The 31st Fighter Group was the first American fighter unit to be sent to Europe. Its official diarist commented that "operationally we worked direct with the British, which in England was highly efficient β about as good as could ever be attained.
The th Fighter Squadron at Biggin Hill, the th at Kenley, and the th at Westhampnett, all part of the 31st Fighter Group, flew the Spitfire operationally, and the Dieppe raid on August 19, , was their first action. That day the American th was led into battle over the Dieppe beachhead by RAF Squadron Leader Pete Wickham who had been temporarily detached for the special assignment. Later, the Americans honored him with the Silver Star "for outstanding aerial technique, operational skill, and great courage and determination.
Another Squadron pilot, George Heighington, had good reason to remember the American fliers with appreciation. On June 2, , the North Weald wing was to be sent on a sweep of the Cap Gris Nez area, but recent losses had reduced the number of available aircraft. To make up for the shortfall, Squadron borrowed a Spitfire from Squadron and assigned it to Heighington. During the flight out I set the seat for my own height, adjusted the rudder pedals, and set the throttle quadrant the way I wanted it.
Then, as soon as we got over France, we were jumped by a whole hell of a lot of ME s and I switched on my gunsight ready to do battle. It just didn't light up. Now this was not a good time to discover you had a malfunction in your gunsight, but I did my best. This turned out to be quite inadequate and I was immediately shot to pieces. As my logbook records: 'Cannon shells in wing and fuselage. Port cannon shot away.
Starboard magazine exploded blowing away wing plates. Plates blown from port wing and tail unit. Engine misfiring. Then, salvation. Another Spitfire arrived and escorted me back to England in a gentle dive, my engine eventually dying on me before I made a successful dead-stick landing at Manston β severely shaken and lucky to be alive. The pilot who saved me never identified himself, but after I made a lot of inquiries he turned out to be a member of one of the Eagle Squadrons, Number I'd like to know exactly who he was so I could write him my much-belated thanks.
