Warren Elges
Army Air Force
Middle Island
Warren Elges
Warren Elges was
born in Brooklyn on October 9, 1920. He was the son of Lucy
(Abrams) and Edward Elges. Before entering the service Elges was
living in Middle Island and was employed as a mechanic at his
father’s service station.
Elges enlisted in the
Army Air Force on January 16, 1942 at Whitehall Street in New York
City. He was assigned to the 334th fighter Squadron, 4th
fighter Group, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. Elges left the
United States on June 4th, 1942 arriving in England
aboard the Queen Elizabeth. During the war Elges was involved in the
air offensive over Europe, Ardennes, Central Europe, Normandy,
Northern France and the Rhineland. He was awarded a Good Conduct
Medal, ETO Service Medal and a Distinguished Unit Badge. Elges was
discharged from the service on September 26, 1945 at Fort Dix, New
Jersey.
Written by,
Erica Kannry
Longwood JHS
Feb. 2006
The 4th
Fighter group was born out of the three American Eagle Squadrons Nos
71, 121 and 133. These squadrons were made up of American pilots who
made their way to England to fly and fight with the RAF against the
Luftwaffe before America entered WWII.
In September of 1942 the three
squadrons were officially turned over by the RAF to the fledgling
8th Air Force and became the famous 4th Fighter Group.
The three squadrons were then renamed
the 334th, 335th & 336th. With over 1000 Nazi aircraft destroyed the
4th FG was the highest scoring American unit in Europe during the
war.