Unsung Eagles

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cory D. Payne
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Members from the 48th Fighter Wing and 100th Air Refueling Wing participated in a Battle of Britain parade with the British Army and Royal Air Force Sept. 16, 2012.

The Battle of Britain was fought in World War II from July - Oct. 1940 when the German Air Force, known as the Luftwaffe, began air raids against mainland England in an attempt to soften the RAF's defenses for an eventual ground invasion.

During these months, the RAF fought the Luftwaffe nearly every day over airfields and eventually over civilian cities. Hundreds of aircraft on both sides were destroyed and even more pilots and civilians were lost, but the RAF held the Luftwaffe back.

Few people know that during this historical aerial battle, there was a small band of American pilots who, at the time, broke U.S. law to help defend England from a German attack.

According to the Royal Air Force Museum, in 1940 an American living in London named Charles Sweeny recruited pilots from America with the intention of serving in the RAF to help defend Europe from Germany's invasion. After bringing this idea to the Air Ministry, they decided that the handful of recruited Americans and future recruits were to be formed into their own squadrons, coined the Eagle Squadrons.

Their numbers began to swell, and the First Eagle Squadron, No. 71 Squadron, was formed on Sept. 19, 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain. After several months of training and transitioning through several airframes, this American squadron became operational on February 5, 1941. In August, the squadron began flying offensive patrols out of RAF Kirton-on-Lindsay.

Shortly thereafter two more eagle squadrons, No. 121. and No. 133, were formed. Each one full of Americans who came to help defend England, even though it meant defying U.S. law.

The squadrons all participated in several defensive and offensive patrols to augment the RAF and help stem Germany's threats of invasion.

When the U.S. officially entered World War II, those who served in the eagle squadrons were pardoned by the U.S. government and transferred to the U.S. Army Air Corps where they went on to become the 334th, 335th and 336th Fighter Squadrons. Throughout World War II the units continued to see service in Europe.

Approximately 250 Americans served with the eagle squadrons; 78 were killed while serving the RAF and 16 were taken prisoners of war.

As with all who serve and sacrifice, these individuals should never be forgotten. U.S. Air Force personnel attended the Battle of Britain parade to represent not only Americans but all those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for the Allied powers.

On Sept. 29 Aviation Heritage Licolnshire will unveil a memorial to the Eagle Squadrons in the town of Kirton, with representatives from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.