Eugene Tobin

Flying Officer Eugene Quimby "Red" Tobin (4 January 1917 – 7 September 1941) was an American pilot who flew with the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain in World War II. He was one of 11 American[1] pilots who flew with RAF Fighter Command between 10 July and 31 October 1940, thereby qualifying for the Battle of Britain clasp to the 1939–45 campaign star.

Eugene Quimby Tobin
Eugene Tobin (left) with Andrew Mamedoff (right) and Vernon Keough, Church Fenton, Yorkshire, October 1940
Nickname(s)Red
Born(1917-01-04)4 January 1917
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died7 September 1941(1941-09-07) (aged 24)
near Boulogne-sur-Mer, German-occupied France
Place of burial
Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France
Allegiance France
 United Kingdom
Service/branch France
 Royal Air Force
Years of service1940–1941
RankFlying Officer
Service number81622
UnitNo. 609 Squadron RAF
No. 71 Squadron RAF
Battles/warsWorld War II

Early life

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, but raised from early childhood in Los Angeles, California, the son of Ignatius Quimby Tobin and Mary Alicia Tobin (née O'Fallon). Tobin initially came to Europe to fight on the side of Finland against the Soviet Union's invasion of that country, but hostilities had ceased before he arrived.[2] He was already a qualified pilot, having learned to fly in the 1930s.

Tobin and Andrew Mamedoff had been flying friends at Mines Field in California before the war.[3]

Second World War

Tobin and his friends and fellow Americans Andrew Mamedoff and Vernon Keogh were among 32 pilots recruited by American soldier of fortune Charles Sweeny to join the French Air Force.[4] However, by the time they reached France, Germany had already invaded the country. The trio made their way to England and joined the Royal Air Force in 1940. (Of the rest of Sweeny's recruits, four were killed, 11 were taken prisoner, and two others reached England.[5])

On 8 August 1940 Tobin was posted to No. 609 Squadron RAF at Middle Wallop airfield. He flew his first mission on 16 August 1940. He flew many missions during the height of the Battle of Britain in August and September. He was credited with two shared kills – a Bf 110 on 25 August and a Do 17 on 15 September.

He was posted to RAF Kirton in Lindsey in Lincolnshire on 18 September 1940 and was a founding member of the No. 71 'Eagle' Squadron along with Art Donahue, Andrew Mamedoff and Vernon Keogh.[6]

After arriving in Britain Tobin had been diagnosed with lupus which at the time was a fatal disease, but kept his illness a secret so he could continue to fly for the RAF.

Death

On 7 September 1941, Tobin was killed in combat with Bf 109's of JG 26 on 71 Squadron's first sweep over northern France, one of three Spitfires shot down.[7] He crashed into a hillside near Boulogne-sur-Mer and was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France. He was 24 years old.

See also

References
  • Klaus Ulrich Spiegel: "Quel canto mi conquide" - Stuttgart Spinto in his Era - HAfG Disc Edition - Hamburger Archiv
  1. Battle of Britain - Roll of Honour
  2. "Ga-pilots".
  3. Alex Kershaw, World War II Magazine Volume 25, No.4 November/December 2010, pp.36
  4. Caine, Philip D. Eagles of the RAF: The World War II Eagle Squadrons (PDF). National Defense University Press. p. 69. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 October 2021.
  5. Kan, Kenneth C. (2007). "First in the Air: The Eagle Squadrons of World War II" (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program.
  6. "Ww Ii Ace Stories". Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
  7. "Battle of Britain London Monument - P/O e Q TOBIN". Archived from the original on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
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