In late September 1940, the Royal Air Force formed the first Eagle Squadron, Number 71, with Tobin, Keough, and Mamedoff its first members.  The Eagle Squadron was a group of all-American pilots flying for the RAF.  Eventually, there would be three Eagle Squadrons because in the post-Battle of Britain period, scores of American pilots sympathetic to the plight of England, stole away from America by any means necessary to come to Britain's aid while America tried to remain neutral.  
     It was while flying with 71 Squadron, that these three men would die defending Britain as it stood alone against the German war machine.  Tobin, Keough, and Mamedoff all perished in the sky months before Pearl Harbor, before their own country woke up and rallied against facism's global threat.
     What follows are accounts of their exploits in 71 Squadron and their unfortunate deaths in the RAF.   



"19.9.40.  Arrival of the first group of pilots for Eagle Squadron No. 71-P/O G. Tobin, P/O A. Mamedoff and P/O V.C. Keough having been posted from No. 609 Squadron where each had had about 50 hours operational service on Spitfires.  These three officers had been evacuated from France where there had gone to join the French Air Force."

- first entry in the 71 Squadron Operations Record Book
Some of the pilots of 71 Squadron.  Sixth and seventh from the left are Andy Mamedoff and Red Tobin.
Andy Mamedoff and his War Bride
Fallen Eagles: The Deaths of Red Tobin, Shorty Keough, and Andy Mamedoff
Interested in films portraying the Eagle Squadron?  Click here to go to the new RAF Movie Page!
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1