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Re: Defected Allied Pilots?
Hallo all,
Glad to have helped on Walcott. As noted in my first post he was commissioned into the USAAF in London very soon after his return to the UK. He was assigned to the 346th Fighter Squadron, 350th Fighter Group in December 1942. As he was the newest pilot - there may not have been time for him to even test a P-39 - he along with another pilot and some ground crew travelled by ship to North Africa. They reached Algeria on 1 February 1943. Walcott stayed with this unit until late December 1943 when he contacted some disease/illness which left him temporarily blind. He was sent back to the USA only at this point.
Unfortunately I have absolutely no idea which units he served with after that, but naturally am still working on it !
Regards,
Martin.
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