Reason for loss:

Took-off on patrol landed on fire at Tangmere. Written off due to battle damage following combat with Ju87 Stuka over Bognor, 1300; William sadly suffered server burns and died later that day.

Billy joined the RCAF and later transferred to the RAF. He was sadly to become the first United States Citizen to be killed in the second world war conflict.

From left to right are William Nichols; Ed Bateman; Mike Kolendorski,;
Bill Taylor; Andy Mamedoff; Eugene 'Red' Tobin; Nat Marantz,; Luke Allen; Peter Provenzano;
Kenneth S. Taylor; Reginald Tongue (a British pilot on temporary assignment); Gus Daymond; and Sam Muriello.

The unit was pronounced operational during February 1941, when it moved to Martlesham Heath in Suffolk, within North Weald’s sector.

The Lend-Lease policy, formally titled An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States, (Pub.L. 77–11, H.R. 1776, 55 Stat. 31, enacted March 11, 1941)[1] was an American program to defeat Germany, Japan and Italy by distributing food, oil, and materiel between 1941 and August 1945. Read More -

During May the unit re-equipped with Hurricane Mk.IIA’s and began operational sorties. During this month they suffered their first loss when Mike Kolendorski was killed during a fighter sweep over Holland.

REASON FOR LOSS: Californian Pole Pilot Officer ‘Mike’ Kolendorski was the first American Volunteer ‘Eagle’ killed in action. He was shot down off Clacton, 1810 hrs. 17th May 194l, by Bf 1O9Es from JG 53 after breaking away from his formation during 71 Squadron’s first Channel patrol. First reported missing on this date his body was later washed ashore in the Netherlands.