Lance C. Wade

Lance Cleo Wade
Lance Wade pictured in the cockpit of his Spitfire Mk VIII, Triolo Airfield, Italy, November 1943
Nickname(s)Wildcat
Born(1916-11-18)18 November 1916
Broaddus, Texas, United States
Died12 January 1944(1944-01-12) (aged 27)
Foggia, Italy
Buried
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1940–1944
RankWing Commander
Service number68717
UnitNo. 33 Squadron RAF
No. 145 Squadron RAF
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars

Wing Commander Lance Cleo "Wildcat" Wade DSO, DFC & Two Bars (18 November 1916[1] – 12 January 1944) was an American pilot who joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War and became a flying ace. He remained with RAF until his death in a flying accident in 1944 in Italy. He was described as a "distinguished American fighter ace who epitomized perhaps more than any other American airman the wartime accords between Britain and the United States".[2]

  1. ^ Lance C. Wade at Find a Grave
  2. ^ Constable, Trevor J.; Toliver, Raymond F. (1997). Fighter Aces of the U.S.A. West Chester, Penn: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-7643-0348-1.