Major General Fred Ascani Flew Bombers In WW2 Europe And Later Headed Testing At Wright Patterson!

Fred J. Ascani (born Alfredo John Ascani;(May 29, 1917 – March 28, 2010) was an American major general and test pilot of the United States Air Force. He was one of the "Men of Mach 1" and was considered the father of systems engineering at Wright Field. In December 1943, he was placed in command of the 815th Bombardment Squadron of the 483rd Bomb Group. After additional training in the B-17 Flying Fortress, Major Ascani joined the 816th Bombardment Squadron as its commander. The 816th was based in Foggia, Italy, and Ascani flew 53 combat missions in the B-17, including a secret mission delivery of supplies in German-occupied Czechoslovakia to partisans and the evacuation of escaping Allied airmen. Two of his missions were to Ploieşti, Rumania, and one to Memmingen, Germany, where he lost his entire squadron flying at the rear on an unescorted mission after being attacked from behind by over 200 German fighters. General Ascani had a distinguished career and was instrumental, along with his boss, in bringing the high flying, high speed X1 into the fold. Selecting Chuck Yeager, who broke the sound barrier.
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Notes: As received from General Ascani by consignor! A great piece for collecting WW2 Generals!!!

$125 - $150

6" x 0.01" x 4"

Militaria, Military Documents & Ephemera

20%

Richard Gabriel | (781) 883-6639 | gabriel@calixbooks.com

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Swampscott, MA 01907

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