25.02.2010, 19:00
Wow, the history of this whole thing really went all over the place, in this post.
First of all, the only thing factual about the movie, "Pearl Harbor", is that Pearl Harbor was bombed!
The Eagle squadron did NOT fly in the Battle Of Britain. That does NOT mean that no Americans did. There were seven Yank pilots that flew for the RAF. That does not constitute a squadron. And besides, they didn't all serve in the same unit. The Eagles were formed months after the Battle, and didn't even see their first combat until almost a year after it was over. By that time there enough Americans to form an all American unit. Technically, there were THREE squadrons and it was actually a Wing.
The whole Ben Affleck thing was pure baloney. NO, and I repeat NO! U.S. Army Air Corps pilots went to fly with the British before the U.S. entered the war. It was strictly forbidden for Americans to fight for another country, and anyone who did was made to understand that they would lose their citizenship. Those that did, lost it. They got them back, however, when the U.S. entered the war and the Eagle Squadron became the 4th Fighter Group.
As far as your uncle is concerned, you say that he served with the Eagles, but that's a Med based outfit, he flew for. They flew referse lend-lease Spits until April of 1944. They then traded in their trusty Spitfires for brand new P-51 Mustangs. Now, it could be that he flew with the Eagles , out of England, before being shipped South.
First of all, the only thing factual about the movie, "Pearl Harbor", is that Pearl Harbor was bombed!
The Eagle squadron did NOT fly in the Battle Of Britain. That does NOT mean that no Americans did. There were seven Yank pilots that flew for the RAF. That does not constitute a squadron. And besides, they didn't all serve in the same unit. The Eagles were formed months after the Battle, and didn't even see their first combat until almost a year after it was over. By that time there enough Americans to form an all American unit. Technically, there were THREE squadrons and it was actually a Wing.
The whole Ben Affleck thing was pure baloney. NO, and I repeat NO! U.S. Army Air Corps pilots went to fly with the British before the U.S. entered the war. It was strictly forbidden for Americans to fight for another country, and anyone who did was made to understand that they would lose their citizenship. Those that did, lost it. They got them back, however, when the U.S. entered the war and the Eagle Squadron became the 4th Fighter Group.
As far as your uncle is concerned, you say that he served with the Eagles, but that's a Med based outfit, he flew for. They flew referse lend-lease Spits until April of 1944. They then traded in their trusty Spitfires for brand new P-51 Mustangs. Now, it could be that he flew with the Eagles , out of England, before being shipped South.