“Watson’s Whizzers”

At the close of WWII in Europe Colonel “Bud”, Harold E. Watson searched the the Army Air Corps for its most experienced pilots. He had a critically important task to complete and little time in which to accomplish it. He wanted only the best of the best. Men with enough experience and nerve to fly a type aircraft they had never trained for, or even dreamed of. Two such expert pilots, Captain Fred Hillis and Lieutenant Robert Anspach of the 358th Fighter Squadron were among the many interviewed, then choosen for this historic group. Joining them soon would be Captain Kenneth Dahlstrom and Lieutenants Roy Brown, William Haynes and James K. “Ken” Holt. The pilots were immediately transferred to Lechfeld Germany where they became the core of the 54th Air Disarmament Squadron later known as Watson’s Whizzers, with Lieutenant “Bob” Robert Strobell in command. The pilots were joined by 10 American crew chiefs and 28 German mechanics.

Following is the story of their historic endeavor and the history of a self-made man, their Operations Officer Captain Fred L. Hillis

Home

Introduction

Biography

Wartime

The Misson

7 “Cookies”

The T-Bolt Kill

Letters to Mary

Postwar