American RCAF Warriors, Kendall Carlson: California Mustang Ace

The following article is one of the seventy-five selected stories from Tom Walsh’s new 480-page hardcover book entitled “American RCAF Warriors.” The book highlights the contributions of over 8,864 Americans who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during World War II. These individuals joined the RCAF due to being ineligible for American military pilot training programs because of age, education, or marital status. Currently, the book is not available in paperback or e-book formats, and direct sales are not being handled by the author. Instead, interested readers can order the book through the website americanrcafwarriors.com, which directs them to the publisher. Key Books has switched its North American distribution from Casement to Gardner Books. Additionally, a second volume with new profiles is scheduled for release in the spring of 2026. As more American and Canadian booksellers and outlets stock the book, updates will be provided through the author’s site. For more information and to order the book, visit americanrcafwarriors.com.

USAAF Station F-356 in Essex, England, was the home of the 4th Fighter Group during World War II. Known as the “Debden Eagles,” the 4th Fighter Group became the USAAF’s highest-scoring fighter unit, destroying 1,016 enemy aircraft. Formed on September 29, 1942, the group initially consisted of American volunteers trained by the RCAF and RAF. These pilots, seeking adventure, left the United States in 1940-41 to join the fight against Nazi Germany. Initially flying Mk Vb Supermarine Spitfires, the 4th transitioned to Republic P-47 Thunderbolts in 1943 and later to P-51 Mustangs in 1944.

Eight of the 4th’s top ten aces trained with the RCAF in Canada, including Colonel D. J. M. Blakeslee and Major J. T. Godfrey, among others. These eight pilots collectively destroyed 194.66 German aircraft, representing 19% of the group’s total. The first fully US-trained pilots joined the 4th in January 1944. One notable RCAF-trained pilot was Captain Kendall Eugene “Swede” Carlson from Red Bluff, California. Carlson, born on July 14, 1919, initially struggled to meet US military pilot training requirements. Instead, he enlisted in the RCAF in 1941 and became a flight instructor. After earning his pilot wings in Canada, Carlson transferred to the USAAF in 1943. Carlson achieved several combat victories, including downing enemy aircraft in P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs. He scored multiple kills against German aircraft in 1944 and early 1945. On February 25, 1945, during a mission in Germany, Carlson crash-landed his P-51 but continued directing his fellow pilots to targets until captured by the Germans. He spent the remainder of the war as a POW.

After World War II, Carlson continued his military career in the USAAF and later the USAF, flying various aircraft, including F-82E Twin Mustangs and F-51D Mustangs. He served in the Korean War, flying combat missions against North Korean targets. Carlson retired from military service in 1951 and passed away in 1977. Carlson’s legacy as a skilled and dedicated pilot remains a testament to the bravery and determination of the 4th Fighter Group during World War II. For more information and to order the book, visit americanrcafwarriors.com.