![Lt. Col. Chesley G Peterson, [Santaquin, UT]. Group Commanding Officer. Col Peterson seen here in Spitfire Vb XR-Z of 334 Sqdn. In the Jeep are (L-R) Bob Boock; Oscar Coen; Abe O'Regan; Dick McMinn; Jim Clark and Stan Anderson.](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-14186.jpeg?itok=3d_8t0OL)
8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Stanley Moore Anderson
Military
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Lieutenant Robert Boock, Lieutenant James Clarke, Captain William T O'Regan, Lieutenant-Colonel Chesley G Peterson, Captain Richard McMinn, Captain Stanley Anderson and Captain Oscar Coen of the 4th Fighter Group with a Spitfire at Debden Passed by the U.S. Army censor on 30 March 1943. Printed caption attached to print: 'Lt. Col. Chesley G. Peterson D.S.O., D.F.C., U.S. Army Air Force 4th (crossed through with censor's red pencil) Group Britain, who formerly commanded the old Eagle Squadron, seen at an Air Force station somewhere in England with his flight group.' And '23478. Lt. Col. Chesley G. Peterson (centre) in front of his Spitfire has a talk with his flight group, and they seem very pleased with the raid they are going to carry out. S&G D.M.' L-R: Bob Boock, Jim Clark, Abe O'Regan, Chesley Peterson, Dick McMinn (in back), Stan Anderson, Oscar Coen.
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Eagle Squadron members L - R: Robert Book, James Clark, William O'Regan, Chesley Peterson, Richard McMinn, Stan Anderson and Oscar Coen. Spitfire XR-Z in the background.
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![Lt. Col. Chesley G Peterson, [Santaquin, UT]. Group Commanding Officer. Col Peterson seen here in Spitfire Vb XR-Z of 334 Sqdn. In the Jeep are (L-R) Bob Boock; Oscar Coen; Abe O'Regan; Dick McMinn; Jim Clark and Stan Anderson.](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/media/media-14186.jpeg?itok=8zRsgHS7)
Lt. Col. Chesley G Peterson, [Santaquin, UT]. Group Commanding Officer. Col Peterson seen here in Spitfire Vb XR-Z of 334 Sqdn. In the Jeep are (L-R) Bob Boock; Oscar Coen; Abe O'Regan; Dick McMinn; Jim Clark and Stan Anderson.
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Wing Commander Raymond Duke-Wooley (centre), who led the Debden Wing, remained to lead the 4th Fighter Group while it gained experience. With him are Lt. Stanley M. Anderson (left) and Lt. W. Brewster Morgan.
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Groundcrew survey the landing gear of P-47C 'WELA KAHAO!'. Assigned to 1st Lts. Stanley Anderson and Walter 'Lulu' Hollander of the 334th Fighter Squadron, the Thunderbolt's art was created by prolific 4th Fighter Group crew chief Don Allen to honour Hollander's Honolulu, Hawaii, home, but the pilot was transferred to the 6th Fighter Wing before he could fly any missions in this particular aircraft.
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1st Lt Stanley Anderson 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF a former 71 Eagle Sqn RAF P/O. Poses in front of P-47 42-8644 QP-X "Lilliput".
Joined RAFVR, assigned to 71[Eagle] Sqn RAF, transferred to 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF.
Shot down by Fw190 over the North Sea off the coast between Ostend and Blankenberghe, Belgium in P-47 41-6407. Killed in action KIA 15-4-44.
DFC, AM with 3 Oak Leaf Cluster, PH.
Along with squadron-mate Capt. Richard D McMinn, they were the first combat fatalities suffered by the 4th Fighter Group flying the P-47 Thunderbolt.
Service
Units served with
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334th Fighter Squadron
Squadron
The 334th Fighter Squadron was the successor to No. 71 Eagle squadron of the Royal Air Force when the 4th Fighter Group was activated on 12 September 1942. They were based at Debden Field, Essex. The "Fighting Eagles" as they were called, flew... -
No. 71 'Eagle' Squadron
Squadron
'On 19 September 1940, No. 71 was reformed at Church Fenton as the first 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American personnel. The Squadron received Hurricanes in November and became operational on defensive duties on 5 February 1941. No. 71 converted...
Aircraft
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41-6538 WELA KAHAO!, Flak Bait
P-47 Thunderbolt
This aircraft was the mount of Captains Walter J. Hollander and Stanley M. M. Anderson of the 334th fighter Squadron whilst it was with the 4th Fighter Group. ... -
41-6407
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic P-47C Thunderbolt 41-6407 QP-E 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF. Assigned to pilot Lt. Vincent R "Bud" Castle. Lost on 15 April 43, pilot Capt Stanley M M Anderson Killed In Action KIA.
Associated Place
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Debden
Military site : airfield
RAF Debden, construction of which began in 1935, is perhaps most famous as a Battle of Britain fighter airfield, partly responsible for the defence of London in 1940. In 1942 it was also home to three RAF 'Eagle Squadrons’ of volunteer American pilots... -
Kirton-in-Lindsey
Military site : airfield
Used as an RFC and RAF Home Defence landing ground during the First World War, Kirton-in-Lindsey was built during 1938-40 as an RAF fighter station. It had two grass runways, 10 hardstandings, three grouped C hangars and four over-blister hangars....
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Joined RAFVR | 1941 | |
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Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. |
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| Assigned | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 3 March 1942 – 29 September 1942 |
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Assigned to 71[Eagle] Sqn RAF. |
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| Transferred | Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 29 September 1942 – 15 April 1944 |
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Transferred to 334th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF USAAF. |
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| Promotion | Debden, Saffron Walden CB11, UK | 29 September 1942 |
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Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. |
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| Promotion | Debden, Saffron Walden CB11, UK | January 1943 |
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Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
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| Promotion | Debden, Saffron Walden CB11, UK | 1944 |
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Promoted to Captain. |
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| Died | Off Ostend, Belgium | 15 April 1944 |
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Shot down by Fw190 over the North Sea off the coast between Ostend and Blankenberghe, Belgium in P-47 41-6407. Killed in action KIA 15-4-44 |
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| Buried | 1945 | |
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Tablets of the missing. Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, Henri-Chapelle. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 19 July 2016 20:20:43 | Al_Skiff | Changes to biography and events |
| Sources | ||
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 02 October 2015 18:01:58 | Al_Skiff | Changes to middlename, biography, awards, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3497 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 April 2015 18:45:14 | apollo11 | Changes to highest rank, biography, events and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Personal research & 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris Bucholtz. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 April 2015 20:23:30 | apollo11 | Changes to middlename |
| Sources | ||
Personal research & 4th Fighter Group 'Debden Eagles' by Chris bucholz. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:25:21 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey, p. 103 / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list |
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