Albert Freemont Eckert
MilitaryLogbook
Albert joined the Royal Canadian Air Force before the USA joined the war and served a fighter pilot.
He served in Britain with several different RAF squadrons:
No. 96 Squadron
No. 131 Squadron (joined in December 1941)
No. 185 Squadron (joined in October 1942)
From 'Spitfires over Malta' by Paul Lovell:
'After training initially in Canada and then in Scotland he joined his first squadron No.96, before being posted to 131 Squadron in December 1941, with them he carried out dangerous fighter sweeps over the channel and in to occupied northern France.'
'In August 1942 during Operation Jubilee, the raid on Dieppe, he had a quarter share in the destruction of a German Dornier bomber. The following month he shot down a Fw 190 into the sea off Selsy Bill, west Sussex. The German aircraft had been one of several that had just bombed and machine-gunned the town of Selsy.'
Albert flew Spitfires from Malta with No. 185 Squadron from October 1942 to March 1943. Later that year he returned to the USA and transferred to the US Army Air Forces and served with the 321 Squadron and then with the 311 Squadron flying P-47 Thunderbolts.
His daughter remembers:
'After Dad transferred to the USAAF he was in the 321st squadron in July 1943, then he transferred to the 311 Squadron in August 1943. I cannot tell from the logbook how long he stayed with that squadron, however, I do see from letters he wrote to my grandmother, that he was sent from the group, stationed in Australia, back to the US in March or April of 1944 because he had a cinder removed from his eye, which left his vision a little off and the doctor would not release him right away to go back to combat flying.'
Read more of Paul Lovell's account here: https://www.facebook.com/Spitfires-Over-Malta-224398990951396/
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Nicknames: The Gravesend Shrimp
Missions
- Date: 19 August 1942
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
27 December 1918 | ||
Born Married |
|||
Other Flew with No. 185 Squadron |
|||
Other Flew with No. 131 Squadron |
Revisions
Medals information supplied by Albert's daughter, Gwen. In addition to the American medals listed in the record, Albert was also awarded the British General Service Ribbon and Africa Star.
Spitfires over Malta by Paul Lovell - Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Spitfires-Over-Malta-224398990951396/
Correspondence with Albert's daughter, Gwen.
Also see: https://www.facebook.com/224398990951396/photos/pb.224398990951396.-220…
And:
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?14063-P-O-Albert-F-ECKE…