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    With the British and French resistance towards the German Army, now known as the "Battle of France," effectively squelched and the British Army's chaotic retreat from Dunkirk removing all Allied resistance from mainland Europe, the citizens of England knew that an invasion attempt on the British Isles was inevitable. As expected, the Luftwaffe did not wait long. In the summer of 1940, the first waves of German bombers and fighters began attacking air fields in the countryside of southern England.
     The German objective was clear and concise. The Royal Air Force had to be destroyed and German air superiority assured before Hitler's land invasion, codenamed "Operation: Sea Lion," could commence. However, British determination and resilience would prove difficult to break, as even heavily outnumbered the R.A.F. was continually able, sometimes on a narrower margin than others, to repel the German Luftwaffe.
     One major problem however put the R.A.F. at potentially great risk. Pilots were dying, and replacements were low in number, many not properly trained. Out of intelligence or sheer desperation, the R.A.F. started taking on volunteers from other countries. Three of these volunteers were Americans Eugene "Red" Tobin, Vernon "Shorty" Keough, and Andrew "Andy" Mamedoff.

The first three Eagles, shown here proudly displaying the new Eagle Squadron patch in autumn of 1940.
From left to right: Red Tobin, Shorty Keough, and Andy Mamedoff

COMING SOON
- Art Donahue, the fourth Eagle, who flew alone -

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