FRE 3349

IMAGE

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Lieutenant Urban L. Drew of the 361st Fighter Group. Passed for publication 10 Oct 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'USSTAF Photo. PRO-HQ-44. 2495. EA No. 39000. Fighter Pilot Bags Two Nazi Jet Planes In One Day - 1st Lt. Urban L. Drew of 14652 Hazelridge Ave., Detroit, Mich., after he landed at his Eighth Air Force fighter base Oct. 7 after he became the first AAF pilot to shoot down two of the Luftwaffe's twin-jet propelled ME-262's. The Detroit pilot spotted the enemy aircraft from 15,000 feet. He did not know they were jet-propelled planes at the time. He waited until they got into the air and then sent his P-51 Mustang into a 450 m.p.h. dive after them. Lt. Drew got the first one with a short burst and a few seconds later hit the leader. The latter jettisoned his canopy, rolled over and exploded sending up a large column of smoke. At the same time Lt. Drew looked back to see his first victim explode in a brilliant red flame reaching a thousand feet down to the ground. The Me-262s were flying about 200 m.p.h. when Lt. Drew caught them. Lt. Drew flies a plane called "Detroit Miss" and has shot down four Nazis and destroyed one on the ground previously.' On reverse: 'Sacred' and SHAEF Field Press Censor [Stamps].

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Units

People

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.
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 375th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-812776
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection