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SSgt Harry McCown (Mac)
to remember
Eagleston, Glenn Todd (Eagle), Col.
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Contact Info
Home Town Farmington, Utah
Last Address San Clemente, California
Date of Passing May 07, 1991
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Glenn Eagleston was born on March 12, 1921, in Utah. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on August 8, 1940, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program on January 31, 1942. Eagleston was commissioned a 2LT and awarded his pilot wings on September 29, 1942, and was assigned to the 79th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Group, flying the P-39 Airacobra from September 1942 to January 1943. He then transferred to the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the 354th Fighter Group and deployed with that Group to England in October 1943, flying P-51 Mustangs. Maj Eagleston was made commander of the 353rd Fighter Squadron in October 1944 and deputy commander of the 354th Fighter Group in May 1945. He returned from Europe in October 1945. During World War II, Maj Eagleston was credited with the destruction of 18.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. He served as assistant director of operations and training at Dover Field, Delaware, from February to June 1946, and then as commander of Dow Field, Maine, from July to September 1946. Col Eagleston completed Jet Fighter Pilot School at Williams Field, Arizona, in January 1947, and then served at Newark, New Jersey, until February 1949. He served as Operations Officer for the 33rd Fighter Group at Otis AFB, Massachusetts, from February to July 1949, and then attended Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from July 1949 to January 1950. He was then made commander of the 60th Fighter Squadron at Otis AFB, where he served until November 1950, when he became commander of the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Korea. Col Eagleston became commander of the 4th Fighter Interceptor Group in May 1951, and he returned to the United States in September 1951. During the Korean War, he added 2 aerial victory credits to his record, bringing his two-war total to 20.5 enemy aircraft destroyed in aerial combat. He next served as commander of the 103rd Fighter Interceptor Group and then Deputy Base Commander at Suffolk County AFB, New York, from September 1951 to April 1952. He was Director of Operations and Training at Headquarters Eastern Air Defense Force at Stewart AFB, New York, from April 1952 to October 1953, when he became commander of the 4750th Training Group at Vincent AFB, Arizona. Eagleston became Deputy Commander of the 4750th Air Defense Wing, also at Vincent AFB, in June 1955, and then served as Director of Operations of the 313th Air Division followed by duty as commander of the 6313th Air Base Wing, both at Kadena AB, Okinawa, until July 1960. He was next made Base Commander for the 4756th Air Base Group at Tyndall AFB, Florida, where he served from July 1960 to April 1962. This was followed by duty as Deputy Commander and then Commander of the 2478th AFRS at Long Beach Municipal Airport, California, from April 1962 to July 1965, when he was made Director of Maintenance for the 25th Air Division at McChord AFB, Washington. His final assignment was as Director of Material for Seattle Air Defense Sector at McChord AFB, from February 1966 until his retirement from the Air Force on February 28, 1967. Glenn Eagleston died on May 7, 1991.
Other Comments:
General Orders for his Distinguished Service Cross reads:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Glen T. Eagleston (0-730417), Captain (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 353d Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 29 October 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Captain Eagleston shot down three enemy aircraft in a single mission. Captain Eagleston's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces
Station:
Kingscliffe 26 August 1943 to 11 October 1945
Station Callsign:
Churchpath
Group Callsign:
Denton to 22 April '44 then:
Walnut (A Group)
Oatmeal (B Group)
Katie (C Group)
Assigned 8th AAF: 25 Aug 1943
Wing/Command Assignment
VIII FC 25 Aug 1943
VIII FC, 67 FW 6 Oct 1943
1 BD, 67 FW 15 Sep 1944
1 AD, 67 FW 1 Jan 1945
Combat Aircraft:
P-38H, P-38J 28 Dec 1943 to 21 Jul 1944
P-51C, P-51D from 20 Jul 1944
P-51K Dec 1944
Stations
KINGS CLIFFE 26 Aug 1943 to 11 Oct 1945
Group COs
Col Barton M. Russell 20 Aug 1943 to 2 Mar 1944
Lt. Col Mark E. Hubbard 2 Mar 1944 to 18 Mar 1944
Lt. Col Harold J. Rau 20 Mar 1944 to 25 Jun 1944
Lt. Col. Cy Wilson 25 Jun 1944 to 27 Aug 1944
Col. Harold J. Rau 27 Aug 1944 to 18 Dec 1944
Col. Robert P. Montgomery 18 Dec 1944 to 3 Oct 1945
Lt. Col. William E. Becker Sep 1945 to Nov 1945
First Mission: 28 Dec 1943
Last Mission: 25 Apr 1945
Total missions: 312
Aircraft MIA: 132
Claims: Air 212 Ground 237.
Major Awards:
Distinguished Unit Citation: 8 April 1944 for sweep over Germany
Unit Claims to Fame
Oldest USAAF group to be assigned to the 8th AF for extended period of time.
Best P-51 maintenance record of any 8th AF group for latter months of the war.
Early History:
Though the roots of the Squadrons went back to World War I, The group was activated on the 15th of November 1930 at Mather field, California as the 20th Pursuit Group then moved to Barksdale Field La. late in 1932 and based there unit late in 1939. Equipped successively with P-12, P-26s and P-36 aircraft. The unit moved back to California in November 1939 and equipped with P-39 and later with P-40s. The unit then moved to North Carolina in 1942 and then to Paine Field, Washington, later that year. It served as a training ground for new groups forming rapidly. Established at March Field, California in January 1943 and equipped with P-38s. It also served as part of the air defense structure on the west coast before shipping out to England. First scheduled for service with the 8th Air Force in January 1942 but not ordered overseas until August 1943. The unit then departed March Field on the 11th August 1943 and sailed on the Queen Elizabeth on the 20 August 1943, arriving in Clyde on the 25th of August 1943. Although assigned to bomber escort duties, the 20th also took on fighter-bomber roles beginning in March of 1944. After this time activities were almost evenly divided between the two types of missions. The many successful attacks on rail transportation by the Group gave a rise to its nick-name: "The Loco Busters".
Subsequent History:
After the war the group gradually ran down, many personnel were transferred and the aircraft flown to depots for disposal. Remainder in the United Kingdom until October 1945. Then the remainder of the unit sailed on the Queen Mary from Southhampton on the 11th October 1945 to New York arriving on the 16th of October 1945. The unit was again activated in July 1946 with P-51s and later with F-84s. The group than moved to Wethers field in the United Kingdom in 1952 and converted to F-100s.
Capt. Ted E Slanker. Portland, OR. 77th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-14824 LC-P "The Butcher Boy".
Capt. Melbourne G Ingebrigsten. Portland, OR. 79th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-15752 MC-A "Miss U Louise". Crew seen in photo are Sgt. Russell, Sgt. Harry Shuler and crew chief S/Sgt. Joe Taylor.
Lt. Robert E Miles. Fort Worth, TX. 55th Fighter Squadron. P-38H believed to be 42-67081 KI-K "Pistol Packin Mama".
Lt. Robert H King. Wilmington, NC. 77th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-13687 LC-B "Dizzy Rebel"
Lt. David F McCallister. Upper Darby, PA. 77th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-13670 LC-I "Cindee Lind".
Lt. Joseph A Peterburs. Wawautoso, WI. 55th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-15078 KI-B "Josephine".
Lt. Arthur W Heiden. Burton, NE. 79th Fighter Squadron. P-38J 42-104086 MC-H "Lucky Lady". This a/c was previously MC-F "Strictly Stella's Baby" of Maj. Rufus C Franklin, Fresno, CA., and reassigned to Art when Maj. Franklin rotated home.
Lt. John B Lee. Sealston, VA. 79th Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-15198 MC-L_ "E.K. and Jay Bee/Suzanne"(L) "Geronimo" (R).