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"Horseback Leader" © Troy White, Oil on Canvas, 32" x 46"

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. At the start of WWII Don Blakeslee joined the RCAF, was sent to England and served with several RAF squadrons before transfering to the USAAF in Sept. of 1942. Starting out as CO of the 335th FS he would eventually command the 4th FG from January 1, 1944 until November 19, 1944. Blakeslee is credited with 14.5 air-to-air victories and during WWII logged more combat hours than any other American pilot.

Against a backdrop of B17s from the 457th Bomb Group, Lt. Ted Lines of the 335th FS chases after a Bf 109 in his assigned a/c WD-D. Lines is credited with the destruction of two of the Messerchmitt fighters on this date. Flying on Blakeslee's wing is Lt. Paul S. Iden flying a P-51 B WD-Z. Iden was KIA on September 11, 1944 when the 335th was bounced by a squadron of Bf 109s.

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