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U.S.A.A.F. Losses 1941
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United States involvement during the Interim period leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbour December 7th 1941

Stacks Image 161


Although America did not enter World War II until the attack on Pearl Harbour December 7th 1941 Declaring war on Japan the following day, and Germany soon after. As soon as England declared war on Germany in 1939 aircrew training began in the U.S.A., These would eventually form the three Eagle Squadrons, manned by American volunteers, that were formed in Britain during the autumn of 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain. They were the brainchild of Charles Sweeny, a highly successful American businessman living in London. A screening program was organised in the United States to process the thousands of volunteer pilots for the RAF and RCAF. By the time America officially entered the war, with the bombing of Pearl Harbour, 50,000 applications were received and 6,700 pilots were cleared for service. This early activity relating to American airmen serving in the R.A.F. prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbour is reproduced here relating to these early Eagle squadron losses.

The first all-American Squadron formed was No.71 Squadron, based at Church Fenton near York, although for a while they were commanded by British Officers. The first recruits were three pilots that had joined the RAF earlier in the year, seeing combat with No.609 squadron at Warmwell during the Battle of Britain. These were Eugene ‘Red’ Tobin, Andrew Mamedoff and Vernon ‘Shorty’ Keough and they joined on September 19th 1940.

Things moved quickly during the next few months and the unit received its first combat ready aircraft when nine Hurricane Mk.I’s arrived on November 7th. The unit was then sent to Kirton-in-Lindsey later that month and their numbers continued to grow.

Also listed here, American involvement in China relating to Flying Tiger volunteers.

The loss of William "Billy" Mead Lindsley Fiske.

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.

71 Squadron re-equipped with Hurricane MK.IIA,s

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.

17.05.1941 71 Squadron Hurricane II Z3186 P/O Kolendorski. Location English Channel

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.

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