335th Fighter Squadron

Squadron
media-14531.jpeg UPL 14531 1 January 1945 - Pilots of the 335th Fighter Squadron pose for the camera.
TOP ROW L-R: Maj. Pierce W. McKennon (CO), Lt. August W. Rabe, F/O Lucian W. Freeman, Lt. Hugh W. Lindsay, Lt. Thomas H. Elffner, Lt. Calvin W. Willruth, Lt. Mack D. Heaton, Lt. Kenneth Green, Lt. Robert Hunter, Lt. George D. Green and Lt. Robert L. Couse.
SECOND ROW L-R: Lt. Orval C. Miles, Capt. William H. George, Lt. Charles L. Brock, Lt. Herman S. Rasmussen, Lt. Enoch Jungling, Capt. Albert J. Davis, Capt. Sheltoin W. Monroe, Lt. Robert A. Cammer, Lt. Loton D. Jennings and Lt. Robert C. Buchholz.
BOTTOM ROW L-R: Capt George H. Davis, Lt. Charles E. Konsler, Lt. Olin A. Kiser, Lt. Stanley W. Conners, Lt. Robert J. Mabie, Lt. Paul J. Lucas, Lt. David R. Allen, Lt. Henry A. Lee, Lt. Leslie L. Burgess, Lt. Robert C. Hawley, Lt. Charles B. Greenlese and Lt. James E. Halligan, Jr.

Object Number - UPL 14531 - 1 January 1945 - Pilots of the 335th Fighter Squadron pose for the camera. TOP ROW L-R: Maj. Pierce W. McKennon (CO), Lt. August W. Rabe, F/O Lucian...

The 335th Fighter Squadron was the offspring of No. 121 (Eagle) Squadron RAF. Formed on 21 May 1941, No. 121 was the second of the three Eagle Squadrons composed of American volunteers flying out of England. They were known as the "Chiefs" and were activated on 12 September 1942, and assigned to the 4th Fighter Group based at Debden aerodrome in Essex. 
They originally flew British Spitfires until they were replaced with P-47 Thunderbolts, which were in turn replaced by P-51 Mustangs a year later and were flown until the end of the war. The "Chiefs" were credited with destroying 262 enemy aircraft. 
Shortly after VE-Day the "Chiefs" were reassigned to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, and were deactivated in November 1945.

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Unit stations

Station Location Date

Based

Previously was

Encompassing

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Ground Personnel
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Role/Job: GP
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Corporal

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (WD-W_ , serial number 42-106429) nicknamed "Judy IV" of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant Harry E Jennings, 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Judy IV" WD-W_, 335FS, Spring '44. Source - W Jensen.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Judy IV
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (WD-U, 42-106438) of the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, flown by Lieutenant Curtis Simpson, after a forced landing in Switzerland, 19 July 1944. "P.51B Mustang , coded WD-U, right side three-quarter view, with mountainous background, which I said was in neutral country. It was, in fact, Switzerland, when Lt. Curtis Simpson was forced to abort a mission to Munich on 19th July, 1944, following a glycol leak." Information from Debden historian Keith Braybrooke
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 335th Fighter Squadron

Revisions

Date
ContributorHattie
Changes
Sources
Date
Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.

Date
Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

Personal research & 'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Units in the UK from ETOUSA Station List, as transcribed by Lt. Col. Philip Grinton (US Army, Retired) and extracted by IWM; air division data from L.D. Underwood, based on the 8th Air Force Strength Report of 6th August 1944, as published in 'The 8th Air Force Yearbook' by Lt. Col. John H Woolnough (1980)

335th Fighter Squadron: Gallery (208 items)