Strana 8
den, approximately 13 miles south of Cambridge, for the entire
duration of its combat operations. Debden had previously been
home to the aforementioned RAF Eagle Squadrons, specically
the 71st and 121st. One of the peculiarities of the 4th FG, com-
pared to other groups of the VIII FC, was the use of British Spit-
res in the rst six months of its operation. The Spitres were
subsequently replaced by P-47s, and after another year, in April
1944, by P-51s.
During the 4th FG’s operation, its pilots were credited with
destroying more than 1,000 enemy aircraft, making it the most
successful ghter group in the entire 8th AF in terms of the num-
ber of aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground.
The white stripe across the engine cowling – the identication
mark of the 4th FG’s Thunderbolts – was also applied to the unit’s
rst Mustangs. It was later replaced by red paint. Initially, this
was also sprayed in the form of a stripe across the nose, but later
it was extended in an arc across the lower part of the engine
cowling to the leading edge of the wing. The propeller spinner
was also red, and sometimes the red section on the engine was
complemented by a small red and white checkerboard pattern.
ski, Col. Donald M. Blakeslee,
Capt. Don S. Gentile, and Lt-
Col. Claiborne H. Kinnard, Jr.
Some the unit commanders
were men whose successes
were primarily associated
with their service in units of
the other two ghter wings of
the VIII Fighter Command, in-
cluding Col. John D. Landers
and Col. John C. Meyer.
Col. Jesse Auton com-
manded the 65th FW for most
of its time in Europe. In 1944,
the 65th FW consisted of ve
ghter groups: the 4th, 56th,
355th, 361st and 479th). How-
ever, this composition was not
entirely stable, with some
groups being temporarily de-
tached and others were added. Combat experience also led to
the establishment of additional units to support the wing’s ac-
tivities, primarily the Scouting Force and the Emergency Rescue
Squadron.
4th Fighter Group
Debden Eagles
The group was formed on August 22, 1942. It was based on
American volunteers with combat experience from serving in the
RAF, where they formed the core of the Eagle Squadrons. Now
under American command, they returned to combat in October
1942. With a few minor exceptions, the 4th FG was based at Deb-
Brigadier General Jesse D. Auton,
commander of the 65th FW.
On 25 March 1944, Brigadier General Jesse D. Auton pinned
a second DFC on Captain Don S. Gentile of the 4th FG.
Maintenance of the P-51D s/n 44-13315 VF-W ‘Djigooblie II’
from the 336th FS, which was mostly own by Lt. Warren H.
“Willie” Williams.
One of the iconic Mustangs of
the 4th FG – Don S. Gentile’s
P-51B 43-6913 VF-T ‘Shangri-La’.
Gentile was one of the 4th FG
pilots who formed the core of
the unit upon its establishment,
due to his prior service with the
RAF’s 133rd Squadron. During
his service, he achieved 21.83
conrmed aerial victories, dam-
aged 3 aircraft, and destroyed
another 6 on the ground. This
does not include the Mustang
‘Shangri-La’ shown here, which
Gentile destroyed in a crash on
April 13, 1945, while perform-
ing a (too) low yby to pose for
journalists. The crash ended his
combat service at a time when
he was the acting top ace of the
8th Air Force.
4th FG,
early
variant
HISTORY
INFO Eduard8
April 2026