NZ pilot with USAAF

[Brian]

Hi guys

I noted on a website that a RNZAF pilot was seconded to a US P-51 unit and scored a victory over Europe during WWII. Do we know who this was?

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

Apparently Jack Cleland. I found this thread on a sister website: http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/arc...p?t-37561.html

Perhaps other board members can look up what claims he made...

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Brian,

A story here: http://www.cebudanderson.com/jackcleland.htm

Somehow I miss the mentioning of a claim in a USAAF Mustang here, if there was any...

Regards,

Leendert

[Brian]

Thanks Leendert - most interesting.

Cheers
Brian

[JACK COOK]

F/L Warren Pelgar scored 4 confirmed kills while flying P-51s with the 354th FS 355th FG. Not sure if he was RAF, CAF or ZAF?
Cleland had no AAF claims just 2 in Spits.

[Brian]

Thanks Jack

I was in touch with Warren Peglar many moons ago - small world!

Cheers
Brian

[phasselgren]

I can only confirm Jack´s information. According to Those Other Eagles Cleland had no claims with AAF. Peglar was from the RCAF according the same book. Cleland is the only RNZAF pilot I know (sofar) to have been flying Mustangs with the USAAF in Europe but I am very interested to hear if anyone has more information in this subject.

Cheers
Peter

[Phas3e]

Ospreys' 'Mustang aces of the eighth' has a photo of Cleland next to Isabel III as well as a photo of the plane but it sites him as an RAF liaison officer without naming him.

[macfire]

Clelland was wingman to Chuck Yeager.

WoW in 1998 had the FPM Mustang painted in his colours.
Isobel was a Special Guest of Honour at the event.

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by JACK COOK

F/L Warren Pelgar scored 4 confirmed kills while flying P-51s with the 354th FS 355th FG. Not sure if he was RAF, CAF or ZAF?
Cleland had no AAF claims just 2 in Spits.

RCAF for Peglar - who then returned to RCAF to fly Tempests. He got two pair, both on missions my father led. (Three 109s from JG 53 and one Fw 190A8 from JG 300. One pair August 3 and one pair Sept 11.

Plus he whacked one on the ground just as it touched the ground to become an 8th AF 'ace'. He flew 430 missions with RCAF and only had two air to air engagements - both with 355th.

He also flew on the last Shuttle Mission just before leaving the 355th. Helluva guy and still alive and kicking (hard) in Canada.