Aces return to England

Flight Journal, Dec 2003 by Tegler, Jan

IN EARLY JULY, a distinguished group of American aces traveled to England to revisit the airfields they flew from during WW II and to attend the well-known Flying Legends Airshow at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford as honored guests of the Fighter Collection.

The group included 357th FG aces Bud Anderson (16.25 kills), John Kirla (11.5 kills) and Charles Weaver (8 kills); 56th FG ace Robert "Shorty" Rankin (10 kills); 356th FG aces Don Strait (13.5 kills) and Clinton DeWitt Burdick (5.5 kills); and 339th FG ace Robert Frisch (6.5 ground kills). Organized and sponsored by The Plane Picture Company, The Northern California Friends of Fighter Aces Association, The Real McCoy's Co., warbird owner Mike George and Flight Journal, the trip was particularly special in that it may mark the last significant gathering of U.S. WW II aces overseas.

The group toured bases in the eastern English Midlands that were home to the pilots during their combat tours (some hadn't been there since the War) and included Leiston (home of the 357th FG), Halesworth (56th FG), Martlesham Heath (356th FG) and Fowlmere (339th FG). The aces were enthusiastically received by groups of dedicated British volunteers who maintain the museums, monuments and infrastructure that comprise what's left of these storied airfields. John Kirla was moved by his visit to Leiston; he wrote in the distinguished visitor guest book at Halesworth, "First time back in 59 years; it's great to be back!"

Don Strait showed the buildings at Martlesham Heath that once housed his office as 361st FS CO and the squadron briefing room. At Leisten, Bud Anderson pointed out what's left of the hardstand his Old Crow sat on. Leiston's present-day owner led the aces to a shed that housed a collection of Mustang parts (including tailwheel tires and twisted fuselage bits), ammunition and a door postered with Varga-Girl pinups from a squadron's living quarters

At RAF Scampton, the world-famous RAF Red Arrows aerobatic team welcomed the aces for a private tour of their facility and a close-up look at what they do. The aces were also treated to in-cockpit tours of the Red Arrow BAE Hawks.

The weekend of July 11, 12 and 13 began with a moving visit to Cambridge Cemetery, where thousands of American fliers are buried and memorialized. Then it was on to Duxford and the outstanding Imperial War Museum, where three of the Flying Legends in the American group had a wonderful treat. Tom Friedkin's Chino Warbirds Inc. had shipped their freshly restored Cavalier TF-51D dual-control Mustang to Duxford to participate in the airshow. Pilots Steve Hinton and Ed Shipley took Bob Frisch and John Kirla back into the skies over England for the first time since WW II. Both aces had some P-51 "stick time" while flying from the rear cockpit. Still an active P-51 pilot, Bud Anderson last flew a Mustang over England in 2001 (the Scandinavian Historic Flight's P-51D specially painted in his Old Crow markings). This year. Bud piloted Chino's TF-51D.

An evening symposium presented by the Northern California Friends of Fighter Aces Association brought the American aces together to share their combat experiences with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience. Two famous European aces, Gen. Gunther Rall and Group Capt. Billy Drake, joined the Americans. Rall is the leading living ace of all time, having scored 275 victories on the Eastern and Western fronts. Drake claimed 18 kills serving from the outset of hostilities until mid-1944.

The group spent the balance of the weekend enjoying the airshow's magnificent flying displays, including a mass-formation flyby known as a "Falbo" (nearly 30 aircraft took part). Morning autograph sessions saw the aces signing books and memorabilia for lines of British show-goers.

-Jan Tegler