Frank H Mears

Military
media-25395.jpeg UPL 25395 Colonel Frank H. Mears
Commander - 57th Fighter Group

Object Number - UPL 25395 - Colonel Frank H. Mears Commander - 57th Fighter Group

"If we are to look at firsts, the 57th Fighter Group is one, the first American Fighter Group to be used in the role of tactical air operations. With the activation of the 9th Air Force, the 57th F.G. was its first assigned fighter group. In turn it was ordered to join the R.A.F. Desert force in the North African campaign. The 57th was to fight WITH the R.A.F. The R.A.F. pilots taught the U.S. pilots the basics of Desert Air Warfare, and Ground personnel in turn learned about movement. As the U.S. Fighter force grew, the 57th F.G. was to teach the 79th and 324 F.G.'s about tactical air operations at the group level. The German Air Arm was soon taught that to take on the U.S. Fighter pilot in a turning, 50 Cal. armed P-40's was a no future deal. The 57th Fighter Group was asked to do a job, and then left to do it. We were FIRST."



--Frank H. Mears

Col. USAF (Ret.)

Connections

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Units served with

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Halfar Airifield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Commander - 57th Fighter Group

28 June 1942 - 23 December 1942

Died

4 August 2003

Buried

9 August 2003 Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery San Diego San Diego County California, USA Plot: SECTION CBAA ROW 1 SITE 165

Born

15 December 2010

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA files verified Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and one Air Medal, all awarded under General Orders in 1943.

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