William R. Dunn
Encyclopedia
William R. Dunn was the first American ace
of World War II
. Joining the Canadian Army at the outbreak of war in September 1939, he was an infantryman until he transferred to the Royal Air Force
(RAF) in late 1940. After service in an RAF Eagle Squadron
, he joined the United States Army Air Force in 1943.
, a Scottish infantry regiment of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. Posted to the UK in April 1940, he became an AA gunner with this unit and on 16 August claimed -with other gunners- 2 Junkers Ju 87
's shot down of a force attacking Borden army camp.
Soon after, he was transferred to the Royal Air Force, starting training in December 1940. He was assigned in April 1941 to the American volunteer No. 71 'Eagle' Squadron based at Martlesham Heath
near Ipswich
, flying the Hawker Hurricane
.
He was the first pilot in the Eagle Squadron to shoot down an enemy aircraft, on 2 July 1941, and later became the first American ace of the war. After 3 claims, the Squadron converted to the Spitfire
. Two claims on 27 August made Dunn the first American flying ace
, although he was wounded in the right leg during the same action. After recovery, he instructed at various units in the UK and the US, and in late 1942 he served briefly with No 130 Squadron, RCAF.
After joining the US Army Air Corps in 15 June 1943, he saw service with the 53rd Fighter Group (as Gunnery Officer), and then from October 1943 with the 406th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force. Participating in the Normandy invasion and in Patton's sweep across France, he claimed 2 more kills up until October 1944. Unusually, he claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110
shot down with a salvo of .5 inch RP rockets on 18 June 1944. By the end of the war he had claimed 8.5 kills, with another 4 unconfirmed, 3 probables and 4 damaged, with 12 more destroyed on the ground, flying 234 operational sorties.
Immediately after the war he fought in the Chinese Civil War on the side of the Nationalists. He later helped trained the Iranian Air Force and the Brazilian Air Force.
His final overseas duty was in Vietnam during 1967, with HQ, 7th US Air Force, flying 62 missions evaluating infra red location equipment. Lt. Col. Dunn, a veteran of 38 years of military service and 378 combat missions, retired from the U.S.A.F. in 1973.
In addition to his autobiography (Fighter Pilot: The First American Ace of World War II), he also wrote War Drum Echoes and other works on the Indian wars of North America.
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Joining the Canadian Army at the outbreak of war in September 1939, he was an infantryman until he transferred to the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF) in late 1940. After service in an RAF Eagle Squadron
Eagle squadron
The Eagle Squadrons were 3 fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force formed during World War II with volunteer pilots from the United States...
, he joined the United States Army Air Force in 1943.
Biography
William R. Dunn was born in Minneapolis on 16 November 1916. In 1934, at the age of 17, he joined the US Army although he was discharged in 1936. In 1939 he joined the Canadian Army and was assigned to the Seaforth HighlandersSeaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War...
, a Scottish infantry regiment of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. Posted to the UK in April 1940, he became an AA gunner with this unit and on 16 August claimed -with other gunners- 2 Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
's shot down of a force attacking Borden army camp.
Soon after, he was transferred to the Royal Air Force, starting training in December 1940. He was assigned in April 1941 to the American volunteer No. 71 'Eagle' Squadron based at Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath
Martlesham Heath village is situated 6 miles east of Ipswich, in Suffolk, England. This was an ancient area of heathland and latterly the site of Martlesham Heath Airfield...
near Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, flying the Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
.
He was the first pilot in the Eagle Squadron to shoot down an enemy aircraft, on 2 July 1941, and later became the first American ace of the war. After 3 claims, the Squadron converted to the Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
. Two claims on 27 August made Dunn the first American flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
, although he was wounded in the right leg during the same action. After recovery, he instructed at various units in the UK and the US, and in late 1942 he served briefly with No 130 Squadron, RCAF.
After joining the US Army Air Corps in 15 June 1943, he saw service with the 53rd Fighter Group (as Gunnery Officer), and then from October 1943 with the 406th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force. Participating in the Normandy invasion and in Patton's sweep across France, he claimed 2 more kills up until October 1944. Unusually, he claimed a Messerschmitt Bf 110
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten...
shot down with a salvo of .5 inch RP rockets on 18 June 1944. By the end of the war he had claimed 8.5 kills, with another 4 unconfirmed, 3 probables and 4 damaged, with 12 more destroyed on the ground, flying 234 operational sorties.
Immediately after the war he fought in the Chinese Civil War on the side of the Nationalists. He later helped trained the Iranian Air Force and the Brazilian Air Force.
His final overseas duty was in Vietnam during 1967, with HQ, 7th US Air Force, flying 62 missions evaluating infra red location equipment. Lt. Col. Dunn, a veteran of 38 years of military service and 378 combat missions, retired from the U.S.A.F. in 1973.
In addition to his autobiography (Fighter Pilot: The First American Ace of World War II), he also wrote War Drum Echoes and other works on the Indian wars of North America.