This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Peterson, Chesley Gordon, Maj Gen USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Salmon, Idaho or Santaquin, Utah
Last Address Retirement Village, March AFB, Riverside, California
Date of Passing Jan 28, 1990
Location of Interment Riverside National Cemetery (VA) - Riverside, California
He was in the U.S. Army Air Corps Sep 1939-Jan 1940 then joined the British Royal Air Force. While in 71 Eagle Squadron of the RAF in England, he destroyed 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat.
He rejoined the now U.S. Army Air Forces in Sep 1942 and got his 7th aerial victory while with the 4th Fighter Group.
His DSC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Chesley Gordon Peterson (ASN: 0-885114), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane and Commanding Officer of the 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in May 1943. While leading a formation in escort of bombardment aircraft and after his wing man had dropped behind due to motor trouble, Colonel Peterson sighted eight enemy airplanes about to attack the bomber formation. With utter disregard for his personal safety and without assistance he immediately engaged the eight enemy aircraft, probably destroying one and damaging another. The vigor and fearlessness of his attack completely disrupted the enemy formation and routed the enemy attack, thereby contributing largely to the safety of the bomber aircraft and the successful completion of their mission.
General Orders: Headquarters, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army, General Orders No. 39 (1943)
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Length 36.15 ft | 11.02 m Width 40.68 ft | 12.40 m Height 14.67 ft | 4.47 m Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double-Wasp eighteen cylinder radial engine generating 2,535hp. Empty Weight 9,949 lbs | 4,513 kg MTOW 17,500 lbs | 7,938 kg Max Speed 433 mph | 697 km/h | 376 kts Max Range 449 miles | 722 km Ceiling 40,994 ft | 12,495 m | 7.8 miles Climb Rate 3,200 ft/min (976 m/min) Hardpoints 3 Armament 8 x 12.7mm Machine Guns 10 x 5 in Air-to-Surface HE Rockets
Provision for bomb load, fuel drop tanks or rockets to a maximum of 2,500lbs (1,134kg). Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-47B - Prototype featuring XR-2800 radial generating 1,850hp. * P-47B - Production model based on XP-47B prototype; R-2800-21 radial engine. * P-47C - Extended fuselage; Later types of this model featuring R-2800-59 radial at 2,300hp; Provisions for drop tanks and bombs. * P-47D - Main production model of which 12,602 produced; R-2800-21W (2,300hp) or R-2800-59W (2,535hp) water-injected radial powerplants; Increased MTOW capacity; Provision for drop tanks and air-to-surface HE rockets. * P-47G - Wright-produced P-47D models of which 354 produced. * P-47M - 'Sprinter' interception model designed to combat the V1 / V2 rocket threat; Featured specialized airbrake system and R-2800-57(C) radial generating 2,800hp; 130 produced. * P-47N - Exclusive Pacific Theater model; Long range variant with increased and reinforced wing section of which 1,816 produced; Longer wingspan with blunt-tipped wing tips concealing fuel compartments; R-2800-77 radial generating 2,800hp.
