Eagle from Alfalfa Patch

One sultry Sunday morning in August 1928, a long-legged, eight-year-old youngster stood in his father's alfalfa patch near Santaquin, Utah. Suddenly an airplane cleared its way through the haze, circled the field a few times, landed a few feet from the boy. The pilot, for no apparent reason, called to the boy and asked him if he would like a lift. The boy said his father was down at the Mormon Church at the moment, and he wouldn't mind going if they were back before church was out. So they took off, flipped around for awhile and came to earth again in the alfalfa patch.

Last week the same boy, now 21, took off in a Hurricane, swept around the Channel looking for Jerries, came back to earth on a sodden British airfield. Awaiting him was an appointment as squadron leader of the American Eagle Squadron in Great Britain.

In the years between, blond, six-foot-three Squadron Leader Chesley Gordon Peterson, D.F.C., had skipped through the Payson, Utah High School and Brigham Young University. He had learned a lot about mathematics, agriculture and dancing. After college he worked in the Douglas Aircraft factory. But with the flying bug still in him, he joined the U.S. Air Corps as a cadet. He was finally kicked out, ostensibly because he was a "bloody awful flyer," actually because he had lied about his age.

Slightly dismayed, he went back to work for Douglas Aircraft. The bug bit him again during the air battle of Britain. He went to Canada to join the R.A.F.

Failing to convince anybody that he was just what Britain needed (at that time the Neutrality Act was enforced), he was sent back to the U.S. He tried again in July, and this time succeeded in getting to Britain. He was hustled straight into combat training and then to the operative Eagle Squadron.

Squadron Leader Peterson has taken part in more than 50 sweeps, destroyed five German aircraft, won Britain's Distinguished Flying Cross for "initiative and determination" in leading his flight. He has also seen most of his pals killed or captured. Of 32 Eagle casualties, 20 are prisoners of war and twelve are dead. To replace these, 28 others are in training besides 84 Eagles who are now taking part in operations in England. Of the original Eagle Squadron of 34 men, Peterson and Flying Officer "Gus" Daymond of Van Nuys, Calif, are the only ones who remain.

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