Carroll W. McColpin
Major General Carroll W. McColpin (November 15, 1914 – November 28, 2003) was a United States Air Force officer who served during World War II and the Cold War. Prior to the United States entry into World War II, in November 1940, he volunteered for duty with the Royal Air Force (RAF) in November 1940 and was commissioned a pilot officer in the RAF before transferring to the United States Army Air Forces in the grade of major in September 1942. His decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters and the British Distinguished Flying Cross. McColpin was credited with 12 kills, 5 probable, and 12 damaged while with the Eagle Squadrons. In both services he could have claimed a minimum of ten more Luftwaffe aircraft of mixed types destroyed on the ground by attacking German airfields in France and Germany. McColpin scored another 8 confirmed kills while in the Army Air Force. Early years Carroll Warren McColpin was born in Buffalo, New York on November 15, 1914, and was raised and educated in Los Angeles, California. He participated in civilian flying activities in Los Angeles, and in 1936 obtained his pilot's certificate. As a young man, he had built his own airplane and taught himself the basics of stick flying and aerial acrobatics by the age of sixteen. RAF service Despite official United States government disapproval, McColpin travelled via Canada to England where he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in November 1940. After serving initially with the RAF's No. 607 Squadron in May 1941, McColpin joined the second Eagle Squadron, No. 121 Squadron, as a pilot and then went to No. 71 Squadron, the 1st Eagle Squadron. In November 1941 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The award was made personally by King George VI. In January 1942 he was posted as a flight commander in No. 133 Squadron. McColpin went back to the United States in June 1942 to participate for 10 weeks in a War Bond tour followed by 4 weeks home leave. On his return, being an American, a flying ace and having served in combat with all three Eagle Squadrons, McColpin was appointed to command 133 Squadron. McColpin was the only American to fly combat in all three RAF American Eagle Squadrons. He flew a total of over 300 missions in these squadrons, counting the ones he flew with No. 607 Squadron. He was a double ace before Pearl Harbor and was the first American to be decorated, in Buckingham Palace, by King George VI during World War II. USAAF service On the United States entry into the war, and the arrival of the United States' Eighth Air Force in Britain, the US Eagle Squadron personnel and equipment transferred to the United States Army Air Forces in September 1942 and McColpin was appointed to the rank of major and the command of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter