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Archive Report: US Forces
1941 - 1945

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.

We seek additional information and photographs. Please contact us via Helpdesk
RAF Crest
Congressional Gold Medal

This movement originates from Mr. Richard Brook of the Bomber Command Museum of Canada in Texas and Mr. John Stemple in Florida also representing the BCMC.

The Bomber Command Museum of Canada are the main sponsors of this movement and the originators.

Dear Colleague:



I write today to invite you to become a co-sponsor of a legislative initiative which will recognise the legacies of the estimated 12,000 Americans who joined the fight for democracy in WWII prior to the United States' declared entry into the conflict. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbour courageous citizens from across the country saw the dangers represented by Nazi and Fascist aggression and voluntarily fought to prevent the associated detrimental impacts on the American way of life. Cosponsor today the “American Patriots of WWII through Service with the Canadian and British Armed Forces Gold Medal Act of 2017” and honour these heroes.



Right: Congressman Ted Ryan.

Wartime media accounts detail the intrepid volunteers, and organisations within several states have recognised them with memorials and websites. Yet the foresight, courage and sacrifices of these patriots have remained for the most part an untold story which has not received formal, collective recognition. Their positive contributions were legion and the knowledge and experience they obtained under Canadian and British tutelage provided invaluable leadership later when many transferred into branches of the U.S. Military.

These patriots who served in the Canadian and British armed forces before transferring to lead the United States in the wartime effort include William R. Dunn, Dominic Salvatore Gentile, and John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Left: Lieutenant Commander Valerie Broznak.

Lieutenant Commander Valerie Broznak is Congressman Ryan's current Defence Legislative Fellow. She is coordinating support for the legislation and annotating the names of endorsing organisations onto this 'Dear Colleague' letter.

Many individuals who were unable to enlist due to exclusions relating to gender, age, race, health, formal education, or other reasons supported this effort by joining the new ancillaries and support agencies. This heroism generated progressive cultural change. For example, the successes of Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) female ferry aircrews paved the way for the formation in the U.S. of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and led to greater incorporation and utilisation of women in the U.S. Armed Forces. Jacqueline Cochran, was an ATA recruiter and a pioneer of the WASPs.


The Americans who served in Canadian and British military and paramilitary units represent a largely overlooked group and their legacy of service is one of valour. These men and women played essential roles in securing victory and are worthy of official commendation. Please join in the effort to formally recognise these valiant warriors. To do so, please email Valerie Broznak (202) 225-5261.

Sincerely,

Tim Ryan

Download:

Congressional Gold Medal Bill

Support Bill HR1553

To find out your United States House of Representative

Pages of Outstanding Interest
History Airborne Forces •  Soviet Night Witches •  Bomber Command Memories •  Abbreviations •  Gardening Codenames
CWGC: Your Relative's Grave Explained •  USA Flygirls •  Axis Awards Descriptions •  'Lack Of Moral Fibre'
Concept of Colonial Discrimination  •  Unauthorised First Long Range Mustang Attack
RAAF Bomb Aimer Evades with Maquis •  SOE Heroine Nancy Wake •  Fane: Motor Racing PRU Legend
Acknowledgments: Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and Captain François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Andrew Mielnik: Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Polish graves: https://niebieskaeskadra.pl/, PoW Museum Żagań, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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Last Modified: 10 March 2021, 16:06

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