Irwin Hendrick Dregne (2 January 1917–18 September 1967) was a colonel in the United States Air Force and commanded the 357th Fighter Group during World War II from 2 December 1944 – 21 July 1945.[2][3]
Irwin Hendrick Dregne | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 2, 1917 Viroqua, Wisconsin, US |
| Died | September 8, 1967 (aged 50) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941-1967 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Service number | 0-431399 |
| Commands | 357th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 51st Fighter Interceptor Group 479th Day Wing |
| Battles / wars | World War II Korean War |
World War II
edit
Dregne succeeded Lt. Col. John D. Landers as commander of the 357th Fighter Group in December 1944 and served in that capacity through July 1945. Landers took command of the 78th Fighter Group at RAF Duxford in February 1945.
Korean War
editDregne commanded the 51st Fighter Interceptor Group during the Korean War.
Awards and decorations
editDregne was an ace and was credited with shooting down 5 enemy aircraft. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during a bomber escort mission to Derben, Germany on 14 January 1945.
References
edit- ^ "Dregne, Irwin H". ANC Explorer. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
- ^ Chris Bucholtz (20 December 2012). Mustang Aces of the 357th Fighter Group. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 95–. ISBN 978-1-84603-986-7.
- ^ Martin W. Bowman (1 January 2009). US 8th Army Air Force Fighter Command USAAF, 1943-45: P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang Squadrons in East Anglia, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Casemate Publishers. pp. 118–. ISBN 978-1-84415-905-5.