General Dwight D. Eisenhower

General Dwight D Eisenhower inspects photographs from a raid by the 386th Bomb Group. Image stamped on reverse: 'US Official Photo, Keystone Press.' [stamp], 21 Apr 1944.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse :'US Official Photograph No. Distributes through OWI. Gen Eisenhower inspects raid photos. Nine Air Force Headquarters: During an inspection of a Ninth Air Force B-26 Marauder Medium Bombers station in England, General Dwight Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in the European Theatre of Operations looks on strike photographs and is evidently tickled by them. With him are left to right: Major General Lewis H Brereton, commanding general of the Ninth Air Force, Lt Col Sherman E Beaty, the Chief and Col Herbert B Thatcher, commanding officer of a Ninth medium bomber base. 845/f. Keystone 479324.'

The ‘brass’ visit Debden on April 1, 1944. (L-R) Brig General Jesse Auton, 65th Fighter Wing CO; Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower; Lt General Carl Spaatz, commander of US Strategic Air Forces; Mag General James Doolittle, commander of the 8th Air Force; Maj General William Kepner, head of VII Fighter Command; Col Don Blakeslee, commander of the 4th Fighter Group.

Video featuring Captain Don Gentile after returning from a mission and Don Gentile and Don Blakeslee being awarded their DFCs by General Eisenhower at Debden. The sergeant guiding Shangri-La while taxing is John Ferra, Gentile's Crew Chief. The pilot sitting on the wing talking to Gentile is Captain Johnny Godfrey. The man standing beside Eisenhower is General Jesse Auton.

General Dwight D Eisenhower is assisted into the cockpit of a plane by Lt Colonel Dunn during his inspection tour of an air base somewhere in Italy, as Colonel Elliott Roosevelt looks on. 90th Photo Recon Wing. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A23270-76091AC.

General Eisenhower awards Colonel Don Blakeslee, 4th Fighter Group CO, the Distinguished Service Cross after pinning the same award on Captain Don Gentile, 4th Fighter Group pilot. This scene was actually a reenactment for the press. The general had already previously given Blakeslee and Gentile their awards during a ceremony in the Debden briefing room, void of nosey cameramen. Official caption on back: “England - General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the Invasion Forces, presents the Distinguished Service Cross, second highest U.S. Award, to Colonel Donald J. M. Blakeslee, Commanding Officer of the ETO’s highest scoring fighter group accounting for 405 e/a ‘kills’. Colonel Blakeslee with 10 ‘kills’ to his credit, holds Distinguished Flying Cross and three clusters, Air Medal and three clusters, British Star and British Distinguished Flying Cross presented to him by King George at Buckingham Palace. Capt. Don S. Gentile, 23, of Piqua, Ohio, credited with highest record of ‘kills’ totaling thirty (23 in the air and 7 on ground) has just been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Eisenhower. Capt. Gentile holds the Distinguished Flying Cross and three clusters, Air Medal and three clusters, and British Star.” Spring, 1944.

"Gen Dwight W Eisenhower smiles from the cockpit of Son of Satan. He said "if these engines start I'll come straight through this window"."

"Gen Dwight W Eisenhower supreme commander of allied forces tried out the controls of B-26 Son of Satan. The B-26, veteran of 60 missions over the continent is piloted by Lt Col Sherman R Beaty of Hoqiam, WA, attached to the 386th BG at Great Dunmow England."

"General of the army Dwight D Eisenhower, wearing his five star insignia, prepares to board a plane at a Ninth AF base on the continent after a conference with Major Gen Hoyt S Vandenburg, commander of the ninth AF."

Debden Airfield. General Dwight Eisenhower pinning the DFC on Captain Don Gentile's tunic. Colonel Don Blakeslee (right) is soon to be awarded with the same. This is when the general famously called Gentile a "one-man air force".