Bernard L. Mc GRATTAN

4^th Fighter Group

«Debden Eagles»

 P-51 Mustang - type B-10-NA - s/n 43-106576 WD*D

Macr : 5611

Mission : Sweep on the north of France

Take-off station 456 Debden, Essex UK - Note that the aircraft is noted 42-106576 on the AAForces listing

Shot by hunters Focke Wulf 190

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

 Bernard was born in Utica (State of New-York); his mother died while giving birth to him. He has a brother and a sister; their father raised his three children on his own.
While the U.S.A. had not gone to war yet, Bernard volunteered and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force to become a pilot.
He stayed there until 1942 and left the American continent for England where he served in the Royal Air Force to compensate the lack of pilots due to the Battle of England.
On 26 May 1943, he was transferred to the US Air Force as Flight Officer.
On 15 September, he joined the 335th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group based in Debden, Essex.
Bernard started flying on board a P-47D Thunderbolt.
He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 20 December.

In January 1944, the unit started flying on P-51 Mustangs. On 16 February, Bernard was promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
At the end of April, he became Flight Commander of Flight A.
Bernard totalled 285 flying hours of which 43 at war, he was credited with 8 victories on enemy planes, as well as one shared victory, during the months of March, April and May. He thus contributed to the record of the 4th Fighter Group which still remains today.
He was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
At the end of May, he was promoted to Captain.
On 6 June 1944, Bernard is promoted to Squadron Leader. He is chosen for one of the most difficult tasks a fighter pilot can accomplish, which is to escort bomber planes.

Bernard is part of the “Caboose Blue Section” composed of 4 P-51s; the bombers formation that they escort is heading towards the North of France. It is 20:30, the group flies South West of Evreux in the Eure department.

P-51 Mustangs of the 4th Fighter Group fly over England in 1944.

The group spots an enemy convoy which is attacked by P-47s, Bernard’s section joins them after observing them, that’s when about 15 ME-109 and FW-190 come down on the formations and engage in combat.
A few minutes later, Bernard’s P-51 fails to respond the radio calls…, his plane is shot above Le Neubourg.
Bernard, nicknamed “Big Mac”, left the 4^th Group an unrivalled legacy; to his family he left a son named after him.

McGrattan flanked by assistant crew chief Cpl. Peter Sisco and crew chief S/Sgt Sy Koenig.