Glenn Todd Eagleston (March 12, 1921 – May 7, 1991) was a career officer in the United States Air Force and the leading ace of Ninth Air Force in Europe in World War II. Eagleston was credited with 18 1/2 victories, two probable victories, and seven damaged German aircraft. He also destroyed at least five enemy aircraft on the ground, while flying P-51 Mustangs with the 354th Fighter Group.
Eagleston was known as a "fighter pilot's fighter pilot." He flew almost 100 combat missions in the P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts in Europe, some as a 22-year-old Squadron Commander. He also flew in Korea; he was assigned there as Squadron and Group Commander, flying F-86s for 84 combat missions and being credited with two MiG-15s destroyed, one probable, and seven damaged.[1]
After a brief stint with the 79th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Group flying the P-39 Airacobra from September 1942 to January 1943, he was transferred to the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the 354th Fighter Group and deployed with that group to England in October 1943, flying P-51 Mustangs.
The 354th Fighter Group, dubbed "Pioneers," were equipped with the P-51B Mustangs in November 1943 and was loaned to the Eighth Air Force for bomber escort duty, where Donald Blakeslee served as the temporary commanding officer of the group. On December, the 354th FG began flying missions over France. The 354th flew through the bad winter weather of 1943–44, typically dividing its three squadrons into four color-coded flights of four planes each.
On January 5, 1944, the 354th was covering bomber withdrawal from Kiel when they engaged a formation of Luftwaffe fighters. Eagleston shot down an Fw 190 with a short burst, at 45 degrees of deflection. The aircraft crashed into the ground, crediting Eagleston with his first aerial victory. On the same mission, the 354th FG shot down 18 enemy aircraft. Eagleston flew escort missions regularly, and his score increased: a Bf 110 on January 30, single Bf 110's on both February 21 and 22, and a Bf 109 on March 6, making him a flying ace.
The 354th resumed its original tactical role in Spring 1944, in preparation for D-Day. In mid-June, following the Allied invasion of Normandy, the 354th FG moved to Cricqueville-en-Bessin, an advanced base in Normandy and simultaneously returned to the Ninth Air Force command. By this time Eagleston had 8+1⁄2 kills and had been promoted to captain. Finishing his first combat, he was sent for back to US for shore leave and returned to active duty in the fall 1944. His biggest day was on October 29, 1944, when he destroyed three Bf 109s in a half-hour dogfight, for which he received the Distinguished Service Cross.[2]
In October 1944, Eagleston took command of the 353rd Fighter Squadron, now equipped with P-47D Thunderbolts and flew their first mission on November 26, 1944, and continued to fly close-support, armed-reconnaissance, fighter-sweep, dive-bombing, strafing, and escort missions. On February 16, 1945, the 353rd Fighter Squadron began flying the P-51 Mustangs again.
Eagleston was credited with 18 1/2 victories, two probable victories, and seven damaged German aircraft. He also destroyed at least five enemy aircraft on the ground. During his time in the 354th FG, he flew P-51 Mustang named "Feeble Eagle".[1]
Post-war
He served as assistant director of operations and training at Dover Field from February to June 1946, and then as commander of Dow Field from July to September 1946. Eagleston completed Jet Fighter Pilot School at Williams Field in January 1947, and then served at Newark, until February 1949.
Eagleston became commander of the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Korea. He became commander of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Group in May 1951. During the Korean War, he was credited with destroying two MiG-15s, bringing his two-war total to 20.5 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat.
He flew 84 missions and damaged seven and one probable. On December 22, 1950, he downed his first MiG-15 over the Yalu River, wounding the pilot. On 22 April 1951, he claimed his second MiG-15 which, in fact, probably survived.[3]
Eagleston's F-86A was badly damaged by a MiG-15 flown by Sergei Kramarenko on June 17, 1951, and he belly-landed at Kimpo Air Base. The jet was damaged beyond repair and was written off.[citation needed] The leader of the two Sabres who came to assist Eagleston was also a notable combat pilot: Lt.Col. Bruce Hinton, the first Sabre pilot to shoot down a MiG-15 on December 17, 1950. Eagleston returned to the United States in September 1951.[2]
Eagleston became Deputy Commander of the 4750th Air Defense Wing, also at Vincent AFB, in June 1955, and then served as Director of Operations of the 313th Air Division followed by duty as commander of the 6313th Air Base Wing, both at Kadena Air Base, until July 1960. He was next made Base Commander for the 4756th Air Defense Group at Tyndall Air Base, where he served from July 1960 to April 1962.
P-47D Thunderbolt of the 353rd Fighter Squadron flown by Maj Glenn T Eagleston, Squadron Commanding Officer and top ace of 9th Air Force with 18.5 kills, Rosieres en Haye Airbase, France, Feb 1945. United States National Archives.Eagleston in his P-51 Mustang
353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force
Date of Action: October 29, 1944
Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe: General Orders No. 13 (1945)
Citation:
Captain (Air Corps) Glenn T. Eagleston, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 353d Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, Ninth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 29 October 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Captain Eagleston shot down three enemy aircraft in a single mission. Captain Eagleston's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.[4]
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