LC "Wildcat" Wade RAF   W/C DSO,  DFC  &  2 Bars Born in Broaddus Texas in 1915. Named LC Wade (he picked the names Lance & Cleo for his RAF paperwork as LC was considered unacceptable*) Home in Tucson Arizona. Joined the RAF in Canada in December 1940 (his father had flown with the Lafayette Squadron in WW1). Trained at No.52 OTU, 16 June to 29 August 1941 (in No.3 Sqn. with Garth Horricks). Flew off HMS Ark Royal to Malta on 13 September 1941. However, he flew in a Sunderland to Egypt the next day. Joined 33 Squadron as a P/O. Loaned to the US to tour the States. In January 1943 he was posted to 145 Squadron as a Flight Commander. Known as "Wildcat" or "Killer" to his squadron mates & the media. KiFA on 12 January 1944 while flying an Auster at recently captured (October) Foggia 'drome.

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ARMIES DIG IN IN LIBYA
Heavy Rainfall Hampers Fight
AIR FORCE ACTIVE

"The Age" Special Service and A.A.P. LONDON, December 4, 1941 - It is stated authoritatively that rain has hampered operations in North Africa in the last 24 hours. Our armored columns are harassing the enemy, who apparently is using the Trighy-Capuzzo road from east to west whilst the British Air Force continues to harass the enemy. There is no news of the tank battle having been resumed.
A despatch from the representative of the Associated Press of America with the Eighth Army says — "Like the Britishers, General Rommel's forces also are digging in. The campaign has thus become one of positions, with occasional thrusts from both sides, especially the British, who are determined to break up the German strength tank by tank. This is likely to be a slow process"
To-day's Cairo G.H.Q. communique said:—"During the last 24 hours the lull in the fighting continued. Three Italian tanks were destroyed in one small engagement. On the main front south-east of Tobruk our mobile columns engaged some small bodies of the enemy, which were endeavoring to move towards the Sidi Azeiz area.
"In the frontier area our forces continue pressure on isolated enemy centers of resistance. Our patrols throughout the whole day were actively engaged observing and harassing the enemy.
"Our Air Force continues to carry out sweeps over the whole battle ground and successfully attacked motor transport on the Trighy-Capuzzo road and large concentrations of enemy vehicles in a wadi near Sidi Rezegh."
Berlin radio says big forces of Italian bombers attacked the railway line between Alexandria and, Mersa Matruh and damaged it at several places.
The R.A.F. maintains its mastery over the Axis in the battle area and on the supply lines. This means that in conjunction with the Navy a very heavy toll is taken of enemy supplies before they reach the battle zone.
The Cairo correspondent of the "Dally Telegraph" says — "We have not yet achieved the aim with which the battle was undertaken, but the enemy remains in a precarious situation. The problem of supply is causing him considerable embarrassment. It may be expected that the present lull will last anther day or two while both sides gather strength for what may be a decisive phase of the campaign."
An American Pilot Officer, Lance Wade, has shot down four planes during this campaign. He celebrated his 27th birthday on the first day of the campaign by shooting down two Capronis. A comrade said — "He just wades in and shoots them down."

Italian Claims
A Rome communique says — "Further fighting in Libya by Italian and German forces was crowned with success. Units of the Trento-Pavia division attacked and captured several fortified positions and took prisoners. The Savona division on the Sollum front captured other enemy troops and motorised vehicles. One of our groups repulsed an attempted British
attack on Bir el Gobi, inflicting losses and destroying or capturing several armored lorries. Fighting is continuing in the area west of Bardia between German mechanised units and enemy detachments. An armored Ariete division in recent operations in the Solium area took 1500 prisoners and destroyed 25 tanks, 40 armored lorries and many other motorised units. Persistent bad weather has hindered the opposing air forces. Nevertheless, Axis planes successfully attacked concentrations of motorised vehicles east of Bir el Gobi, and renewed attacks on enemy elements at Gialo Oasis.
"British air and naval formation in the Mediterranean attacked one of our torpedo boats and our escorting fighter shot down two enemy planes. Most of the crew of the torpedo boat were saved. One of our submarines shot down a Sunderland flying boat in flames."
A Free French observer in Cairo describes the heroism of a famous South African regiment which stood up to a concentrated German tank attack. Their numbers were gradually reduced until there was only a sergeant left. He climbed into a tank and to prevent it falling into the enemy's hands, blew it up with a grenade and himself with it.

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1942

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London Gazette, Air Ministry, 7th April 1942. ROYAL AIR FORCE

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards:

Distinguished Flying Cross

Pilot Officer Lance WADE (68717), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 33 Squadron

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Arizona Battler

July 21, 1942 - Although he's put in 240 fighting hours without leave, Acting Squadron Leader Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., refused the leave offered by the RAF. Wade, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, has nine enemy planes to his credit in 11 months duty in Libyan Desert warfare. Acting Squadron Leader Wade

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Bags 12th Plane

CAIRO, July 25, 1942 —(UP)— United States Air force Lieut. Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., has increased his bag of enemy planes to 12, an American who had just returned from the desert front, said Saturday night. Wade was credited with nine planes last week and since then he reportedly has shot down three more for certain along with one probable.

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Menace to Axis A U.S. Flyer Leads the Way in Egypt

By GEORGE PALMER United Press Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Aug. 1, 1942 — Flight Lieutenant Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., today was credited with adding three more Axis planes to his list of 12 shot down and two probably destroyed — but he still wont take a rest.
Wade has been taking his cuts at enemy planes for a year as an RAF flyer and is entitled to leave, but he says he's too busy flying.
Setting the pace for American pilots, the Arizona ace is becoming one of the top fighter pilots of the desert war in Egypt. He is a happy-go-lucky, sturdy fellow with thinning hair and a trim mustache. He looks older than his 25 years.
He says his one ambition is to lead a squadron of all American fighters.

(I have no idea what to make of this. No claims seem to match the article -jf)

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American Flier Scores 12th Victory

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Sept. 7, 1942 - Flight Lieut. Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., 27-year-old RAF fighter pilot, has just scored his 12th victory in aerial combat by shooting down a German Messerschmitt 109 over the Egyptian battle front.
In addition to the even dozen enemy planes he is credited officially with destroying, Wade has four other "probables" to his credit. His confirmed victories are far ahead of those of any other American airman in the Middle East.

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Texan Bags 12th Enemy Airplane

LONDON 8 September 1942 — (INS) — Flight Lt Lance Wade, RAF pilot from San Augustine, Tex., chalked up his twelfth enemy plane when he shot down a Messerschmitt 109 in the desert, the RAF Middle East news service reported Sunday.
Wade, holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, brought his squadron's "bag'' to 200 enemy planes by his latest feat.

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Yank Ace Finds Italians Better, Have New Plane

Cairo, 23 September 1942 - (AP) - The only American ace with the RAF in the western desert, Flight Lieut Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz, credited with 14 victories in air combats, believes Italian aviators are getting better.
In a chat with correspondents today Wade said that the Italians had a new fighter plane, the Macchi 202, and that its performance apparently had given the fliers more confidence.
"I believe most fighter pilots in the desert would rather meet a Messerschmitt 109 than a Macchi," he said. The Germans are inclined to break off combats after a few minutes, but Italians in the Macchis may carry on dog-fights for as much as 20 minutes.

(In Aces High 2nd Ed. Shores states that on the 16th of September Wade was in a dogfight (last one of his first tour) with an MC202 that damaged his Hurricane twice before he was able to shoot it down. It was the first time his AC had been damaged in combat by an enemy plane. Wade recorded after the fight, "He was good." -jf)

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Hero Again Cited

LONDON, Oct. 12, 1942 — (AP) — Flight Lieutenant Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz, top-scoring American fighter pilot in the RAF with 16 Axis airplanes to his credit, has been awarded a bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Ministry announced today.
Wade has scored 10 of his victories in the last six months. His citation said he fought off eight Italian fighters which attacked his aircraft during a reconnaissance patrol.

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London Gazette, Air Ministry, Tuesday 13th October, 1942, ROYAL AIR FORCE.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:

Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross

Acting F/L Lance WADE, DFC (68717), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 33 Sqn.

Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross this officer has destroyed 7 enemy aircraft thus bring his total victories to 15. In September 1942, during a reconnaissance patrol his aircraft was attacked by some 8 Italian fighters. Flight Lieutenant Wade, however, fought them off. By his skill and determination, he contributed materially to the success of the reconnaissance and much valuable information was obtained. Flight Lieutenant Wade's courage and devotion to duty has been an inspiration to all.

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Texan Downs 14 Planes

Associated Press Wirephoto, 14 October 1942 - Flight Lieut. Lance Wade, aged 26, looks over the sights of New York after learning Tuesday that the British government had added a bar to his decorations for bagging 14 enemy planes. Wade, an RAF flyer home for a rest, is shown atop the RCA skyscraper with the Empire State building in the background. He lives in Reklaw, Tex. F/L Wade

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Fighter Pilot Quits War Bond Meetings

Cairo, 31 December 1942 - (AP) - Flight Lieutenant Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz, a fighter pilot in the RAF who is credited with downing 14 enemy planes, said today he was relieved to be back in action after two months leave.
He said addressing war bond meetings was more exhausting than fighting.

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1943

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ITALIAN PLANES “BEER CRATES"
Poor Usefulness

"The Age" Special Correspondent CAIRO. February 12, 1943 - Squadron-Leader Bob Gibbes, of Manly, N.S.W., commanding an Australian fighter squadron in the Middle East, flew an Italian aircraft to Cairo from an advanced landing ground and back, loaded with supplies. The enemy had used the plane for communications. It was one of a number of enemy aircraft left behind in the retreat, and the squadron's mechanics got them into working order. Flight-Lieutenant Danny Boardman, of West Kempsey, N.S.W., also flew an enemy plane until he left to return to Australia.
Many Middle East squadrons have acquired enemy aircraft, but they were valueless except as squadron supply planes, during the advance across Egypt and Libya. They are generally dubbed "beer crates."
Squadron Leader Lance Wade, an American serving in the Middle East, will command a fighter squadron. He served with a Polish fighter squadron in England and became well known to many Australians by association with them in Hurricane and Spitfire night fighter squadrons. His successes have earned him the nickname "Killer."

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BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF NAZI RAIDS

By DANIEL DE LUCE WITH ALLIED AIR FORCE IN MEDENINE BATTLE AREA, Tunisia, March 17, 1943 - (AP) - A murderous swarm of Allied fighters and bombers and Nazi hit-and-run raiders traded dynamite punches over the battle of Medenine today.
I should have brought along my tin hat, good luck charm and medicated bandages to watch this show.
It was rough
We were watching the air battle from the most advanced Allied air base in this area — a base hidden in brown hills.
It's really a thrill to see squadrons of South African Kittyhawks roar off, each plane carrying a 250 or 500 pounds bomb ticketed for the German tanks at their refueling points, or for German infantry, which was massing west of Medenine for another assault.
At other fields, warmed up and ready for the signal to take off, were squadrons of American Warhawks and numerous formations of RAF "Kittys.” The Americans were led by Lieut. Col. Arthur Salisbury of Sedalia, Mo.
I smile at a joke cracked by a friend standing nearby. Then the smile freezes. Planes drone out of the wispy clouds overhead. They aren't friendly.
The first whistle of falling bombs is smothered by the thunderous belch of anti-aircraft fire just a few feet away. There's time for a quick look at the tracers spurting from a diving Messerschmitt. Fifty yards away is a yellow mound of earth. It marks a foxhole. I run.
Bomb blasts and fire from the ground batteries combine in an inferno of noise which seems to split the eardrums.
I dig my head into the dirt, and try to dig the hole deeper by desperate clawing with my fingers, anything, just to get out of sight of those German bombs and machine guns.
Suddenly, a back-breaking thud, and what seems to be a ton of lead lands on top of me. It's nothing to worry about - just another correspondent digging in and landing in the same tight territory.
"Those tracers were nipping your heels," a voice said. It was Merrill Mueller of Newsweek. "You got here just in time. They were kicking up dust in front of me."
The ground barrage slackened. Our two dust-covered heads raised up and we took a look around. Mueller's right ear was cut and bleeding badly. He also had a wrenched ankle.
Bombs had blasted holes on both sides of us. To the left, about 100 feet away, one hit near an ack-ack crew, causing some casualties. About the same distance to the right a small army truck was shattered and set on fire by a direct hit which killed two soldiers.
Flight Lieut. John Watson, from Sydney, Australia, drove us off the, field in a station wagon. We hadn't been watching gunners loading planes long before the roar of enemy planes sounded overhead again.
This time Watson was in the foxhole first. I landed on top with as heavy a thud as Mueller did the first time. The ground trembled beneath us. First one bomb, then another and another shook the earth.
"Wow!" I shouted, involuntarily. I felt a sharp blow on my hip and a burning sensation. Then I thought:
"Not so bad — only a flesh wound. But, Lord! won't this raid ever end?"
My hip kept burning. It was only a couple of minutes, but it seemed forever. I finally muttered in Watson's ear:
"I guess I've been hit."
Watson began feeling around, scorched his fingers on a sizzling hot fragment of a Nazi bomb. I wasn't wounded, just blistered.
Back on safer ground, I watched Allied fighter bombers continue their shuttle raids on German spearheads trying to pierce the flaming wall laid down by British artillery defending the high ground around Medenine. I could still hear the ack-ack at the airfield where I had been, and was told later, one Messerschmitt was brought down.
It seems that the Allied P-40s always are on some mission when the Germans are striking buck. But I felt better after talking with Lieut. Jack Wilson of Danton City, Wash., who reported he was jumped by six Messerschmitts but was able to fight them off. Wilson is a member of the Black Scorpion Squadron.
And RAF Spitfire Squadron Leader Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., came back to tell of downing his fifteenth enemy plane of the Middle East campaign.

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Arizona Pilot Hero Of Spitfire Flight

CAIRO. March 18, 1943 - From one of the most advanced landing ground of the war, Spitfires have operated for more than a week under daily shellfire from German Guns in the Mareth Line less than 20 miles away, it was announced today.
Fighters there frequently had to take to the air to avoid shelling but not a single Spitfire has been lost, reports here said.
Squadron Leader Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., was singled out for gallantry in numerous sorties in fighting off enemy planes over the landing ground. On one occasion, he led a formation which routed enemy planes of more than four times its number.

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BAGS 21ST NAZI PLANE

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, North Africa, April 23, 1943 - (UP) - Squadron Leader Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., has destroyed a Messerschmitt 109 for his 21st confirmed victory, it was announced today. Wade holds the Flying Cross with two bars.

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London Gazette, Air Ministry, 27th April, 1943. ROYAL AIR FORCE

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy:

Second Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross

Acting S/L Lance WADE, DFC (68717), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 145 Sqn.

This officer is the leader of a squadron which has achieved much success in recent operations. During March 1943, the squadron destroyed 21 enemy aircraft, 4 of which were shot down by Squadron Leader Wade. By his great skill and daring, this officer has contributed materially to the high standard of operational efficiency of the squadron he commands. Squadron Leader Wade has destroyed 19 enemy aircraft.

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Bags 22nd Plane

Allied Headquarter in North Africa, 10 May 1943 - (AP) - Squadron Leader Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., American commander of an RAF fighter squadron, has shot down his twenty-second enemy plane. Wade shares honors with Flight Lieutenant Neville Frederick Duke, who also has 22, as the top scoring pilots in North Africa. Duke is a Briton.

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Italy 1943 - L to R - Stan Turner (417 Sq. RCAF), S/L Humphreys (92 Sq.), D.S.[?] (W/Ldr. 244 Wing), Brian Kingcombe (C/O 244 Wing), S/L Lance Wade (145 Sq.) & Malcom Osler (SAAF). (from "Spitfire Into Battle" by WGG Duncan-Smith)

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1944

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Ace Fighter Pilot Dies In Accident

19 January 1944 - Lance Wade, the greatest fighter pilot the Mediterranean has ever known is dead ... killed not in action but when a communications plane crashed in Italy, miles behind the line. Wing Commander Wade, who was once told that he was not capable of becoming a fighter pilot, had 25 kills and many probables to his credit. He flew from Alamein with the Desert Air Force all through the campaign to Italy without once being shot down in combat by the enemy. An American An American, whose father flew with the Lafayette Squadron, Wade joined the R.A.F. in December 1940 as a member of the Eagle Squadron and in 1941 came to the Middle East where he quickly scored eight victories. When the American Air Force started to operate in the Desert, he refused to transfer although he had been offered a higher rank. He wanted "to string along with the guys I've been with for so long." His last battle was in November when he took on 20 Germans and damaged three. Wing Commander Wade

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American Ace In RAF Is Killed
Commander Wade Crashes to His Death in Italy

Allied Headquarters, Algiers, Jan. 19, 1944 -AP- Wing Commander Lance C. Wade, American ace of the RAF, who had the highest score of any fighter pilot in the Mediterranean theater — 25 enemy planes destroyed — crashed to his death Jan. 12 in Italy, it was announced today.
The 27-year-old, veteran of three years of combat flying, a native of Reklaw, Tex., and who lived in Tucson, Ariz., met death when a small communications plane he was flying spun to the ground many miles behind the front. The cause of the accident was not known.
He was regarded by many as this war's greatest fighter pilot.

Had Been Decorated
Wade had been decorated with the British Distinguished Flying Cross and two bars. He fought with the RAF all through the Middle East campaign and had many an adventure in the desert. Once he was rescued after a 27 mile walk after his plane had been shot down in combat.
He narrowly escaped death many times. Perhaps his closest call occurred last Nov. 4 in Italy.
With a fellow Spitfire pilot, Basil Thornton of London, Wade was patrolling forward positions for the Eighth army. They sighted an enemy formation and discovered themselves pitted against 20 Focke-Wulfe 190s and Messerschmitt 109s. Wade damaged three and Thornton destroyed one.
Suddenly Wade found himself being chased by seven foes. He dropped into a valley and streaked along for miles before the enemy planes gave up the chase, presumably because they had run out of ammunition.

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GREAT FIGHTING PILOT IS KILLED

ALLIED HEADQUARTERS, Algiers, Jan. 19, 1944 - (AP) - Wing Commander Lance C. Wade, regarded in the Mediterranean theater as the greatest fighter pilot of the war, was killed last Wednesday in an air accident in Italy, it was announced today.
The 28-year-old American ace of the royal air force, who shot down 25 enemy planes confirmed and many probables before being relieved of combat flying two months ago, crashed to his death when his small communications plane went into an unexplained spin many miles behind his own lines.
Wade had faced the enemy almost daily as a combat pilot for more than two years and had had many dramatic escapes. Twice he was shot down and once walked 27 miles through the desert back to a base.
Born at Reklaw, Texas, Wade began flying at the age of 17 at Tucson, Ariz. His father had flown with the Lafayette escadrille in the last war.
With a companion, Sidney Muhart, Wade went to Canada in the first year of the war and enlisted in the air force.
Together they fought in the "battle of Britain" (not true -ed) and in 1941 were transferred to the Middle East. Muhart was fatally burned when attacked while flying over enemy lines to Tobruk that year.

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New Aces Strive To Trump Rickenbacker

By The Associated Press NEW YORK, April 1, 1944 — On some fine tomorrow, a fighter pilot may alight at a southwest Pacific or English air base with the news that he has broken Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker's World war 1 record of 26 kills.
The marines' top ace, Joe Foss, who has tied that mark, is back on the prowl in the Pacific, and three other sharp-eyed fighter pilots are gunning along not far behind.
Maj. Foss, a Sioux Falls (S. D.) boy, shares with the missing Maj. Gregory Boyington of Okanogan, Wash., another marine, the honor of equaling Capt. Rickenbacker's record.
Now president of Eastern Airlines, Rickenbacker recently predicted it will be doubled or trebled before the war ends.
Capt. Richard I. Bong of Poplar, Wis., an army pilot in the southwest Pacific, has a bag of 25 planes.
Capt. Robert S. Johnson of Lawton, Okla., is the leading U.S. ace of the European theater with 22.
Maj. Walker Mahurin of Ft Wayne, Ind., had a victory string of 20 planes at last reports, as did Capt. Donald N. Aldrich and Capt. Kenneth A. Walsh of Brooklyn, N.Y.
A number of other American pilots in both theaters have records in the high 'teens within striking distance of the record for both wars.
The 81-planc record of Baron Manfred von Richthofen, German ace of World war I, has been exceeded by at least two German fighter pilots, a check of Nazi reports indicate.
Col. Werner Molders, killed in the crash of a transport plane at Breslau in 1941, had been decorated for 115 air victories, 103 in World war II, the rest in the Spanish civil war.
The Paris radio reported recently that a Lt. Col. Mayer, credited with 102 planes, had been killed in an air accident. He reputedly was the last survivor of the original Richthofen squadron, named in honor of the baron.
The British always have been inclined to discount these enemy records on the theory that German requirements for official confirmation are not so rigid as their own.
The British World War I record of 73 planes, hung up by Maj. Edward Mannock before his death, seems fairly secure. (Billy Bishop with 72 was actually the leading English-speaking Ace of the war -jf)
Wing Commander Brendan (Paddy) Finucane, an Irishman with the royal air force, had 32 planes, to his credit when his Spitfire was shot into the English Channel in 1942.
Flight Lt George Beurling, ace of the Canadian fighter pilots, had a bag of 30 planes in most recent reports.
Before his death in an accident in Italy in January, Wing Commander Lance Wade of Tucson, Ariz., was considered the RAF ace in the Mediterranean. He had 25 planes officially and many more probables.
Leading Russian ace is said to be Alexander Pokryshkin with 53 planes.

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London gazette, Air Ministry, 25th of January 1944

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards :

Distinguished Service Order

Acting Wing Commander Lance WADE, DFC (68717), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

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Victories Include :

25 / 1 / 13   plus  1 / 0 / 5  OTG

Score & notes from Aces High 2nd Edition

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* I read somewhere that his parents actually named him LC but when applying to the RAF he was told LC was no good, he needed a real name. He picked Lance Cleo.

If anyone can confirm or refute that, please let me know.

Another American Ace with only initials for a name was TH McArthur

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