Today In History:  30 September  [1942]   --  The RAF 'Eagle Squadron' is transferred to the US Army Air Force.

The Eagle Squadrons (American volunteers in the Royal Air Force) are officially transferred to the US Army Air Force.

The Eagle Squadrons were three fighter squadrons of the RAF formed with volunteer pilots from the USA during the early days of World War II, prior to America's entry into the war in December 1941. With the US still neutral, many Americans simply crossed the border and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) to learn to fly and fight. Many early recruits had originally gone to Europe to fight for Finland against the Soviet Union in the Winter War.

PHOTO: American pilots of No 71 'Eagle' Squadron rush to their Hawker Hurricanes at Kirton-in-Lindsey, 17 March 1941.

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Photo Attribution:  Public Domain via Wikimedia.