Irwin H. Dregne Explained

Irwin Hendrick Dregne
Birth Date:	2 January 1917
Birth Place:	Viroqua, Wisconsin, US
Placeofburial:	Arlington National Cemetery^[1]
Branch:	United States Army Air Forces
Serviceyears:	1941-1967
Rank:	Colonel
Servicenumber:	0-431399

Irwin Hendrick Dregne (2 January 1917–18 September 1967) was a colonel in the United States Air Force and commanded the 357th Fighter Group during World War II from 2 December 1944 – 21 July 1945.^{[2] [3]}

World War II

Dregne succeeded Lt. Col. John D. Landers as commander of the 357th Fighter Group in December 1944 and served in that capacity through July 1945. Landers took command of the 78th Fighter Group at RAF Duxford in February 1945.

Korean War

Dregne commanded the 51st Fighter Interceptor Group during the Korean War.

Awards and decorations

Dregne was an ace and was credited with shooting down 5 enemy aircraft. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during a bomber escort mission to Derben, Germany on 14 January 1945.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dregne, Irwin H. ANC Explorer. January 20, 2022.
2. Book: Chris Bucholtz. Mustang Aces of the 357th Fighter Group. 20 December 2012. Bloomsbury Publishing. 978-1-84603-986-7. 95–.
3. Book: Martin W. Bowman. US 8th Army Air Force Fighter Command USAAF, 1943-45: P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang Squadrons in East Anglia, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. 1 January 2009. Casemate Publishers. 978-1-84415-905-5. 118–.