Donald Blakeslee
Who was he:
![Billede](/uploads/8/1/4/7/81471594/_9642723.jpg?250)
Born: September 11, 1917 (Fairport Harbor, Ohio)
Died: September 3, 2008 (aged 90) Miami, Florida
Allegiance: USA
Service/branch: United States Airforce, Royal Canadian Airforce
Years of service: 1941–1942 (RCAF), 1942–1965 (USAF)
Rank: Colonel
Unit: No. 401 Squadron RCAF
No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron RAF
335th Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group
Battles/wars: World War II, Korean War
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross (2), Silver Star (2), Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (7), Air Medal (6), Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Died: September 3, 2008 (aged 90) Miami, Florida
Allegiance: USA
Service/branch: United States Airforce, Royal Canadian Airforce
Years of service: 1941–1942 (RCAF), 1942–1965 (USAF)
Rank: Colonel
Unit: No. 401 Squadron RCAF
No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron RAF
335th Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group
Battles/wars: World War II, Korean War
Awards: Distinguished Service Cross (2), Silver Star (2), Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (7), Air Medal (6), Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Donald James Matthew Blakeslee (September 11, 1917 – September 3, 2008) was an officer in the United States Airforce whose career began as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Airforce. He flew Spitfire Fighter aircraft, during World War 2. He then became a member of the Royal Airforce Eagle Squadrons. He flew more combat missions against the Luftwaffe than any other American fighter pilot.
What plane did he fly:
Donald Blakeslee flew Mustangs but the last bomber plane that he ever piloted was a P51D Mustang.
P51D Mustangs
P51D mustang with two 500Ib. bombs and four high velocity aircraft rockets
On January 1 of 1944 Donald was chosen to command the 4th Fighter Group based at Debden, Essex. As Donald was a forceful, no-nonsense man, he left his pilots with no doubt of what he expected from them when he spoke to them for the first time: “We are here to fight,” he began. “To those who don’t believe me, I would suggest transferring to another Group. I’m going to fly the arse off each one of you. Those who keep up with me, good; those who don’t, I don’t want them.”
Donald's Group was equipped with the P-47 Thunderbolt, a fighter he had little time for. He worked hard to be re-equipped with the P-51D Mustang, and when this was approved he was informed that his pilots had to be operational within 24 hours of receiving them. He agreed, instructing his pilots to “learn how to fly them on the way to the target”.
In March 1944 Donald led the first Mustangs over Berlin. In just four months his aggressive leadership led to the Group achieving its 500th “kill”. On June 21 he led his fighters (known to the bomber crews they escorted as their “little friends”) on the first “shuttle” bombing mission to Russia by Eighth Air Force Flying Fortresses, a flight of 1,470 miles. Blakeslee and his pilots landed in Ukraine after seven hours in their single-engine fighters.
By his own admission Donald did not have a very good shot, and he flew very close to his target before opening fire. He was credited with 15 and a half victories, but when there was a multiple claim on a "kill" he would always allow the junior pilots the credit. Many believe that he destroyed at least 30 enemy aircraft.