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The day was August 27, 1941, when William Dunn, American pilot
with the British Royal Air Force Squadron 71, became the first
American ace of World War II.
The squadron, formed in Sept. 19, 1940, consisted of American
pilots who volunteered to assist in the fight against Nazi Germany,
as the U.S. had not yet entered the war.
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William Dunn, British Royal Air Force Squadron 71 pilot, is the
first American Ace of World War II. Although Dunn was the first
American ace, the title originally went to Gregory Daymond, a fellow
pilot with No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron, and Dunn was not officially
recognized until March 19, 1968. (Courtesy photo provided through U.S.
Air Force)
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Dunn enlisted in the
U.S. Army on March 19, 1934, and served as an infantryman until
receiving an honorable discharge on Nov. 22, 1935. He made his way
over the Canadian border and joined the Canadian Army on Sept. 7,
1939 and obtained the rank of Sergeant Major before joining the RAF
on Dec. 13, 1940, and joined the No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron.
Dunn's squadron of Spitfire Mark II fighters were
escorting a group of nine Blenheim bombers to Lille, France,
while it was occupied by the Nazis. When the group crossed
the enemy coast, they encountered a group of yellow-nosed
Messerschmitt 109 aircraft.
In the ensuing dogfight,
Dunn's skull was grazed by a machine gun bullet. He also
sustained two bullet wounds through his right calf and part
of his right foot was severed.
“[Dunn] shot down his fifth German aircraft [during the
fight], becoming the first American ace of World War II,”
said Dr. Roy Heidicker, 4th Fighter Wing historian. “After
his victory, four German Me-109s attacked Dunn and he was
barely able to escape being shot down.”
Despite his
injuries, Dunn crossed the English Channel to land at an
airfield in Hawkinge, England and was taken to the hospital.
Dunn discovered one of his rivals within the squadron,
Gregory Daymond, had been given the official credit as the
first American ace of World War II upon his return.
After his hospitalization, Dunn became an instructor pilot
for the Royal Canadian Air Force before transferring to the
Army Air Corps June 15, 1943.
On Sept. 29, 1942, a
year after Dunn left the Eagles, the No. 71 Squadron was
transferred from the RAF to the Army Air Corps and became
the 334th Fighter Squadron within the 4th Fighter Group (now
the 4th Fighter Wing).
When the Air Force Museum in
Dayton, Ohio, asked for artifacts and memorabilia in 1965,
Dunn sent in his RAF uniform, some photos, and his logbook
from his days in the No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron. Daymond's
claim to be the first American Ace would come to an end
after museum personnel began reviewing his logbooks.
“Dunn was very organized,” said Capt. Timothy Anderson,
334th FS director of staff. “He kept a detailed record of
all his [flights] in his logbook, and that's what really
helped him get recognized as the true first American ace of
World War II.”
Raymond Toliver, American Fighter Aces
Association historian, sent Dunn a letter dated March 19,
1968, informing him that upon reviewing his claims with the
RAF that he was indeed the first American ace of WWII, and
their records would now reflect this change.
“Dunn
also served in Korea and Vietnam and after 38 years of
service and 378 combat missions retired as a lieutenant
colonel,” said Heidicker. “He passed away in Colorado
Springs, Colorado, February 14, 1995.”
The 334th FS
recently honored its heritage with a memorial dedication
ceremony, July 8, 2016, dedicated to Dunn and his fellow
comrades of the No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron. Members of Dunn's
family attended the unveiling and donated one of Dunn's RAF
uniforms to the 334th FS.
“It's neat seeing his
uniform in the squadron because it puts everything into
perspective,” Anderson said. “We're just a little section or
glimpse of our current history just like Dunn and his
comrades were back in their day. It's neat to see our
history and the accomplishments of pilots like Dunn. To
actually have a piece of that history here in the squadron
is very humbling.”
By U.S. Air Force Airman Shawna L. Keyes
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2016
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