Lance C. Wade: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Lcwade.jpg|frame|right|'''Lance C. Wade''']] |
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Wing Commander '''Lance Cleo "Wildcat" Wade''' [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]], [[Distinguished Flying Cross (UK)|DFC and two Bars]] ([[1915]] -[[12 January]] [[1944]]), was an [[United States|American]] pilot who joined the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Royal Air Force]] during the [[Second World War]] and became a [[flying ace]]. He was described in "Fighter Aces of the USA" by Toliver and Constable, as a "distinguished American fighter ace who epitomized perhaps more than any other American airman the wartime accords between Britain and the United States". |
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== Biography == |
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Lance Wade was born in [[Broaddus, Texas]] in 1915. He joined the [[Royal Air Force]] in [[Canada]] in December 1940 (the USA did not enter the war until a year later). He arrived in [[Egypt]] as a [[Hawker Hurricane]] Mk I pilot in September 1941, and was posted to [[No. 33 Squadron RAF|33 Squadron]]. His first kills were two [[Fiat]] [[CR-42]]s on the 18th November. He made ace on 24 November, 1941. He began flying Hurricane Mk IIs in April 1942, when he was awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (UK)|Distinguished Flying Cross]]. He had 13 victories as of September 1942. |
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He spent the next several months back in the US on various RAF projects including evaluating some American fighters at [[Wright Field]]. |
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He returned to combat as a Flight commander in [[No. 145 Squadron RAF|145 Squadron]] with a bar to his DFC, flying [[Supermarine Spitfire]] Mk Vs. Promoted to [[Squadron Leader]], he had a busy 60+ days, as by the end of April his score was 21, by then flying Spitfire Mk IXs. His Squadron moved to [[Italy]], and Wade got two [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]]s as a Spitfire VIII pilot 2 Oct. His last claims were three FW190s damaged on the 3 November, 1943. |
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Wade became a [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] and joined the staff of the [[Desert Air Force]] but was there only briefly, as he was killed in a flying accident on 12 January 1944 at [[Foggia]], Italy. |
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In 30 flights for which he made claims he was credited with 23 victories (including 2 shared), 1 probable, and 13 damaged. He is also credited with 1 destroyed and 5 damaged on the ground, all of which he achieved before his death at the age of 28. |
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Wing Commander Wade is usually listed with 25 victories but official RAF records show that he had 22 solo victories and half each of two more for a total of 23, not counting one probable. Regardless of whether his score is 25, or 23 victories, he is still the leading American fighter ace to serve exclusively in any foreign air force. |
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Since he never transferred to the [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]], or any other American Air service, W/Cmdr. Wade never got the publicity that other American Aces received and thus is more obscure than his peers. |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/79R/billtext/html/HR00555F.htm Texas State Legislature bill honoring Lance Wade] |
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*[http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=7532216 Commonwealth War Graves Commission] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wade, Lance C.}} |
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[[Category:1915 births]] |
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[[Category:1944 deaths]] |
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[[Category:People from San Augustine County, Texas]] |
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[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]] |
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[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]] |
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[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross]] |
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Revision as of 19:29, 29 March 2009
he is so stupid