AMERICAN EAGLE SQUADRON PILOTS
Print By Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette 
Open Edition Print
12" X 18"
Price: $20.00

Carroll “Red” McColpin

Open Edition prints only.

Before America entered World War II in the skies over England there was a group of young Americans who were compelled to defy Adolph Hitler as the German Blitzkrieg rained terror over Europe. These young men flew and fought for one of our most trusted allies, England. The English welcomed our brave volunteers some of which were self-taught. The American aviators were acrobatic pilots at county fairs, crop dusters, and adventures.

They boldly volunteered to fight for their fellow man when man and machine were equally matched. This was the ultimate challenge as two mighty nations produced highly skilled aviators and state of the art aviation technology to combat each other. Gladiators had chariots; Knights had their Steeds, and now, Aces! Warriors of the air flying handsome fabric and steal winged fire breathing dragons!

War in the air over England brought our Young Eagles to the front of the battle. A total of 244 American pilots joined the Royal Air Force and the Canadian Air Force.

RAF records show that 109 of them lost their lives in their efforts. What MEN!

The History of the Eagle Squadrons

There were three squadrons created and manned by the American aviators, serving as the “Eagle Squadrons”, Squadron No. 71, No. 121, and No. 133. Many other Americans served in the Royal Air Force through out the world from China, Africa, the Philippines, and India.

William R. Dunn was the first Eagle Squadron Pilot to shoot down a German aircraft, the first Eagle Squadron pilot to become an Ace, and the first official American Ace of WWII.

The Supermarine Spitfire V illustrated above belonged to the No. 71 squadron flown by Carroll McColpin who was an ace within 45 days of entering combat. McColpin was credited with 8 aerial victories.  Here are other Americans that served with the Eagle Squadrons.

No. 71. Oscar H. Coen, Spiros N. Pisanos, Howard D. Hively, and Chesley G. Peterson. No.121. Kenneth G. Smith, Reade F. Tilley, Selden R. Edner, Roy W. Evans, George Carpenter, John J. Lynch, and Jackson B. Mahon. No. 133. Don S. Gentile, Donald Blakeslee, James A. Goodson, and Richard L. Alexander.

Carroll McColpin's Story

At the age of twenty five, Carroll “Red” McColpin was one of many young American men who would join the Royal Air Force to fly and fight against the German Luftwaffe.

The United States was not at war yet, but McColpin, being a pilot, watched England fight alone against Germany during the Battle of Britain.  England had showed the world that they could stand against the might of the Luftwaffe. Americans volunteers like “Red” McColpin were eager to enter the fight.   Joining the RAF was done through recruiters that were in the United States illegally. They would sign up volunteers and send them through Canada to England. The more flying experience one had, the easier it was to join McColpin remembers.   As a young man, Carroll  had built his own airplane and taught himself the basics of stick flying and aerial acrobatics by the age of sixteen.

Once in England McColpin was assigned to No. 607 Squadron which was a mix of all nationalities. Their mission was to protect shipping in the Scapa Flow area.

McColpin then joined No. 121, which was a newly formed Eagle Squadron. Tough times were common with himself and the others pulling constant missions for eight months without leave.  Many of their defensive flights were at night. The Luftwaffe had shifted from daylight bombing to night attacks.

With the 121 Squadron, “Red” escorted bombers as they penetrated into France on strategic bombing missions.  They also flew aggressive missions they called “rhubarb”, where “Red” and his fellow pilots would fly into France very low and shoot up everything they could find of the Germans.

McColpin was the only American to fly combat in all three American Eagle Squadrons. His total missions in these Squadrons exceeded three hundred counting the ones he flew with the 607.

Red was a double ace before Pearl Harbor and was the first American to be decorated, in Buckingham Palace by King George during World War II.  McColpin was a leading Squadron commander  credited with 12 kills, 5 probable, and 12 damaged while with the Eagle Squadrons.

Red wasn’t one to boast nor bothered to claim all of his victories. He is positive that he shot down at least ten more while with the Eagle Squadrons but never bothered to claim them.  Once he shot down a German aircraft that exploded in front of his Spitfire. "Red" only claimed it as a “damaged” as he climbed out of his cockpit. His crew chief confronted him with a piece of scalp from the German aviator that was stuck in the corner of the canopy of his Spit. The “damaged” was changed to a confirmed kill.

“Red” finished his flying for the RAF in No. 336 squadron as commander. After transferring to the Army Air Force, “Red” was promoted to Major and flew as Commander of the 404^th fighter Group, No. 336 Squadron.

“Red” flew the P-47 which was quite different from the Spitfire.  He led four group missions non stop during the D-Day invasion. Taking off at 3:00 a.m. on the morning of June 4^th and landing from his last mission at 1:00a.m. on June 5^th, the next morning.

Getting credit for destroying enemy aircraft on the ground  was not counted by the British pilots.  Red never counted his ground victories, however in both services Red could have claimed a minimum of  ten more destroyed on the ground by attacking German airfields in France and Germany. McColpin scored another 8 confirmed kills while in the Army Air Force.

Carroll “Red” McColpin was an out standing airman for both the Royal Air Force as well as the Army Air Force, flying over 500 combat missions. McColpin retired as a Major General Commanding the 4^th U.S.A.F.   His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation and the British Distinguished Flying Cross.

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