Training info required on Don Gentile

[TOM WALSH]

I Am Looking For The Training History (Time And Location) Of Dominic Salvatore "Gentle" Gentile Who Flew With The 336th Fighter Squadron (FS), 4th Fighter Group (FG), United States Army Air Force (USAAF) In World War II.

Embarrassed By His Italian Ancestry, He Americanized His Name To Don Or Donald S. Gentile.

Many Articles Say That, In September, 1940, He Joined The Royal Canadian Air Force (Rcaf) Prior To Transferring To The Usaaf.

Two Recent Attempts To Search For His Rcaf Records Through The Canadian National Archives Using A Combination Of His Names, Produced No Results. Two Additional Attempts To Search For His Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) Records In England, Have, Likewise, Produced No Results.

It Is Known That He Was Trained In Either Canada Or The United States For When He Arrived In England, He Already Had His "Wings".

I Think He Was Rafvr And Trained At An Rcaf Establishment. The Rcaf, Unfortunately, Did Not Keep Tabs On Rafvr Personnel Training In Canada.

I Am Hoping Someone Has A Copy Of The Book Written By Ira Wolfert, Published In 1944, Entitled "One Man Air Force" Which Should Provide The Information That I Need On This Great "American Mustang Ace".

Cheers,
Tom Walsh.

[Dan Johnson II]

Do you have the biography of Gentile written by Mark M. Spagnuolo?

It says Gentile recieved his first flight training at Polaris Field, Glendale California, completing the 6 months of training in 3 months. Gentile had already been flying prior to entering service. It also says he got RAF wings, so I'd guess he went in under one of those RAF sponsered programs that trained pilots in the US before going to England.

His next flight training was in England in December 41 at 9 Service Flying Training School at RAF Hullavington.

In February 1942 he went to 57 Operational Training Unit at Eshott Air Force Base near Morpeth, England. He flew a Spitfire for the first time there

Dan

[Randy Haskin]

Tom -

Try aviation artist Wade Meyers at chicoartist@yahoo.com or visit his website at wademeyersart.tripod.com. He is a huge 4FG enthusiast and owns an original copy of One Man Air Force. He also has copies of Gentile's logbook from when he visited Gentile's sister up in Ohio.

[TOM WALSH]

DAN AND RANDY:

THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU FOR THE INFORMATION AND THE LEADS ON GENTILE'S TRAINING HISTORY. IT IS APPRECIATED.

THAT EXPLAINS WHY THERE ARE NO RECORDS OF HIS RAFVR SERVICE WITH THE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AGENCY AT RAF INNSWORTH.

THE RECORDS FOR THOSE AMERICANS WHO TRAINED AT THE SIX ELEMENTARY FLYING TRAINING SCHOOLS (EFTS) IN THE UNITED STATES ARE HELD AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, SURREY, ENGLAND. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE STAFF TO DO SEARCHES ON BEHALF OF RESEARCHERS AND THERE IS NO CAPABILITY TO DO ANYTHING VIA THE INTERNET. YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY ATTEND ENGLAND IN PERSON OR HAVE SOMEONE DO IT AS YOUR AGENT. THAT DOES NOT HELP OUT MUCH FOR US FOLKS STUCK WAY BACK HERE IN THE COLONIES!

CHEERS,
TOM WALSH.