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| Living HistoryWelcome lads and lasses to EagleSquadrons.com Living Historians section. We hope that you will enjoy our images of active Living Historians. Our collection includes people whom do impressions of World War Two era Eagle Squadrons, 4th Fighter Group, R.C.A.F. WD's and W.A.A.F. The photographs themselves vary on dates, some recent, others a few years old. We deem them all valuable, and we welcome your images as well. See You in the Clouds... |
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| KITWelcome to EagleSquadrons.com "Kit" section. If you wonder "what is kit"? Here are your answers. "Kit" is best defined as uniforms, flying gear, and other various/specific items used by Royal Air Force personnel. The definition is broad, and quite personal. And it can be dictated by ones own necessities during wartime. Whether you need an "Irvin" sheepskin flying jacket, or a leather jerkin while performing your R.A.F. duty, would determine if an item is included in your "kit". So there is great latitude in the definition, or interpretation, and we do not wish to debate what items are or are not "kit". We are using broad terms for a broad subject, but we always need more pictures of "kit" so please donate yours to expand this wonderful section EagleSquadrons.com. |
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|  | | Wartime OriginalWelcome to our Original “kit” section. This is where you will find Original Wartime dated uniforms from the Royal Air Force, W.A.A.F., and the U.S. Army Air Force. Please do not mistake them for items belonging to specific “Eagle Squadron” or 4th Fighter Group, etc. veterans, unless specifically noted. This section is to make original uniforms available to be viewed by Living Historians, collectors, and others interested in vintage clothing. We aim to inform, entertain, and educate. And Living Historians like to “get it right”, so we hope that the photos can answer questions you may have about specific details, or differences between wartime and more modern uniforms, including reproductions. Please investigate to your hearts content, and please submit photos of your Original items for all to enjoy! |
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| | | | | Eagle Squadrons Welcome to Eagle Squadrons.com origina “kit” section. These uniforms, flying gear, and other items are that which would have been most typically used by members of the Eagle Squadrons. Again, unless specifically noted, the items shown are vintage examples and not specific items owned by individual “Eagle” veterans. Thank you for your interest, and please submit pictures of your original “kit” to expand our knowledge and interest.
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| | | | | 4th Fighter GroupOur “Boxing Eagles”, 4th Fighter Group original “kit” section is to showcase the uniforms, flying gear, and a broad range of other items that would have been used by members of the 4th Fighter Group. One must realize that when the Eagle Squadrons were disbanded, the pilots and crews simply brought along their R.A.F. equipment with them into the U.S. Army Air Force. Suffice it to say, it is all they had, so an overlapping of R.A.F. equipment will be seen on this section of “kit”. And please remember, unless otherwise noted, these are not items used by an individual 4th Fighter Group veteran. Enjoy the photos, and we welcome you to add to our photo collection. Cheeeerio!! |
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| | | | | W.A.A.F. & R.C.A.F. W.D.'sWelcome fans of our beloved W.A.A.F. We too think that these brave and selfless ladies are all too frequently overlooked. But not here at EagleSquadrons.com! So we’ve included many photos of Original Wartime dated W.A.A.F. “kit”. These uniforms are rare, and it is important to have a resource like this to aid in ones research, and to feed ones curiosity. If you have any pictures of these wonderful pieces of history, please heed our plea, and submit them for all to enjoy! |
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| | | ReproductionIn our efforts to inform, educate, and entertain the visitors to EagleSquadrons.com we included this very special section. In recent years there has been a surge in numbers of those whom wish to engage in Living Historian activities, and we include ourselves in this group too. And it is often quite difficult to find original uniforms and other pieces necessary to accurately portray a soldier from a specific branch of service during World War Two. There are many companies in business to specifically feed the need of those, like us, whom desire to engage in this wonderful hobby/interest. We want to showcase these newly made pieces of history, and so we have opened this section of our website. We are interested in procuring pictures of Royal Air Force, W.A.A.F., U.S. Army Air Force, Enlisted/Other Ranks and Officers reproduction uniforms. Our library is small, but always expanding. Thank you! |
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| HistoryThis section of EagleSquadrons.com is our most important. Here is where those who served are to be honored and revered. These are the people who kept us free from the Axis. Please take time and look at the vintage photographs of our true heroes, and imagine how they played a most important role in keeping the world safe from the grasp of evil and horror. We are constantly adding information, photos, and an ever increasing database of those who gave all. |
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| | | Eagle SquadronsThe Eagle Squadrons were a Royal Air Force unit composed mostly of foreign volunteers. They had 240 pilots whom were Americans, and other personnel of various nationalities, who defended Britain against Nazi Germany from 1940-1942. Their fame and heroic actions during battle has been overlooked by many, yet none forgotten by the British themselves. The Eagle Squadrons were composed of three Squadrons, 71, 121, and 133. The majority of the Eagles were recruited by the Clayton Knight Committee, an organization whose sole purpose was to recruit Canadian and American volunteers to fly and fight for Britain. The “Eagles” deactivated as a fighting unit, on September 29th 1942. Many of its members were commissioned as Army Air Force Officers and served in the newly formed Fourth Fighter Group. |
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71 Squadron
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71 Eagle Squadron was established September 19th 1940, at Church Fenton, York, England. First commanded by Walter Churchill, a British national, the squadron became operational October 8th 1940. Their Aircraft Squadron code was “XR” in the RAF. First aircraft delivered to the unit were U.S. Brewster Buffalos, October 24 1940. These aircraft quickly became the first casualties of the squadron, being that they were intentionally ground looped, and rendered unserviceable. Hawker Hurricanes Is soon replaced the Buffalos in early November 1940. 71 Squadron’s next base of operations would be Kirton in Lindsay, England. This is where the training of England’s first Eagles resumed and where the squadron was declared operational in January 1941.
The squadrons first official aerial victory was claimed on July 2, 1941 and their first loss, William Hall, whom became a Prisoner of War. In August of 1941, 71 Squadron received its first Supermarine Spitfire IIa’s. Later in September 1941, the Squadron would be equipped with Spitfire Mk Vbs. The pilots of 71 Eagle Squadron would finish their R.A.F. careers flying Spitfires. All Squadrons, 71, 121, and 133 Eagle Squadrons were disbanded on September 29th, 1942 in Debden England.
40 files, last one added on Apr 05, 2007
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121 Squadron
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121 Eagle Squadron was established in May 1941 at Kirton in Lindsey, England. 121 Squadron was first commanded by Squadron Leader Peter Powell, an Englishman. In May 1941 the Squadron received its first Hawker Hurricanes Is, these aircraft were soon to be replaced by Hurricane IIs in July 1941, and the squadron was also activated on this date. Aircraft squadron code for all 121 Eagle Squadron airplanes was “AV”.
The squadron made contact with the enemy, for the first time, on August 8th. 1941. 121 pilots claimed a “probable” victory over a German Junkers 88 Bomber. The squadrons main task in their early operational days, were to fly convoy patrols.
The squadron was disbanded, and its personnel were transferred into the 335 Squadron, 4th Fighter Group on September 29th, 1942.
22 files, last one added on Mar 06, 2006
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133 Squadron
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133 Eagle Squadron was formed August 1st 1941. The Squadron was originally based at Coltishall, England. An Englisman transferee from 71 Squadron, George Brown, assumed command of the newly activated 133. Their first movement after activation was to be Duxford on August 16th, where its ranks grew, and made several other moves during her operational training. 133 Squadron moved to Eglinton, Ireland to patrol over the vast waters of the North Atlantic. After spending all its time in Hawker Hurricane IIs, the Squadron received Supermarine Spitfires IIs in Late October 1941, and a new commander, Eric Thomas. Squadron code for 133 aircraft was “MD”, and the Squadron was given Spitfire VAs after transferring to Kirton in Lindsey. They received another upgrade, Spitfire VBs in late Jan/Feb. 1942, and were moved to Biggen Hill in May 1942. Between July and August 1942 the Squadron moved to Gravesend, and then Lympne where Don Blakeslee assumed command of 133 Squadron.
The Squadron participated in Operation Jubilee in which they covered Allied landing forces during the invasion of France. After Jubilee, Carroll McColpin assumed command of the Squadron and it again was transferred back to Biggin Hill. The members of 133 Squadron received Spitfire Mk IXs at Biggin Hill and used them effectively while providing escorts to American B-17 Bombers.
The Squadron transferred to Great Sampford and fate took its course. During an escort mission, known as the “Morlaix Mission” the entire squadron was effectively destroyed after being blown off course due to unexpectedly high winds aloft. Thinking they were over friendly territory, the aircraft descended and were instantly met by the wrath of Germany near Brest, France. Ten members were lost, killed or captured in France, and one 133 aircraft crash landed in England. The Royal Air Force 133 Eagle Squadron was transferred into the U.S. Army Air Force on September 29th, 1942, where it became the 336 Squadron, 4th Fighter Group.
12 files, last one added on Jan 02, 2007
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![Eastman Leather Co [Roughwear] Redskin Reproduction B-3 Ja~3.jpg](albums/AAF_Reproduction_Items/thumb_Eastman%20Leather%20Co%20%5BRoughwear%5D%20Redskin%20Reproduction%20B-3%20Ja%7E3.jpg)
