| |
| |
Don Blakeslee - USAAF |
 | | Don Blakeslee was born in 1918 in Fairport Harbor, Ohio, to a family who were among the original pioneers of the Ohio River Territory in the late 18th Century. |
 | | Blakeslee had studiously avoided being part of the Eagles, claiming "they played sister in making their claims." When the Eagles transferred to the USAAF, Peterson, Daymond and others with less combat experience than Blakeslee were commissioned as Majors, while he was commissioned a Captain, an event that soured him even more on the unit. |
 | | Blakeslee would eventually be recognized as one of the two finest combat fighter commanders in the history of the United States Air Force, the other being Col. Hubert "Hub" Zemke, Commanding Officer of the 56th Fighter Group, "The Wolfpack." The two were as different as night and day. |
| www.acepilots.com /usaaf_blakeslee.html (2367 words) |
|