A Yankee in a Spitfire

28th July 1940: An American pilot volunteers for the RAF - and describes his experiences when he starts flying 'the world’s deadliest fighter'

Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill, flying in 'vic' formation, 24 July 1940.

Many US citizens volunteered to join the war on the side of Britain long before the United States entered the war. Most prominent of these were the experienced pilots who joined the RAF, later forming the ‘Eagle’ Squadrons. But in the early days some Americans w…