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Military
A sketch of the "Boxing Chicken" fighting eagle insignia of the 4th Fighter Group riding a P-47 Thunderbolt by Sergeant Milton S Osterday. Based on the original character design by Disney Artist Hank Porter. Milton Osterday, the artist also did the aircraft silhouettes on the bar of the enlisted men's club at Debden, known as the Belly Tank Bar. He later became an art teacher in a college in Ohio. Photograph of the artwork on one end of the Nissen Hut taken by CWO Edward Richie. Handwritten on slide: Mural at Debden Ed Richie"
Aerial photograph of the west end of Debden airfield, looking north east, the control towers and three hangars of the technical site are in the centre, 7 March, 1943. Photograph taken on sortie number RAF/AC276. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
Debden, home of the 4th Fighter Group.
Debden, home of the 4th Fighter Group.
![The Duchess of Kent inspects personnel of 4th Fighter Group during a royal visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into the war. Keystone Photo Shows: The Duchess of Kent reviews the men and Officers at the Field, while beside her Col. B. Anderson, of Tampa, Fla., Commanding Officer of the Field. SG/US-Pool/B. Keystone (13).' On reverse: Keystone Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](http://americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-401168.jpg?itok=c6R9Cw1s)
The Duchess of Kent inspects personnel of 4th Fighter Group during a royal visit to Debden, June 1943. Passed for publication 25 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Duchess Of Kent Presents Plaques To Former Eagle Squadron Pilots. H.R.H. The Duchess of Kent visited a U.S. Army Air Station and presented plaques bearing the Eagle Squadron insignia to men who served in the Eagle Squadrons of the R.A.F. prior to the entry of the U.S.A. into the war. Keystone Photo Shows: The Duchess of Kent reviews the men and Officers at the Field, while beside her Col. B. Anderson, of Tampa, Fla., Commanding Officer of the Field. SG/US-Pool/B. Keystone (13).' On reverse: Keystone Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].
William G "Bill" Curtin (Centre), who worked in the Operations Room at Debden from 1941-1943 with a British colleague, two American airmen of the 4th Fighter Group and a lady from the Red Cross. Curtin's Grandson believes the image was taken in 1943.
4th Fighter Group Memorial at former RAF Debden.
4th Fighter Group Memorial at former RAF Debden.
Military | Colonel | Fighter pilot, Commanding Officer | 4th Fighter Group
Don Blakeslee was born on 11 September 1917 in Fairport Harbor, Ohio. As a boy, he became captivated with planes while watching the Cleveland National Air Races held only 30 miles away from his home at 529 7th St, Fairport Harbor, Ohio. In 1938,...
Headquarters
The Headquarters Squadron was made up of true leaders. Most had flown Hurricanes, Spitfires, Thunderbolts and Mustangs.
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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...
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 16 September 2019 13:35:23 | gregr | Changes to middlename, nickname, highest rank, person associations, unit associations, place associations and media associations |
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I am the proud Grandson of Sgt Albin Soblicas and would love to learn more of his service record etc. with the 334th / 4th Fighter Group |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:03:12 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/4th-headquarters---ground.html |
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