Gene Bailey Fetrow
MilitaryBorn August 27, 1918 in Torrance, California. He attended Chaffey High School, Ontario, Calif. and worked for Douglas Aircraft, Santa Monica, Calif. as an Inspector for the A-20 final assembly line and experimental department. He volunteered for service in the Royal Air Force in the early part of 1941. He received flight training at Polaris Flight Academy, Glendale, Calif. which was also known as Cal-Aero under the command of Major Mosley[6.1 hours in the Ryan ST, 30.3 in the Stearman, 18.2 in the Vultee BT- 13, 1.3 in the AT-6, and 5.5 in the Spartan 7-W. his experience included 18 hours on instruments and 13 in the Link trainer]. Having shipped overseas to the ETO he was assigned to 53 OTU where he began flying Spitfires. From this station he was assigned to the 121 Eagle Squadron at North Weald, England flying the Spitfire Mark VB in combat. On his 56th mission while escorting light attack bombers on the Dieppe Commando Raid he was shot down by a Fw190 with an incredible full-deflection shot ! Fortunately he was able to bailout of the burning plane and landed in the Dieppe Harbor where he was rescued by the returning commandos. In the latter part of 1942 the 121 Eagle Squadron transferred into the USAAF as the 335th FS of the 4th FG, Eighth Air Force. The Group was equipped with P-47D Razor-Back. This was the first group to put the P-47 Thunderbolt into operation.
Assigned to Rome Field as a test pilot upon return to the ZI. Elevated to Chief Test Pilot. Left the USAAF after the war with the rank of Major. In the construction business in Ontario, California. Co-owner/operator of a firm that built heavy-duty dumping trailers.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: Spitfire
- Unit: No 121 'Eagle' Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Torrance, CA, USA | 28 August 1918 | Born - 28 August 1918 Torrance, CA. |
Other Shot down |
Rue du Port d'Ouest, 76200 Dieppe, France | 19 August 1942 | On his 56th mission while escorting light attack bombers on the Dieppe Raid he was shot down by a Fw190 with an incredible full-deflection shot ! Baled out and landed in Dieppe Harbour where he was rescued by the returning commandos |
Other Transferred |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 14 September 1942 | Transferred to 335th FS, 4th FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Died |
Ontario, CA, USA | 1 April 2004 | Died - 1 April 2004 Ontario, CA. |
Other Joined RAFVR |
Canada | Joined Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. | |
Other Service pilot training |
Glendale, CA, USA | Service pilot training in US. Polaris Flight Academy, Glendale, California. | |
Other Shipped Overseas |
Merseyside, UK | Shipped Overseas to ETO. | |
Other Operational training |
Heston, Hounslow, Hounslow, Greater London TW5, UK | Operational training at No 53 OTU. Conversion to Hurricane and Spitfires. | |
Other Assigned |
Kirton in Lindsey, Gainsborough, North Lincolnshire DN21, UK | Assigned to 121 Eagle Sqn RAF. | |
Buried |
Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, March Air Reserve Base, CA 92518, USA | Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, California, USA. |
Revisions
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine.
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3542
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/335_f…
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine.
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3542
http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/uploads/8/2/0/3/8203817/335_f…
EAGLES of the RAF - The World War II Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D Caine.
http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3542
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/pilots.html