New Book: IMMIGRANTS OF WAR - Americans in the RAF and RCAF

Gents, yesterday I received this (self published) book, by Canadian W.F. Fydenchuk, called

IMMIGRANTS OF WAR - Americans serving with the RAF and RCAF during Word War II

The author and I have been in contact regarding Americans who died in service of the Commonwealth air forces. Wally usually supplying far more info than I did....

This book starts out with an overview of the policies regarding and reasons of Americans fighting "Another's War". It then continues with MANY biographies (completemented with quite a few portrait pictures) and first person accounts of Americans flying with the R(C)AF. It also lists all the Americans KIA with these Air Forces (almost 1000!). I finally found out why some Americans died with R(C)AF Sqns while they should have been transferred back to the USAAF. (Martin, T/Sgt Martin who died while flying with that very international crew with 44 Sqn...was on DETACHED SERVICE; many Americans were officially with the USAAF but decided to continue their tour with their RAF unit....Many died while on detached service It solved that mystery for me...)

Also, Martin, did you know that DamBuster S/L Joseph McCarthy, DSO, DFC and Bar was an American???

In any case. A book very much worth reading. Much has been written about the Eagle Squadron Americans and Fydenchuk also pays a lot of attention to them, but for me it is the Bomber Command Americans that finally get the attention they deserved. Besides some written memiores, not much is known about them. Although Americans always reinterred their wardead in permenant park or brought them back to the States, the R(C)AF Americans are still buried all over Europe in Commonwealth graves. In my hometown of Amsterdam alone, four are buried....

If I have to add one criticism it is that I had hoped more would be about the ones that did not make it. The vast majority is about the ones that made it through the war, with little info on the ones who did not. Notwithstanding the roll of honor in the back of the book.

Gents, I very much recommended this book. If you are interested, sent a e-mail to Wally Fydenchuk at wpf13@hotmail.com

 

Stevin

Any mention of 156 Squadron in the book?
I have two definites being: Sgt E G G Fisher T/S J F Haywood.
Wondered if there were more?

 

Hi 156,

So far I haven't come across the Sqn or those names, but Haven't read every words yet. Tight now I am busy reading the book cover to cover. When I come across any 156 Sqn reference, I will let you know.

regards,

Stevin

 

The two are mentioned in the "Killed while on Detached Service". At the time they were actually USAAF.

Jack F. Haywood seems to be both buried at Ardennes American Cemetery at Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium AND commemorated at the Cambridge memorial Wall of the missing. Born in 1916 in West Viginia, he tranferred back to the USAAF on 7 Sept 1943. He was KIA on 3 Jan 1944.

Eastman G. Fisher was from Los Angeles and also buried at Ardennes American Cemetery (Listed as with 12 Replacement Depot). Born in 1922 in "BALUCHISTAN or BRITISH EAST INDIES AND FAR EAST or BRITISH NORTH BORNEO or BRUNEI or FEDERATED MALAY STATES or HONG KONG or SARAWAK or STRAITS SETTLEMENTS", he was a student when he joined up and transferred to the USAAF on 26 May 1943. KIA on 17 June 1943.

 

A belated thank you for those details, will include on site shortly.
Regards

Robin

 

Stevin

A P.S. to above, have two other Americans in the Squadron:
H B GONCE Walters, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
J G HUDOCK Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Both in Roll of Honor.

Regards

Robin

 

I couldn't find any additional info on these gents. They did not transfer back to the USAAF and were full members of the RCAF instead of being on "Detached Service"