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FIRST , of course, I must thank Air Ministry for granting me access to official records of the Eagle Squadron. I should like to thank, too, all British officials, both of Air Ministry and elsewhere, who with characteristic courtesy and friendship have helped me in so many ways.
I suppose next I should thank Squadron Leader Robinson, Lieutenant-Colonel Peterson, and Major Daymond, who read the manuscript and, in their editing, gave proof that they know more about the Eagle Squadron than any other three living men.
All the Eagles themselves were helpful, and I am grateful to them. I must particularly thank Captain Strickland, who took a months leave and spent it in my home, working with me until late at night, writing and editing as enthusiastically and as carefully as if the book had been his own.
I should like to thank Linda Bramley, who made the drawings for the book. Miss Bramley, an English artist, has been forced by the war temporarily to put aside her paint brushes and now is working at Headquarters of the American Air Force. She takes dictation, types, files, draws superb illustrations, cheerfully sews on buttons, and precisely mends the uniforms of the men in her department.
James C. F. Mancuso, once a photographer in Cincinnati and now an officer in the American Air Force, took most of the photographs in the book. He knows that I appreciate his help.
The other photographs were furnished me by a most cooperative Photograph Division of the British Ministry of Information, by Peter Masefield, editor of Aeroplane, by Fayer, the London photographer, and others. I wish to thank them sincerely.
Finally, I must thank all officers and men of Intelligence Division, Headquarters, Eighth Air Force, who have listened so patiently as frequently I have talked of the Eagle Squadron, probably sometimes repeating myself while telling of these lovable and adventurous American boys who came over to see what it was all about, and remained to establish a record unexcelled in the Royal Air Force.
J. S. C.
A LETTER FROM MAJOR G. A. DAYMOND, DFC AND BAR, COMMANDING OFFICER, 71 (EAGLE) SQUADRON
DEAR COLONEL JIM:
Ive just finished reading the manuscript of our book, and Im proud of it. At last something has been written about the Eagle Squadron that is true and sincere. Youve produced the best story I could imagine and its a pleasure to read a record we wont have to live down.
Your description of our odd and assorted episodes is so accurate that I was filled with nostalgia as I relived those wonderful days with all my old pals. I especially liked the story of our invasion practicesnever in the history of horse play have so many been so confused by so few. I honestly think youve got the spirit of the Eagles just right; in our seriousness and in our damned foolishness youve understood us and somehow youve managed to get it all on paper. Thanks, really, and from all of us.
Incidentally, when will we have the pleasure of your remarkable countenance around here again? It would be a particular pleasure to see you now because things are letting up a bit. I saw one squat, myopic dreg of the Luftwaffe the other day but I couldnt catch him before he leapt into a cloud, and so there was no fun.
We had a powerful do in London the other night. We all took in Du Barry was a Lady. Afterward the usual dynamiting of the West End took place, and then came the bleary-eyed journey home. Sorry I didnt give you a buzz, but the activity was too intense.
Once again, Colonel, congratulations on the book, its really good. You have our biggest vote of thanks. I hope to see you and Robbie soon. In the meantime, keep weaving.
Yours,
Gus
ILLUSTRATIONS
Bob Sprague (frontispiece)
Outside dispersal
Inside dispersal
Scramble
Inside the cockpit
War planes
Robbie
The Thatched
A Dorniers last dive
Death in four scenes
Heil Hitler!
German bomber
Anti-aircraft
Loading anti-aircraft
Ack-ack
London and its searchlights
Britains greeting to German bombers
The guns in action
The guns brought this one down
The guns again
All-American
Mike Kolendorski
Red Tobin
Squadron Leader Peterson, DSO, DFC
Audrey
Pete
Peterson in action
Rendezvous and target
Packed in close
Peeling off
Andy Mamedoff, Shorty Keough, Red Tobin
Mike Kolendorski
T. P. McGerty
Flight Lieutenant Humphrey Gilbert, DFC
Gene Potter
Jerko Gray after shooting down an FW
Jerko describing the battle
Bob Sprague
Daymonds most exciting fight
Pilot Officer W. J. Hollander
Uncle Sam Mauriello, DFC
After the first fight
Diagram of a dog fight
Dieppe scoreboard
Wing Commander Duke-Woolley, DFC and bar
Coen and McPharlin get three
Watchers by day
Watchers by night
The eye of night
Searchlight battery
Spitfire diving to attack
Dornier 217
Spitfire
Messerschmitt 109F
Heinkel 111
Focke-Wulf 190
Junkers 88
Insignia of ranks in RAF and USAAF
Andy
Fenlaw and his bride
Spitfires in formation
Hurricanes in formation
Wee Michael
Balloon barrage
Balloonatic
Convoy balloon
Daymond in battle dress
Doc Osborne
German flak
The green fields of England
Flak gun
Armorers loading cannon
