Yanks in the RAF: The Story of Maverick Pilots and American Volunteers Who Joined Britain's Fight in WWII
Language: English
Pages: 281
ISBN: 1633880222
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
This is the story of American volunteer pilots who risked their lives in defense of Britain during the earliest days of World War II—more than a year before Pearl Harbor, when the United States first became embroiled in the global conflict. Based on interviews, diaries, personal documents, and research in British, American, and German archives, the author has created a colorful portrait of this small group who were our nation’s first combatants in World War II.
As the author’s research shows, their motives were various: some were idealistic; others were simply restless and looking for adventure. And though the British air force needed pilots, cultural conflicts between the raw American recruits and their reserved British commanders soon became evident. Prejudices on both sides and lack of communication had to be overcome.
Eventually, the American pilots were assembled into three squadrons known as the Eagle squadrons. They saw action and suffered casualties in both England and France, notably in the attack on Dieppe. By September 1942, after America had entered the war, these now experienced pilots were transferred to the US air force, bringing their expertise and their British Spitfires with them.
As much social as military history, Yanks in the RAF sheds new light on a little-known chapter of World War II and the earliest days of the sometimes fractious British-American alliance.
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Ministry got its American squadron, despite all objections. There was opposition on the American side as well. Some objections had historical roots, while others stemmed from the official taboos set down by the Neutrality Act. In US history textbooks, for instance, every red-blooded American was taught that Great Britain had been the traditional enemy of the United States since 1776. Even though the two countries had been allies during the First World War, this ill-feeling continued right into.
No fighter planes that could hope to compete with the Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt Bf 109s—which the pilots of the Eagle Squadron would eventually find out for themselves. Lend-Lease, which was passed by Congress in March 1941, helped to simplify Britain's war effort. But the event that really took the pressure off took place three months later, on June 22, when Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Adolf Hitler had the idea of overrunning Russia in a short, dramatic campaign, just as his armies had.
The final say on victory claims, “are being changed to reflect his fact.” Dunn was serving as an air strike plans officer at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, when the letter reached him. “I was certainly glad to have the matter settled,” he later said, even though it had taken over a quarter of a century. Squadron Leader William Taylor left 71 Squadron and the Royal Air Force in June 1941.12 He was followed by a succession of British commanding officers, which did not stop the press and news.
Stuck in his mind. Like the time the playful pilots of 121 Squadron decided to turn on all the bathtub taps and flood the officers’ mess. Or when 71 Squadron pilots played a game of indoor football, using a soda siphon for a ball, and wrecked all the furniture. The new arrivals of 133 Squadron were warned not to repeat any of these charming boyish pranks. When 133 Squadron posted to Kirton, 121 Squadron was moved from Kirton to North Weald. This was greeted with wild enthusiasm. They were now.
Pilots, it was only a cursory inspection—only the top layer of clothing in each suitcase was examined. If the agents had bothered to search underneath, they would have found the evidence they were looking for: flying helmets, goggles, and logbooks. Satisfied with their luggage and their answers, the two federal agents passed the two Americans and wished them good luck. The two visitors to Canada would need all the luck they could get in the coming months—they were Red Tobin and Andy Mamedoff.