Chesley Gordon Peterson

Military
Chesley Peterson, of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, with his P-47 Thunderbolt, 30 March 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30-3-43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Sport & General, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps]. media-401061.jpg FRE 2262 Chesley Peterson, of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, with his Supermarine Spitfire, 30 March 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '30-3-43.' Printed caption removed from reverse. On reverse: Sport & General, US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau and US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Canopy is a Spitfire - "XR" squadron identifier denotes RAF 71 Squadron, which later became the nucleus of the AAF's 334th Fighter Squadron.

Object Number - FRE 2262 - Chesley Peterson, of the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, with his Supermarine Spitfire, 30 March 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse:...

Whilst serving with No. 71 Eagle Squadron, he was promoted to Flt Lt - the first American in the Eagle Squadrons to be promoted above the enlisted rank of Pilot Officer.

In October 1941 he received the RAF Distinguished Flying Cross, and in November that year he became Squadron Leader at the age of 21.

With the entry of the U.S. into the war, he eventually transferred to the USAAF with the 4th Fighter Group based at Debden. The transfer was completed on 12 September 1942, when the 4th Fighter Group was officially activated. Peterson was made a Major upon transfer. A month later he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

4th Fighter Group Commanding Officer, from 20 August 1943 to 23 December 1943.

On 15 April 1943 he had to bail out of his P-47 about 30 miles from the English coast when his plane caught fire. He was later picked up and returned to base. In August 1943 he became Commander of the 4th Fighter Group replacing Colonel Anderson, becoming the youngest Colonel in the USAAF. In October he was promoted to full Colonel at the age of 23. He was retired from flying duties, having completed 200 flying sorties, and left to serve as Combat Operations officer for the 9th Air Force and was credited with seven enemy aircraft destroyed. He served in Korea and Viet Nam and stayed in the service until retirement as a Major General in July 1970.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: British
  • Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 109187
  • Highest Rank: Squadron Leader
  • Role/Job: Fighter Controller
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Flight Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Nicknames: Mespotamia
  • Unit: 31st Transport Group No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: No 71 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: Spitfire
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron No 71 'Eagle' Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Salem, Idaho 10 August 1920

Died

Riverside, CA 28 January 1990
Santaquin, UT, USA

Buried

Riverside National Cemetery Riverside, Riverside County, CA Chesley Peterson rests at the Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

VA Gravesite Locator

Date
Changes
Sources

AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS OF WORLD WAR II - https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044…
"The Mighty Eighth", Roger Freeman.

Date
Contributorfugari
Changes
Sources

JCook Photo Collection & Archives

Date
ContributorWD-C Mustang
Changes
Sources

Fixed minor error in bio

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Eagle squadron re-alignment.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated media from the Freeman collection. Combined information from two records into one, additional information from Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM Database.

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Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

All information correct as far as I am aware.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Combined two entries for Chesley Peterson. This entry now includes information from the following sources:
http://littlefriends.co.uk/gallery.php?Group=4&Style=searchItem&Item=0&…

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/pilots.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
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, Aces of the Mighty 8th by Scutts and Stanaway pp. 102-103, National Gravesite Locator

Chesley Gordon Peterson: Gallery (25 items)