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One of America's best fighter leaders....
One of the greatest, if not the greatest, aerial combat leaders of World War II
was Colonel Don Blakeslee of the Fourth Fighter Group (4FG). Under his dynamic leadership, the 4th
became the highest scoring group in the Eighth Air Force.
Blakeslee began his military career in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and was assigned to the 401 Squadron in England
in May of 1941. By the fall of that year, he had already scored his first victory while flying Spitfires. In
June of 1942, he transferred to the 133 “Eagle” Squadron where he increased his victories to
three confirmed. He became commanding officer of the group before the squadron was transferred to the United
States Army Air Force (USAAF) in September 1942.
Shortly after his transfer to the USAAF Blakeslee was promoted to Major and made Commanding Officer
of the 335 Squadron, 4th Fighter Group. He became an ace while flying the P-47, but missed the
sleek Spitfires he flew in the Eagle Squadron. On December 1, 1943 he was asked to lead the Mustang-equipped
354th Fighter Group on its first combat mission. It didn't take long for him to notice that the P-51
was the aircraft that would ensure the 4th Fighter Group its proper place in history, and he made up his mind to
get them. On January 1, 1944 he was promoted to commander of the 4FG and made the acquisition of the P-51s
his first priority.
The Mustangs were received on February 27, 1944, and the Fourth quickly made the most of their new aircraft.
During April, Blakeslee's pilots claimed a record-breaking 323 planes destroyed. Of that total, Don Blakeslee
personally destroyed 6.5 enemy aircraft in the air and two on the ground.
Blakeslee compiled more combat hours than any other American pilot in World War II and achieved 14.5 victories.
His victory total is somewhat misleading, as he had many opportunities to increase his score, but instead allowed
others to take the initiative and learn from the experience.
Colonel Blakeslee received the Distinguished Service Cross with one cluster, the
Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with seven clusters, the British Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air
Medal with thirty clusters.
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