Tag: Veteran

Maj. James Goodson †

Major James Goodson, one of the top aces of the US 4th Fighter Group in World War II, passed away on May 1, aged 93. After the war, Major Goodson went on to a successful post-war business career. Goodson joined the war in 1939, at the age of 18, when he went to the United …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/05/04/maj-james-goodson-%e2%80%a0/

Colonel Miloslav Bitton †

Colonel Miloslav Bitton, who has died aged 94, ran escape lines out of Czechoslovakia in the Second World War before serving with the Desert Rats in the Eighth Army and then as an RAF fighter pilot in bombing raids over Germany. Read his obituary on The Telegraph

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/05/01/colonel-miloslav-bitton-%e2%80%a0/

William Ash †

William Ash, who has died aged 96, was a Texan ‘hobo’ turned Spitfire pilot who became celebrated for his numerous failed attempts to escape from Stalag Luft III. Read his biography on The Telegraph

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2014/04/30/william-ash-%e2%80%a0/

Air Commodore Gordon Steege †

Air Commodore Gordon Henry Steege DSO, DFC (30 October 1917 – 1 September 2013) was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He became a fighter ace in World War II, credited with eight aerial victories. Joining the RAAF in July 1937, Steege first saw action with No. 3 Squadron in the Middle East, where he was …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/09/29/air-commodore-gordon-steege-%e2%80%a0/

George Marcelin †

Georges Marcelin, who served as a mechanic with the famous “Normandie-Niémen” Free French fighter group during World War Two, died yesterday at the age of 92. In october 1943, the French mechanics of the group were replaced by Soviet mechanics and Georges Marcelin was assigned to the “Ardennes” fighter group, flying the P-40 Warhawk and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/09/18/george-marcelin-%e2%80%a0/

Squadron Leader Tony Gaze †

Squadron Leader Tony Gaze, who died on 29 July 2013 at the age of 93, was a Second World War Spitfire fighter ace and later became a highly successful motor racing driver.  Born on 3 February 1920, he was credited with 12.5 aerial victories during the Second World War and flew jets and gliders after …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/08/01/squadron-leader-tony-gaze-%e2%80%a0/

Doolittle raiders gather for final meeting

Three of the four surviving members of the 18 April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Tokyo gathered from April 17 to 21 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida for a final meeting. The members who were present were Lt. Col. Richard Cole, le Lt. Col. Edward Saylor and Staff Sgt. David Thatcher. Lt. Col. Robert …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/04/23/doolittle-raiders-gather-for-final-meeting/

Henri Bourrassier †

We are saddened to learn the death of Henri Bourrassier, who passed away on April 6. Henri Bourrassier flew the B-26 Marauder with the Free French  “Bretagne” bomber group during World War Two. He later flew Dakotas and Noratlas transport aircraft for the French Air Force in during the wars in Indochina and Algeria. He …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/04/07/henri-bourrassier-%e2%80%a0/

Col. Robert J. “Shorty” Rankin †

Col. Robert J. “Shorty” Rankin, a World War II fighter ace of the 56th Fighter Group, passed away on March 14, 2013 in his winter home in Florida, aged 94. He was credited with 10 confirmed, 1 probable victories and 2 damaged e/a, and was the first P-47 Thunderbolt to achieve “ace-in-a-day” status by destroying …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/03/24/col-robert-j-shorty-rankin-%e2%80%a0/

Thomas Griffin †

Thomas Griffin, who was the navigator on the ninth aircraft of the 18 April 1942 Doolittle raid on Tokyo , died on February 26 aged 96. With the passing of Thomas Griffin, there are now only four surviving members of this legendary mission. Its success was mostly psychologival, as America needed some positive news in …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/03/05/thomas-griffin-%e2%80%a0/

Ken Jernstedt †

Kenneth Allen Jernstedt, who flew with the legendary Flying Tigers, died on February 5 aged 95. Born in 1917, Jernstedt flew with the US Marine Corps before joining the American Volunteer Group in 1941 to fight the Japanese in China. By the time he left the AVG in 1942, he was credited with three confirmed …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/02/20/ken-jernstedt-%e2%80%a0/

Pierre Lorillon †

Pierre Lorillon, a fighter ace from the French Normandie-Niémen group that fought on the Russian front in World War Two, died on February 17th in Bastia (Corsica). With his death, there are now only two surviving pilots of the legendary French fighter unit: Gaël Taburet and Jean Sauvage. Pierre Lorillon was born on May 13, …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/02/18/pierre-lorillon-%e2%80%a0/

Squadron Leader Tom Bennett †

Squadron Leader Tom Bennett, who has died aged 93, flew as a navigator in one of the specialist crews on No 617 (Dambusters) Squadron. After the war, he remained with the RAF until 1955 and then worked at the Port of London authority. He stayed close to 617 Squadron and is the author of an …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2013/02/08/squadron-leader-tom-bennett-%e2%80%a0/

Roland de la Poype †

Roland de la Poype, a French ace of the Normandie-Niémen group, died aged 92 at Saint-Tropez in Southern France on 23 October. Roland Paulze d’Ivoy de la Poype, Compagnon de la Libération and Hero of the Soviet Union, was one of the first Frenchmen to rejoin General de Gaulle in June 1940. He volunteered to …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2012/10/24/roland-de-la-poype-%e2%80%a0/

Flight Lieutenant Neill Cox †

Flight Lieutenant Neill Cox, who has died aged 88, won two DFCs for flying operations in the Mediterranean; he was also noted in the Service for once taking off in his Spitfire completely unaware that a WAAF mechanic was clinging on to the tailplane. Read the obituary on the Telegraph.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2011/07/30/flight-lieutenant-neill-cox-%e2%80%a0/