Home To Debden
$245.00
Home To Debden – By Keith Ferris
Contact Keith Ferris Art
20″ X 24″ Canvas Print
Depicted here, the P-51 Mustangs from the US Army Air Forces’ 4th Fighter Group (the “Debden Eagles”) operating out of RAF Debden, England, flying crucial escort missions for bombers deep into Germany, especially to Berlin, becoming legendary for protecting bombers and destroying enemy aircraft, with units like the 334th, 335th, and 336th Squadrons achieving massive success and becoming one of the top groups by war’s end. They transitioned from Spitfires and P-47s to Mustangs in 1944, providing vital long-range escort, famously enabling the USAAF’s bomber offensive over Germany.
The Debden Eagles of the 4th Fighter Group, famous for their “Fourth But First” motto, was originally British-manned (Eagle Squadrons) before becoming a USAAF unit.
Flying P-51 Mustangs (B/C/D models), which, with their long range, proved essential for escorting bombers to targets deep in Germany, including Berlin. Their missions included the Air Offensive in Europe, Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, and the invasion of Germany, providing bomber protection. The P-51’s presence over Germany was so significant that some German pilots felt the war was lost once they saw them. The 334th (QP), 335th (WD), and 336th (VF) squadrons were key components of the 4th FG.
In essence, P-51s from Debden were instrumental in achieving air superiority and protecting heavy bombers over Germany, marking a turning point in the European air war.
