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operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter
Airplane and Commanding Officer of the 4th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in May 1943. While leading a formation in escort of bombardment aircraft and after his wing man had dropped behind due to motor trouble, Colonel Peterson sighted eight enemy airplanes about to attack the bomber formation. With utter disregard for his personal safety and without assistance he immediately engaged the eight enemy aircraft, probably destroying one and damaging another. The vigor and fearlessness of his attack completely disrupted the enemy formation and routed the enemy attack, thereby contributing largely to the safety of the bomber aircraft and the successful completion of their mission.
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The
President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps) Chesley Gordon Peterson, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military
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as a staff officer and then to a subordinate unit of VIII Fighter
Command, the 65th Fighter Wing, until returning to the United States at the end of 1944. During his time overseas, Colonel Peterson flew a total of 130 missions and was credited with nine aerial victories and nine probables.
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Peterson was promoted to major general in 1965. His last assignment on active duty began on April 1, 1967, as the
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Staff, Commander in Chief, Pacific. Peterson retired July 31, 1970. He died on January 28, 1990, in
336:(USAAF) along with the rest of the Eagle Squadron members. He was assigned to the 4th Fighter Group as the executive officer and as a major. Later he would be promoted to colonel at the age of 23, and became the youngest colonel in the USAAF.
317:, and given command of No. 71 Squadron. Flight Lieutenant Peterson completed 42 missions while flying with the RAF. When he was given command of No. 71 Squadron, he was only 21 years old and the youngest squadron commander in the RAF.
366:, Peterson was assigned as the commander of Dale Mabry Field, Tallahassee, Florida in March 1945. His next assignment was as chief, Air Attaché Branch, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., beginning in August, 1945.
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and was selected for air cadet training, but was dismissed before graduation from flight school. He moved to Los
Angeles after being dropped from flight school and was working at
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After the war, Colonel
Peterson had a variety of assignments including command and staff assignments. From 1946 to 1949, he served as a
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wars, Peterson was assigned overseas as the commander of flying units in France and Japan during both wars. He graduated from the
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788:"48 FW History: Youngest colonel in USAF > Royal Air Force Lakenheath > Display"
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Peterson was born in Idaho, but moved to Utah in his childhood. He graduated from
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When
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during 1942–1943. At 23, he was the youngest colonel in the USAAF.
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High School and then earned a B.A. degree in political science at
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224:(August 10, 1920 – January 28, 1990) was a career officer in the
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Peterson arrived in
England in late 1940 and was assigned to
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United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
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839:"United States Airmen List - Battle of Britain Monument"
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United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
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813:"Air Force Link - MAJOR GENERAL CHESLEY G. PETERSON"
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Lieutenant Colonel (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces
382:. Despite not participating directly in either the
932:Chesley G. Peterson Bio at U.S. Air Force web site
320:However, he was not, as sometimes claimed, one of
656:with one silver and two bronze oak leaf clusters
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992:American Royal Air Force pilots of World War II
568:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
1037:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
332:In 1942, Peterson accepted a transfer to the
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350:In January 1944, Peterson was reassigned to
297:(RAF). No. 71 Squadron was one of the three
272:when he became interested in flying for the
947:4th Fighter Group Association World War II
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1062:Burials at Riverside National Cemetery
1002:United States Army Air Forces officers
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870:. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
742:Distinguished Service Cross citation
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516:with two bronze oak leaf clusters
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1047:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
1012:American World War II flying aces
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815:. 8 February 2004. Archived from
654:Air Force Longevity Service Award
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35:Major General Chesley G. Peterson
1057:United States Air Force generals
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360:Command and General Staff School
264:in 1937. In 1939, he joined the
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977:Brigham Young University alumni
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16:United States Air Force general
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611:National Defense Service Medal
313:. In time, he was promoted to
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982:Military personnel from Idaho
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334:United States Army Air Forces
234:United States Army Air Forces
112:United States Army Air Forces
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1017:Recipients of the Air Medal
669:Distinguished Service Order
439:Distinguished Service Cross
404:Riverside National Cemetery
200:Distinguished Service Order
182:Distinguished Service Cross
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843:Battle of Britain Monument
686:Distinguished Flying Cross
586:World War II Victory Medal
205:Distinguished Flying Cross
154:137th Fighter Bomber Group
972:People from Salmon, Idaho
760:Date of Action: May 1943
370:Post-war Air Force career
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258:Brigham Young University
150:48th Fighter Bomber Wing
893:Military Times of Valor
529:American Campaign Medal
226:United States Air Force
116:United States Air Force
44:Chesley Gordon Peterson
1052:Air War College alumni
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410:Awards and decorations
260:. Peterson joined the
889:"Chesley G. Peterson"
792:www.lakenheath.af.mil
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400:Riverside, California
122:Years of service
86:Riverside, California
864:"Chesley G Peterson"
352:VIII Fighter Command
987:Aviators from Idaho
402:, and is buried at
262:Utah National Guard
222:Chesley G. Peterson
162:No. 71 Squadron RAF
23:Chesley G. Peterson
819:on 8 February 2004
754:Peterson, Chesley.
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570:with three bronze
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706:Chevalier of the
328:4th Fighter Group
315:flight lieutenant
242:4th Fighter Group
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358:After attending
341:P-47 Thunderbolt
270:Douglas Aircraft
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615:service star
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172:World War II
168:Battles/wars
81:(1990-01-28)
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962:1920 births
248:Early years
236:(USAAF) in
49:Nickname(s)
956:Categories
898:2023-06-02
874:2024-06-25
774:References
303:Hurricanes
230:flying ace
92:Allegiance
63:1920-08-10
41:Birth name
765:Citation:
514:Air Medal
394:in 1959.
311:Luftwaffe
307:Spitfires
195:Air Medal
127:1940–1970
125:1937–1939
228:, and a
212:(France)
142:Commands
102:Service/
934:at the
388:Vietnam
322:the Few
293:of the
232:of the
715:France
384:Korean
254:Payson
178:Awards
104:branch
848:6 May
823:6 May
797:6 May
613:with
850:2018
825:2018
799:2018
305:and
132:Rank
76:Died
57:Born
52:Pete
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