Michael Faley
100th Bomb Group Historian
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Immigrants of War
Prior to the United States entry into WWII, thousands of Americans found a way into combat through the Canadian and British Armed Forces. They were a breed apart. Many saw an opportunity to prove their worth after having been previously rejected by their country's military. Others were simply adventure seekers drawn to the opportunity to fly fast aircraft. Whatever the individual reasons were, they all saw a need to stop Nazi aggression as quickly as possible. Sadly, almost 1000 American citizens were killed while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during WWII. Immigrants of War is a collection of memories from those who were a part of this fascinating story.
To order copies of this book, contact me at the following address;
Phone: (289) 213-0396
Email: wpf13@hotmail.com
8th Air Force Historical Society News Book Review July 2009
Immigrants of War can be purchased from the following museums.
The books are offered to these museums at cost to support their fundraising efforts.United States
Lone Star Flight Museum
2002 Terminal Drive, Galveston, TX 77554
Tel: (409) 740-7722 Toll free: 1-888-FLY-LSFM (359-5736)
Email: flight@lonestarflight.orgPima Air & Space Museum
6000 E. Valencia Rd.
Tucson, Arizona
85706
520-574-0462
www.pimaair.orgCanada
Aerospace Museum Association of Calgary
4629 McCall Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 8A5
Phone: 403-250-3752 | Fax: 403-250-8399
info@asmac.ab.caCanadian War Museum
1 Vimy Place
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0M8
General information: (819) 776-8600 or 1-800-555-5621
info@warmuseum.caCanadian Warplane Heritage Museum
9280 Airport Road
Mount Hope, Ontario
Canada L0R 1W0
Phone: (905) 679-4183
museum@warplane.com
National Air Force Museum of Canada
Trenton, Ontario
Gift Shop Phone Number: 1-866-701-7223 (toll-free)
giftshop@airforcemuseum.caWestern Canada Aviation Museum,
Hangar T-2, 958 Ferry Road,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3H 0Y8
P: 204-786-5503
info@wcam.mb.caBooks can also be purchased from the following aviation stores
Canada
Aviation World
195 Carlingview Drive,
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M9W 5E8
Toronto local: (416) 674-5959Aviation World
Unit 105-6080 Russ Baker Way
Vancouver, BC
Canada V7B 1B4
North American Toll-Free:
1-800-668-1987
Fax: (416)674-5915
Vancouver local: (604) 718-7400
E-Mail: info@aviationworld.netSpitfire Emporium
666 Victoria St. N.
Kitchener, Ontario
Canada
N2H 5G1
1-519-745-2661
mail@spitcrazy.comGreat Britain
The Aviation Bookshop
31-33 Vale Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1BS
telephone number is 01892 539284 (international: +44 18 92 53 92 84)
info@aviation-bookshop.com
Quentin Chace's Story
The Countywide
November 12, 2008
Karnes County, Texas
The story of John Birky’s unfortunate death, as a result of a flying accident at No. 9 Service Flying Training School, Centralia, inspired me to write this book. Click here for more history on RCAF Station Centralia.
Comments
James K. Foster
Information Officer
U.S. Embassy
Ottawa, Ontario
May 17, 2007
Dear Mr. Fydenchuk,
On behalf of Ambassador Wilkins I wish to thank you for the copy
of your book "Immigrants of War". Canadians and Americans are either
others closest friend, and your book pointed out that they have another
connection, that of being members of the Royal Canadian Air Force during
World War II. I commend you for bringing to life the long lost stories
of Americans who had joined the Canadian Air Force. Just one more
indication that our countries are always ready to help each other when
needed.
Immigrants of War
Canadian Army Journal Vol. 10.1 Spring 2007
IMMIGRANTS OF WAR—AMERICANS SERVING WITH THE RAF AND RCAF DURING WORLD WAR 2 W. Peter Fydenchuk (WPF Publications, 2005/6), Paper, 316 pages, ISBN 1-9737523-0-0.
Reviewed by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert S. Williams, MSM, CD
Well known is the fact that the United States entered the Second World War after the December 7th, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. What is not well known is the number of its citizens who joined other Allied countries’ services to fight against Hitler. Were it not for books such as this one, the number and accomplishments of many of them would remain fairly much unknown, perhaps forever. Peter Fydenchuk has produced an excellent book chronicling the number of American citizens who served in both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Royal Canadian AirForce (RCAF) in the Second World War. Mr. Fydenchuk’s book, replete with many personal stories and containing many photographs never before published, is a gold mine and goes a long way towards remedying this gap in knowledge.The sight of an RCAF uniform with a “U.S.A.” insignia on both shoulders is certainly unique, and will come as a surprise to many readers. Readers will also likely be surprised to discover that almost 1,000 American citizens were killed while serving as part of either the RCAF or the Royal AirForce Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR)
"The Few" no, not those dashing heroes of the Battle of Britain, but those young Americans who went to Canada in 1940 to volunteer for service in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Many of whom would end up "across the pond" in the RAF in England where they would serve with great distinction. These were the so called "cast offs", the men the Army Air Corp would not take because of lack of education or ability. Names like Don Blakeslee, Ralph "Kidd" Hofer, Don Gentile, future Medal of Honor recipient John C "Red" Morgan, Red Campbell and future members of the 100th BG: Richard Carey, "Hong Kong"Wilson. McGee Fuller, Mark Carnell and Robert Pearson. They all had a passion to fly, the adventurous American "can do" spirit and the foresight to know that sooner vs later, America would be in this War. They came from all over America and Wally P. Fydenchuk has spent a great amount of time, energy and effort to research the history and contributions of many of these men. This book is an important chapter in the Air War over England and Europe that would have been lost had it not been for Mr Fydenchuk's tireless efforts to uncover these "diamonds in the ruff" from America.
100th Bomb Group Photo Archivist13th Combat Wing Historian
Stevin Oudshoorn Netherlands
World War II Forum
Yesterday I received this (self published) book, by Canadian W.F. Fydenchuk, called IMMIGRANTS OF WAR - Americans serving with the RAF and RCAF during Word War II. The author and I have been in contact regarding Americans who died in service of the Commonwealth air forces. Wally usually supplying far more info than I did.
This book starts out with an overview of the policies regarding and reasons of Americans fighting "Another's War". It then continues with MANY biographies (completemented with quite a few portrait pictures) and first person accounts of Americans flying with the R(C)AF. It also lists all the Americans KIA with these Air Forces (almost 1000!). I finally found out why some Americans died with R(C)AF Sqns while they should have been transferred back to the USAAF. (Martin, T/Sgt Martin who died while flying with that very international crew with 44 Sqn...was on DETACHED SERVICE; many Americans were officially with the USAAF but decided to continue their tour with their RAF unit....Many died while on detached service. It solved that mystery for me...)
In any case. A book very much worth reading. Much has been written about the Eagle Squadron Americans and Fydenchuk also pays a lot of attention to them, but for me it is the Bomber Command Americans that finally get the attention they deserved. Besides some written memiores, not much is known about them. Although Americans always reinterred their wardead in permenant park or brought them back to the States, the R(C)AF Americans are still buried all over Europe in Commonwealth graves. In my hometown of Amsterdam alone, four are buried....
If I have to add one criticism it is that I had hoped more would be about the ones that did not make it. The vast majority is about the ones that made it through the war, with little info on the ones who did not. Notwithstanding the roll of honor in the back of the book.
I very much recommended this book.
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BOOK REVIEW www.eaglesquadrons.com
Immigrants of War by W. Peter Fydenchuk
Published by WPF Publications in 2005
ISBN 0-9737523-0-0
Paperback
A very neat book about Americans who enlisted in the RCAF/RAF during WWII. Covers a wide range of men who served with lots of photos. It does cover a number of Eagle Squadron pilots in this book. Very well done.
This is the first in a series about Americans who joined the RCAF in the early stages of the War. While much has been published about the more famous pilots of the Eagle Squadrons , these are compelling stories of some of the other 9000 Americans who served. Well written , many pictures and large easy to read type. As a WW II Aviation Buff , I highly recommend it , you won't be disappointed!Keep Em Flyin,
Mike Howell
I thoroughly enjoyed your book. Who could not? Every story was entertaining, informative, and a strengthening bond between the U.S. and Canada. We are two blessed nations.
Again, congratulations on your fine piece of work. It was a pleasure and will be added to the important histories of World War II.
Dennis Kucera
author, "In a Now Forgotten Sky"
Newspaper Review - Harrison (Ohio) News - Herald
A NEW book recognizing and honoring thousands of lesser-known American soldiers who fought the Nazi threat in World War II has been released, shedding new light on heroism that many have overlooked. Wally Fydenchuk of Ontario, Canada, is the author of "Immigrants of War," a book about Americans who served in the British and Canadian air force before the attack on Pearl Harbor in order to fight in the war. Many of them joined at the risk of imprisonment by their own government for violating the U.S. Neutrality Act. "It's a good book," Fydenchuk said. "It's a fascinated read about young Americans deciding to fight the Axis powers before Pearl Harbor." He added that many early recruits had to lose their U.S. citizenship because they had to swear an oath to the king. The oath of service was modified for later recruits. Fydenchuk said that 15 thousand Americans joined the Canadian military. About 9,000 of them joined the Air Force. He added that about 1,000 Americans were killed in British and Canadian service, but they are not recognized on many memorials. "They were ahead of their times. They didn't wait for their country," said Fydenchuk, adding that many memorial sites do not list Americans killed while fighting in a foreign military. "Those fellows virtually disappeared off the record books," he said. "A lot of these fellows kind of disappeared in the shuffle, yet they were visionaries. They saw the Nazi threat" At the time, Great Britain and Canada had begun a recruitment program to draw Americans to join the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. "After the Battle of Britain a lot of their pilots were killed," Fydenchuk said. "They welcomed them to come and join the Canadian military. It was an adventure for them." Fydenchuk has researched this topic for about 10 years. He grew up next to a World War II airfield and eventually learned that it had been closed after an American pilot had been killed in a training exercise. He became curious about why an American was training with Canadian pilots. He has interviewed many former pilots and others involved in the program. They who shared their stories and reasons for joining. Fydenchuk added that many chose to join foreign branches of service because they were unable to meet standards of age or education required by the U.S. military. "Before America was at war you needed two years of college to get into the Air Corps," said Fydenchuk. "They would take you at 18 and the America Air Corps wouldn't take you until 21." Many pilots transferred back to U.S. service after America declared war on the Axis powers. By that point, they were legitimate and experienced pilots and the U.S. would take them. "It was kind of a second chance for them," said Fydenchuk, adding that their years of hard-earned experience in flying served them well. "They had more combat experience than the ones who hadn't joined the Canadians or the British, because they hadn't seen battle since World War I. They taught them combat tactics. "They trained in California, with beautiful sunny skies. They couldn't fight combat-experienced Luftwaffa in cloudy, overcast weather. The transferees taught these guys from West Point," Fydenchuk said. "They had previously been rejected. Now they were the heroes of the war. When they transferred over they had the experience and were ready for action." While most of these soldiers transferred back to U.S. service after the country declared war, 5,000 Americans chose to remain with their current British and Canadian units until the end of the war. "A lot of them didn't want to transfer back. They had gotten accepted. They were part of the group," Fydenchuk said. Joe Hartshorn, originally from Pennsylvania and now a Florida resident, suggested the title of the book. He flew bombers with Canadian forces during the war and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor. His is one of the many stories related in Fydenchuk's book. "I was concerned that our isolationist Congress would do nothing. Then, too, we started hearing the radio broadcasts from London and seeing photos of the bombing damage," he said. "I just got angry and scared that the Nazis would take over." Hartshorn eventually transferred back to U.S. service for the increase in pay and the life insurance provided, but he remained with his Canadian crew since the unit was too effective to break up. "My crew was great; the extra money meant we could share more beers at the local pub," he said. He flew 34 operations. "I was in an American uniform in a Canadian squadron. I was surrounded by thousands of young men in blue uniforms. I was known as 'that Yank,'" he said. "You really become a tight band. You're very much tied together." He added that he is still in touch with his crewmates. "We were family in a good many ways," he said. "I do look back on those days with nostalgia." Hartshorn recalls two of his friends, Andy Wakeman and Max Dowden; both Americans killed while serving in a foreign military. "I do get a little wroth when I think of the many Yanks who died in the RCAF and we are barely if ever mentioned on monument inscriptions where they list all the people who flew in the RCAF," he said. "And if you were transferred into the U.S. Forces, as I was, and flew as an American with Canadian squadrons, or with the RAAF, you were never mentioned again." Fydenchuk's book includes the names of every American who died in a foreign military fighting the Nazis during World War II, as well as those who were taken as prisoners of war. "I was very pleased with the book. I think Wally did a very good job on this," Hartshorn said. "Immigrants of War" is a companion to Fydenchuk's earlier book, "Before the Battle," which focuses on the history of the old RCAF base.
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