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Re: Red Tails
John,
There are no aces with the 332nd FG. Lee Archer is credited with four victories. The Air Force has never confirmed a fifth victory for him. He told me once he had only four victories, but that on returning from one mission he believed that he had shared another victory with another pilot (I have unfortunately forgotten his name), but that because they had no other witnesses they never bothered to make a claim. I am unaware of any combat/encounter reports for Lee. The belief that he has a fifth victory comes from an error made by Charles Francis in his (the) original book on the 332nd FG, where he lists a victory for Lee on July 20, 1944. I have a copy of his Form 5 for July, and he did not fly on that day, and the Narrative Mission Report for the 332nd on that day does not mention him.
Frank.
Historian, American Fighter Aces Association.
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