Donald Blakeslee-- Part 2: Joined the RCAF

Blakeslee was born in Fairport, Ohio, in 1917. and became attracted to flying while watching the Cleveland Air Races as a young boy.  In the mid-1930s, he and a friend bought a plane, but his friend crashed it. Donald Blakeslee decided the best way for him to continue flying was to join the Royal Canadian Air Force.

He trained in Canada and arrived in England May 15, 1941, and was assigned to No. 401  Squadron RCAF, part of the Biggin Hill Wing.  They flew sweeps over France.  His first combat came November 18 and first kill on November 15.

He prroved to be not so good at shooting, but excelled as a flight leader and on the ground, receiving a British Distinguished Flying Cross on August 14, 1942.

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