IAW 1944 - First images

EAF Pub
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Remember Col. MonsTTerenko, Soviet attachè to RAF HQ in Malta, 1942?

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After Italian invasion of the island during an EAF 51 vs. 602 SE Campaign, a famous EAF Photoshoot depicted him when obliged by 51 Aces to drink Itala Pilsen beer in a pub of Italian-occupied La Valletta, before being tranferred to a German POW camp…(complete story here: http://www.europeanaf.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6808& )

What happened to him afterwards?

Well, having been caught in the Mediterranean Front, the Gestapo didn’t realize immediately he was Russian (an inferior race to be extermined), and he was assigned to a Luft Stalag (usually reserved to Allied Aircrews, and somehow better than an extermination camp!).

Well, he managed to escape and cross the Channel, and eventually took part in 1943 to EAF’s Tunis-El Mareth Campaign as a B-25 Pilot…

Here’s a rare pic of Col.MonsTTerenko in Foggia, liberated Italy, when training on the B-17, in preparation of the big IAW: as a USAAF volunteer, please note his Soviet-style 1st Class Pilot name tag on an US A-2. The jacket retains its original Mighty Eighth badge, instead of the theatre-correct 12th AF, as it was a gift from a mate in the POW camp.

Now you know where the “Aggressors’ Fighter Squadron” badge used nowadays comes from…:smiley:

:roflmao:

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Handsome devil :cool:

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Perhaps we should post this pic in 22GCT’s forum to frighten 'em!:smiley:

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Here’s 602 BG crew, after their first IAW sortie:

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Resting on his parachute, Richy is easily recognizable. :wink:

I can’t tell at the moment who’s the one at his left, holding his (still dripping!) willie…:roflmao:

Please note how Flasheart (sitting) and MonsTTer (crouching) can’t stop watching those pinups…:smiley:

On the left, Joe90 is still wearing his worksuit, after registering ignition timing of one of those 1000 HP Wright Cyclone engines.:rolleyes:

Second from right, you can spot 132° Gruppo Commander Il Pesca, perfectly disguised as an USAAF Officer, in a desperate attempt to get into a B-17 cockpit…:roflmao: