American Spitfire Aces of World War 2

In the Lafayette tradition

Although the United States did not enter World War 2 until December 1941, by then a significant number of American citizens had seen action in the British cause as fighter pilots serving with the Royal Air Force. These men were following in a tradition of foreign service established during World War 1 when, from 1915, American volunteers that had enlisted in the French army began transferring to the French air service. Eventually, in April of the following year, the French agreed to the formation of a unit composed of American pilots, and so the Escadrille Americaine - officially known as N124 - was formed. However, because of German objections since the USA was still neutral, in December 1916 it was renamed the Escadrille Lafayette.

With the unit's growing success came increased fame, resulting in a flow of American volunteers seeking service with N124, although applicants did not always serve with this Escadrille. Nevertheless, all these men passed through the Lafayette Flying Corps, which was a body established to assist Americans seeking service with the French air service. The Escadrille Lafayette had been credited with 41 confirmed victories by the time it was transferred to the US Air Service in February 1918.

When Britain again went to war with Germany in September 1939, a number of adventurous young Americans - some of them experienced pilots - volunteered their services, often travelling to the UK via Canada, while others were recruited in the USA. Some saw action over France and England in the spring of 1940, while the first American pilots to fly the Spitfire began their training with No 7 Operational Training Unit in early July, just as the Battle of Britain began.

The six Americans that flew Spitfires in this epic campaign were Plt Offs 'Art' Donahue (No 64 Sqn), Hugh Reilley (No 66 Sqn), 'Red' Tobin, 'Shorty' Keough and Andrew Mamedorf (all with No 609 Sqn) and Phil Leckrone (No 616 Sqn). The triumvirate of Americans sent to No 609 Sqn joined the unit at Middle Wallop on 5 August, and were described by one of the British officers as 'typical Americans - amusing, always ready with some devastating wisecrack, and altogether excellent company. Our three Yanks became a quite outstanding feature of the squadron'.

'Art' Donahue became the first American to see combat in a Spitfire when, on the day his compatriots joined No 609 Sqn, he flew a patrol over the coast near Dover in K9991. He wrote afterwards, 'My pulses pounded and my thoughts raced'. His inexperience was soon revealed, for his Spitfire quickly ended up with a pair of Bf 109Es on its tail and was hit. 'It shook the aeroplane and was followed by a noise like hail on a tin roof', Donahue recounted. He managed to get down safely at Hawkinge, although his aircraft was badly damaged. During an action over convoy Peewit on the 8th, however, he became the first American to make a claim in a Spitfire when he damaged a Bf 109E, but on the afternoon of the 12th he baled out of X4018 wounded by burns and shrapnel after a fight with more Emils. Following four weeks in hospital recuperating, Donahue rejoined No 64 Sqn, before moving to Spitfire-equipped No 91 Sqn, with whom he eventually made five claims.