"Eagle Squadron" before America entered World War II.
Like an archangel of yore, the image of a lone Spitfire patrolling the heavens of England to defend against the onslaught of the German war machine inspired a handful of American volunteers to fly and fight for the RAF. During the darkest months of the war these American pilots joined Britain in the fight against Germany's seemingly invincible Luftwaffe.
A Time of Eagles" is a salute to the daring American pilots of "Eagle Squadrons" who earned the respect of their fellow RAF pilots and a special place in history. It began in the spring of 1940 after the armies of France were defeated by Germany at Dunkirk. Britain lost her strongest ally in the war and she and her commonwealth nations stood alone against the German war machine. During these dark months, a small group of American pilots joined Britain in the fight against Germany's seemingly invincible Luftwaffe. These 244 brave aviators flew the most maneuverable plane of the time - the Spitfire - with elite "Eagle Squadrons" of the RAF. Many became leading aces of the war, earning service honors from both England and America.
When the United States entered the War on September 15, 1942, the men of "Eagle Squadrons" transferred into the American Air Force and became the 4th Fighter Group.
Fighter pilot Oscar Coen was one of these brave men and "A Time of Eagles" portrays Coen as he soars through the clouds at sunset in his Spitfire. As one of the original members of "Eagle Squadron," Oscar Coen earned Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross and a French Cross of War as well as a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Silver Star from the United States Air Force. He is credited with six "kills." During his service, he was shot down once in France near the coastal town of Dunkirk. Looking back on his war years, Coen said: "There were as many reasons why we went to England as pilots. A lot of us saw the political ramifications of the war. We wanted to stop Hitler. But some of us were just adventurers. A lot of guys went because the British Spitfire was the hottest thing in the air and they wanted to fly it."