1st Scouting Force Plaque
Details:
The left-most plaque.
A square bronze plaque inscribed in English in raised lettering. Relief of the 8th Air Force insignia is depicted on the top-right side of the plaque while the 1st Scouting Force insignia is on the opposite. The 1st Scouting Force (experimental) (P-38 Lightning; P-51 Mustang) was organized at RAF Honington and activated on 19 September 1944. It was assigned as a flight, attached to the 67th Fighter Wing, 364th Fighter Group. The group maintained its logistics and detached pilots on a 15-day rotational basis. The unit flew 107 missions before being attached to the 857th Bombardment Squadron at RAF Bassingbourn and logged another 24 missions.
Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org
Source of photos: eastangliamemorials.blogspot.com
Monument Text:
In Honor of
THE 1ST SCOUTING FORCE
Flight Operations And Ground Personnel
Supported by the 364th Fighter Group
Who served at Honington 21 September 1944-24 March 1945
Led by Colonel Budd J. Peaslee, and Lieutenant. Col. Allison C. Brooks,
this group of volunteer Bomber and Fighter Pilots, flying the
mighty P-51 Mustang, lead the 1st Air Division on every mission, to
every target during this period. They took the bomber stream
through the weather, scouted all targets and, although not their
responsibility, bravely defended the bombers when necessary
In Memory of
Those who gave their lives while serving at Honington
William Doherty, Charles Keany and Lawrence Visconti
Presented By The Scouting Force Association
1998
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
1st Scouting Force, 8th Air Force
383rd Fighter Squadron, 364th Fighter Group
Wars:
WWII
Other images :