Us Official Photographs

Col Fiegel in Britain

Col. Leland G. Fiegel, 29, of Rochester, Minn., commander of the oldest Consolidated B-24 Liberator unit in Britain, looks after his boys. Flying in a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt alongside old time friend, Col. Hubert F. Zempke, commander of the highest-scoring fighter group in the ETO, Fiegel was present when the American "heavies" began their withdrawal from the attack on the Hamm Marshalling Yards late Saturday night. When Zempke's Thunderbolt Group neared the enemy coast enroute back, Libs and Forts under enemy fighter attack sent out distress calls. Zempke announced to the P-47 pilots over the radio: "Anyone with 150 gallons or more of gas follow me." Fiegel was the only one in the Group that could spare the gas and followed. "I'll admit I wasn't too eager for a scrap," commented Fiegel, "but Zempke's boys literally combed the sky hunting for a fight. I've never seen such aggressive combat spirit. I certainly take my hat off to them."