Urban L Drew

Military
Fighter Ace Lieutenant Urban L. "Ben" Drew, formerly of the 361st Fighter Group, in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, with the 414th Fighter Group, 10th Air Force. media-456505.jpg FRE 9389 Fighter Ace Lieutenant Urban L. "Ben" Drew, formerly of the 361st Fighter Group, in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, with the 414th Fighter Group, 10th Air Force. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 9389 - Fighter Ace Lieutenant Urban L. "Ben" Drew, formerly of the 361st Fighter Group, in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, with the 414th Fighter Group,...

Urban L "Ben" Drew joined the US Army Air Force in 1942, and trained P-51 Mustang pilots after graduating from Marian, Florida. He arrived in England in October 1944 and joined the 361st Fighter Group. Drew completed 75 missions with the 361st and became an Ace, claiming 6 kills. Drew notably shot down two ME 262 on 7 October 1944, he had encountered an ME 262 on a previous mission, and reported his experience to Allied intelligence. On a mission in early October 1944, Drew was grounded for performing a victory roll. His punishment was repealed when intelligence reported Me 262s near Brux and Drew, with prior experience of the aircraft, was tasked with leading the mission. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for heroism, but as Drew's gun camera failed during the mission, and his appeal for the Distinguished Flying Cross was denied. He eventually received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1983 after the German Luftwaffe archives and the American Air Force archives confirmed both kills.



After completing his tour of duty in the European Theatre, Drew returned to the United States, working at various training bases. In 1945 he was transferred to Iwo Jima, Japan in the Pacific Theatre of Operations flying P-47 Thunderbolts with the 413th Squadron, 414th Fighter Group, 10th Air Force.



Following the War he started an aviation business in Britain and South Africa.



6 aerial kills, one ground kill, one water kill (shot down first ever two Me-262's), sank and burned largest aircraft in world, the Blohm & Voss BV238-V1 on 18 September 1944.Hitler was going to use it to bomb Washington and New York



AFC/ 2 DFCs/ 17 AMs

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

A P-51 Mustang (E2-S, serial number 44-13926) of the 357th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group.
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (E2-D_, serial number 44-14164) nicknamed "Detroit Miss" of the 361st Fighter Group at Little Walden. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Little Walden, Detroit Miss, E2.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Detroit Miss, Phyll
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Detroit, Michigan 21 March 1924

Other

Shot down two ME 262

Near Achmer, Germany 7 October 1944

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD)

Other

Promoted

Other

Transferred to Pacific Theatre of Operations

Iwo Jima, Japan

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / self, Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force

Urban L Drew: Gallery (17 items)