I know that a Home Guard Unit call the American Squadron was form from American Citizens living in London. This unit was Commanded by General Wade H Hayes. Now my question is do we know any thing about these men. From what I can find about 60 men were in the unit. Do any rosters, pictures , ect just any info that might under a rock some where. Thanks fellows. Yes. My father served with them, and I have a unit picture dated July 4 1942. Name are included. Three wear RAF wings; my father, an RAF officer (in uniform) and another soldier. Gen Wade and a Capt Kelly are in US Army uniform, the rest in battledress. There are 66 members. All wore US Army cap badges. Quite a few wear medal ribbons, so I guess they served in WW1. My father flew in the RFC/RAF(at age 18) in the Aegean in WW1, and also was part of the Mission to South Russia in 1918/19, flying a DH9 for the White Russians against the Red Army. Interesting times! I do not know how my father, who died in 1969, ended up in this unit, since he was a Brit; he didn't talk much of the past, especially the Russian connection since during the Cold War he traveled extensively behind the Iron Curtain, ostensibly on business, but with Foreign Office complicity. Hope this is interesting to you. Regards John D. Anderson Davidson North Carolina USA
The unit produced a newsletter titled, 'The Buck'. One would think this had the names of unit members and perhaps pictures. I have tried to track down a copy of this without success. I don't know if the British Library would have any copies, bit of a long shot. johnanderson, does the picture you have of the unot taken in July 1942 show any small arms? Regards AlanD Sydney
General Wade Hampton Hayes was my grandfather, and I knew him well. The newsreel showing Churchill reviewing the squadron lay in my family attack for 40 years after we brought back my grandfather's possessions from London to the New York suburbs. We were lucky it had not burst into flames as it was old nitrate film, highly flammable. I had it transposed onto VHS tape in 1996, and it was subsequently transposed onto a DVD by his great granddaughter, Mielle, and posted on line by his great grandson, Christopher. The stories of Wade Hampton Hayes's exploits, mostly true, are legion. People should know that when the newsreel footage of the General talking about the Squadron was first shown, the American Ambassador in London at the time, Joseph Kennedy, called the General into his office and threatened to have his passport revoked for serving in the armed forces of a foreign power. Needless to say, this did not happen, and shortly afterward, the ambassador was recalled and replaced. Peter Wade Nichols
Just saw this on the twittersphere a photo of C. Howard Crane the American architect from Detroit who designed Earl's Court Exhibition Centre. He is holding a Thompson sub machine gun in 1st American Mobilized Squadron, a great pose and photograph. He also helped with post war Britain especially London which had been heavily bombed during the blitz. Wonder if there are more photographs like this out there http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/55690-earls-court-architect-c-howard-cranes-grave/ http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/44346-save-earls-court-exhibition-centre/ brithm
It has been said that the American Squadron in London purchased some Thompson SMG's but this is the only picture I have seen with a squardon member with one. Thanks for posting. Regards Alan D Sydney
Hello, New member here, looking for any information on the American Squadron Home Guard Unit in London. Our group does home front living history including a Maryland Home Guard unit known as the Maryland Minute Men. We are now considering an impression of the Eagle Squadron (wouldn’t have to develop a British accent for that). Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, K.L.Bowers
