Dean Satterlee had an interest in military aviation from living in Sacramento, CA. Three large Army Air Corps bases (Mather, McClellan, and farther away, Hamilton) were often in the news as world tensions escalated. At some point, Dean, along with two friends Edwin E. (Bud) Orbison and Paul A. Anderson, decided that the U.S. policy of neutrality in the war would lead to the fall of England to the Nazis, and something needed to be done. Click here for a newspaper clipping about these three volunteers.

These three young men enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an entry to pilot training, and others around the country did the same. Needing combat fighter pilots, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) formed the first of three Eagle Squadrons (71) in September 1940, followed in short order by squadrons 121 and 133. Eagle squadrons were composed entirely of American pilots, although British senior officers provided liasson with the rest of RAF Fighter Command and Eagle squadron operations. By October 1940, Dean Satterlee was already in England undergoing advanced flight training and checkout in a variety of aircraft, including legendary Hurricanes and Spitfires. Click here for a San Francisco Cronicle newspaper clipping showing Dean and others on a break in December 1940.

Dean married Mardelle in Carson City, NV just before leaving for the war. Mardelle shared what information she got in letters with the rest of the Satterlees in Sacramento. However, it was certainly a shock to see Dean on the newsreels in the theater. Click here for a newspaper clipping describing this discovery. I have copies of this 35mm film and hope to eventually get it transferred to digital media.

For more information on Eagle Squadrons, see the Wikipedia article.

See also the official Eagle Squadron page maintained by the AAF Fourth Fighter Group.

Eagle Squadron 71 (Roster of pilots in RAF squadron 71)

This Page Maintained by: Brian Satterlee,
Last Updated: August 2010