American fighter pilot ace with the Royal Air Force 71 Eagle Squadron, World War II. General McColpin was from Buffalo, New York. He began flying at the age of 14. As a high school boy he built his own plane and taught himself to fly. He became aware that Britain was fighting to repel the Germans in their conquest of Europe, and felt that the U.S. would sooner or later become involved in the war. Rather than wait and take a chance on becoming a 'ground soldier', he joined the Royal Air Force to be a pilot. He had pilot certification and over 475 hours of flight time. Like others with considerable flight time, he had no desire to spend the long tour in the mandatory U.S. Aviation Cadet Training Program when he was already an experienced aviator. He was sent to Dallas, Texas, for flight training in the Royal Canadian Air Force prior to being sent to England to an Operational Training Unit as a Pilot Officer. He eventually served in all three Royal Air Force Eagle Squadrons, becoming Commanding Officer of No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron, and he soon had five aerial victories to his credit. As a Major he, with Chesley Peterson and Gus Daymond, became the first Eagle Squadron pilots to receive the British Distinguished Flying Cross on 4 October 1941. On 25 September 1942 he was ordered to London to discuss transferring to the US Army Air Corps following the entry of the US into World War II. He turned No. 133 (Eagle) Squadron over to Flight Lieutenant Edward Brettell. Carroll always set up his plane as he wanted it, and he wanted HIS plane whenever he was scheduled to fly. He had an impressive career with 12 enemy aircraft destroyed. He had flown Hurricanes and Spitfires prior to being sent to the States on leave. He returned and served three tours in the European Theatre of Operations as Commander of the US Army Air Force 407th Fighter-Bomber Group and then 404th Fighter Group. His awards include the Air Force Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, both the US and British Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, and both the Belgian and French Croix de Guerre. He was decorated at Buckingham Palace by King George VI. He was one of the most decorated and admired fighter pilots of the war with 280 combat missions and 12 aerial victories.