Don Blakeslee WWII Ace of the 4th Fighter Group and Eagle Squadrons

Col. Don Blakeslee

"Dover Patrol" Oil on Canvas 32" x 40" ©2003 Sold
Squadron Leader Don Blakeslee of No. 133 Eagle Squadron is depicted in flight near Dover in the summer of 1942. Available as a Giclée Canvas Print. Click here for details.

One of the most accomplished American pilots of WWII is Col. Don Blakeslee. Blakeslee was born in Fairport Harbor Ohio in 1917. According to Blakeslee he began his military flying career in a strange manner. As a civilian held a reserve commission in the infantry and owned his own airplane until a friend of his cracked it up. "I had to have another plane" Blakeslee explained, "so I joined the RCAF" That was in August 1940. He arrived in England January 1941 and served with 401 Squadron where he earned a DFC before transferring to 133 Eagle Squadron in June of 1942 as a flight leader. Don flew four sorties during the Dieppe raid on 19 August 1942. A few days later he was promoted to acting Squadron Leader of 133 Squadron and was presented the British Distinguished Flying Cross by King George in Buckingham Palace. Shortly thereafter he was caught with two women in his quarters after hours and reduced in rank. In September the three Eagle Squadrons 71, 121 and 133 were turned over the the USAAF and formed the nucleolus of the 4th Fighter Group. By that time Blakeslee had flown 120 Spitfire sorties and amassed 240 combat hours. The 8th Air Force Fighter Command cared less about Don's extracurricular activities than his leadership skills so by November of 1942 he held the rank of Captain and was CO of 335 Squadron.

"Blakeslee's Kite" Oil on Canvas 18" x 32" ©2000 For Sale
Squadron Leader Don Blakeslee of No. 133 Eagle Squadron used this Spitfire Mk V to shoot down an FW 190 on August 18, 1942 as a Do-217 while covering the Dieppe Raid the following day. Blakeslee also made two damaged claims and a probable in encounters with Fw 190s on the 19th.

Pilot Officer Blakeslee is seen climbing into his Spitfire Mk V while serving with 401 "Canadian" Squadron in the Spring of 1942. Blakeslee's wife's name Leola is printed under the windscreen. In the second photo we see Captain Blakeslee in a 4th FG Spitfire.

"Horseback" Oil on Canvas 19" x 34" ©1999 Sold

Col. Don Blakeslee leads the 4th Fighter Group on an escort mission August 24, 1944. Blakeslee is flying his well known P-51D-5 WD-C.

Available as a Giclée Canvas Print. Click here for details.

Blakeslee was promoted to Major in January 1943 and officially became an ace on May 14, 1943 when he destroyed an FW 190. He began serving as flying executive officer of the 4th in July of 1943 and in January was given command of the Group. His radio call sign was "Horseback" On March 6th 1944 a 26 year-old Blakeslee was officially credited by the Air Force as the first USAAF pilot to escort heavy bombers over Berlin. When he landed from the Berlin Mission he had flown an additional 230 AAF sorties and logged 400 additional combat hours. Two days later he was promoted to full Colonel. Blakslee stayed with the group throughout the Summer of 1944 and led the first England - Russia Shuttle mission in late June 1944. He scored his last aerial victory while escorting 15th AF heavies over Budapest on July 2, 1944. When Blakeslee officially left the 4th FG on November 19, 1944 he logged more combat hours than any other American pilot. Blakeslee is credited with 14.5 air-to-air and 1.5 ground victories and during WWII.

Col. Don Blakeslee's P-51D by Claes Sundin ©

After the war Blakeslee remained in the Air Force and saw action once again in Korea where he was CO of the 27th Fighter Escort Group. He retired from the Air Force in 1965.

Lt. Col. Don Blakeslee is seen in the cockpit of his P-51B after returning from the first USAAF mission to Berlin on March, 6 1944 and four months later on July 5, 1944 just after returning to Debden from the first ever England - Russia Shuttle mission.

Read more about Don Blakeslee and his fellow Eagle Squadron and 4th Fighter Group pilots in "Kidd Hofer-- The Last of the Screwball Aces" Click Here

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