By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 11:57 AM on 16th February 2012 . Townsend Griffiss was the first US air force officer was killed in Europe, following America's entry into World War II . This is the face of a forgotten hero - . the first U.S. air force officer killed in Europe after America's entry . into the Second World War. Fighter pilot Lt Col Townsend . Griffiss was highly regarded by the . military but his name was, until now, virtually lost to history. He was the first of 30,000 American airmen to lose their lives in the bloody conflict - shot down in friendly fire after the plane he travelling in was tragically mistaken for a German aircraft on February 15 1942 on its way from Cairo to the UK. Now, on the 70th anniversary of his death this week, his contribution to the war effort is being remembered in a feature for the BBC's online news magazine. His death at 41 led to improved training for airmen to help them recognise the differences between military and civilian aircraft. He also helped establish a key supply route across Siberia for American lend-lease aircraft. There is no memorial to Lt Col Griffiss in the UK, although the US . Army Air Force named their British headquarters after him, Camp . Griffiss, at the Teddington end of Bushy Park, in west London, which has now been demolished. Another airbase in New York was also named after him. Born in San Diego in California to a . wealthy well-to-do family Lt Col Griffiss was a keen polo player. He trained as a fighter pilot and served in Hawaii in the 1920s. After being posted to bases in California and Texas he worked in Paris and Berlin as an air attache from 1935. Between 1936 and 1938 he excelled in his observations . and analysis of the civil war in Spain. This was seen as a way to test . military technologies and the U.S. government wanted information on how . aircraft and tanks were used and deployed. In September 1940 the U.S. had agreed to . help Britain in the conflict and provide the nation with 50 naval . destroyers in return for the lease of military bases in various . territories. A B-24 Liberator in flight. Griffiss travelled to Tehran and then to Cairo where he boarded an unarmed B-24 Liberator to the UK operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation . The Liberator, pictured later became one of the most familiar heavy bombers used by U.S. airmen, but at the time of Griffiss's death there were not many around . Following his stint in Spain and another stint in the U.S. he arrived in London at the end of the Blitz, in 1941, becoming a special observer unofficially . preparing for the military alliance with Britain following Pearl . Harbour. His aide was Gen James Chaney. However, in November that year, he . left his post and was sent to Moscow to work with the Soviet government . trying to negotiate the opening of a Siberian supply route for American . lend-lease aircraft. The existing route to Russia from the UK was via the Middle East which took longer. Despite two months of conversations . with Russia, his bid to create the new delivery route failed, but bad . weather meant it was impossible for him to return to Britain straight . away. It was the start of a series of events which led to his death, following which he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He travelled to Tehran and then to Cairo where he boarded an unarmed B-24 Liberator to the UK operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation. A tablet memorial marking the various blocks of Camp Griffiss, the British headquarters of the US Army Air Force, in Bushy Park, west London . This type of plane later became one . of the most familiar heavy bombers used by U.S. airmen but at the time . there were not many around. The flight was the first of its kind . and was fraught with delays due to strong winds which meant it would . have run out of fuel on its route across the Bay of Biscay and around . Brittany. The captain eventually suggested a . direct route across occupied Europe at night and it took off on . Valentine's Day even though a message from RAF Transport Command stating . it was against the flight got lost amid conflicting communications. The USAAF memorial in Bushy Park in west London where the US Army Air Force had their British headquarters named Camp Griffiss . The plane reached the coast of northern France and registered as hostile on British radar screens. It was shot down by two spitfires from a Polish Air Force squadron based in Exeter who mistook it for a German Focke-Wulf 200 aircraft and everyone on board was killed, including Griffiss, a brigadier of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, a Navy lieutenant and a Rolls Royce employee. Following the tragedy it was realised . that fighter pilots needed more training in recognising the differences . between military and civilian aircraft. It was also a cause of great embarrassment to the Air Ministry and the Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal wrote to Gen Chaney to ease the situation. He was described as an 'outstanding officer' and the citation on his Distinguished Service Medal said he displayed 'rare judgement and devotion to duty' and 'contributed materially to the the successful operation of the . Special Army Observers Group, London'. Months after his death the Soviet authorities changed their mind on the supply route Lt Col Townsend had been trying to set up and in the summer of that year it became the main route for U.S. deliveries to Russia. To read the BBC's feature click here . An aerial view of the Griffiss Air Force Base in west London. Griffiss arrived in London at the tail end of the Blitz .
Lt Col Townsend Griffiss was highly regarded by the military .
He died after his plane was shot down in friendly fire in 1942 .
Tragedy led to better training for pilots to recognise different planes .
Helped set up a Siberian supply route for American lend-lease planes .
By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 11:57 AM on 16th February 2012 . Townsend Griffiss was the first US air force officer was killed in Europe, following America's entry into World War II . This is the face of a forgotten hero - . the first U.S. air force officer killed in Europe after America's entry . into the Second World War. Fighter pilot Lt Col Townsend . Griffiss was highly regarded by the . military but his name was, until now, virtually lost to history. He was the first of 30,000 American airmen to lose their lives in the bloody conflict - shot down in friendly fire after the plane he travelling in was tragically mistaken for a German aircraft on February 15 1942 on its way from Cairo to the UK. Now, on the 70th anniversary of his death this week, his contribution to the war effort is being remembered in a feature for the BBC's online news magazine. His death at 41 led to improved training for airmen to help them recognise the differences between military and civilian aircraft. He also helped establish a key supply route across Siberia for American lend-lease aircraft. There is no memorial to Lt Col Griffiss in the UK, although the US . Army Air Force named their British headquarters after him, Camp . Griffiss, at the Teddington end of Bushy Park, in west London, which has now been demolished. Another airbase in New York was also named after him. Born in San Diego in California to a . wealthy well-to-do family Lt Col Griffiss was a keen polo player. He trained as a fighter pilot and served in Hawaii in the 1920s. After being posted to bases in California and Texas he worked in Paris and Berlin as an air attache from 1935. Between 1936 and 1938 he excelled in his observations . and analysis of the civil war in Spain. This was seen as a way to test . military technologies and the U.S. government wanted information on how . aircraft and tanks were used and deployed. In September 1940 the U.S. had agreed to . help Britain in the conflict and provide the nation with 50 naval . destroyers in return for the lease of military bases in various . territories. A B-24 Liberator in flight. Griffiss travelled to Tehran and then to Cairo where he boarded an unarmed B-24 Liberator to the UK operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation . The Liberator, pictured later became one of the most familiar heavy bombers used by U.S. airmen, but at the time of Griffiss's death there were not many around . Following his stint in Spain and another stint in the U.S. he arrived in London at the end of the Blitz, in 1941, becoming a special observer unofficially . preparing for the military alliance with Britain following Pearl . Harbour. His aide was Gen James Chaney. However, in November that year, he . left his post and was sent to Moscow to work with the Soviet government . trying to negotiate the opening of a Siberian supply route for American . lend-lease aircraft. The existing route to Russia from the UK was via the Middle East which took longer. Despite two months of conversations . with Russia, his bid to create the new delivery route failed, but bad . weather meant it was impossible for him to return to Britain straight . away. It was the start of a series of events which led to his death, following which he was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal. He travelled to Tehran and then to Cairo where he boarded an unarmed B-24 Liberator to the UK operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation. A tablet memorial marking the various blocks of Camp Griffiss, the British headquarters of the US Army Air Force, in Bushy Park, west London . This type of plane later became one . of the most familiar heavy bombers used by U.S. airmen but at the time . there were not many around. The flight was the first of its kind . and was fraught with delays due to strong winds which meant it would . have run out of fuel on its route across the Bay of Biscay and around . Brittany. The captain eventually suggested a . direct route across occupied Europe at night and it took off on . Valentine's Day even though a message from RAF Transport Command stating . it was against the flight got lost amid conflicting communications. The USAAF memorial in Bushy Park in west London where the US Army Air Force had their British headquarters named Camp Griffiss . The plane reached the coast of northern France and registered as hostile on British radar screens. It was shot down by two spitfires from a Polish Air Force squadron based in Exeter who mistook it for a German Focke-Wulf 200 aircraft and everyone on board was killed, including Griffiss, a brigadier of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, a Navy lieutenant and a Rolls Royce employee. Following the tragedy it was realised . that fighter pilots needed more training in recognising the differences . between military and civilian aircraft. It was also a cause of great embarrassment to the Air Ministry and the Air Chief Marshal Charles Portal wrote to Gen Chaney to ease the situation. He was described as an 'outstanding officer' and the citation on his Distinguished Service Medal said he displayed 'rare judgement and devotion to duty' and 'contributed materially to the the successful operation of the . Special Army Observers Group, London'. Months after his death the Soviet authorities changed their mind on the supply route Lt Col Townsend had been trying to set up and in the summer of that year it became the main route for U.S. deliveries to Russia. To read the BBC's feature click here . An aerial view of the Griffiss Air Force Base in west London. Griffiss arrived in London at the tail end of the Blitz .
War. Fighter pilot Lt Col Townsend . Griffiss was highly regarded by the . military but his name lives in the bloody conflict - shot down in friendly fire after the plane he travelling in training for airmen to help them recognise the . trying to negotiate the opening of a Siberian supply route for American . lend-lease aircraft. route Lt Col Townsend had been trying to set up