| Lance Cleo Wade | |
| Birth Date: | 1916 11, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Broaddus, Texas, United States |
| Death Place: | Foggia, Italy |
| Placeofburial: | Cushing, Texas |
| Nickname: | Wildcat |
| Allegiance: |  United Kingdom |
| Serviceyears: | 1940–1944 |
| Rank: | Wing Commander |
| Servicenumber: | 68717 |
| Unit: | No. 33 Squadron RAF No. 145 Squadron RAF |
| Battles: | World War II |
| Awards: | Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Flying Cross & Two Bars |
Wing Commander Lance Cleo "Wildcat" Wade DSO, DFC & Two Bars (18 November 1916 – 12 January 1944) was an American pilot who joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War and became a flying ace. He remained with RAF until his death in a flying accident in 1944 in Italy. He was described as a "distinguished American fighter ace who epitomized perhaps more than any other American airman the wartime accords between Britain and the United States".[1]
Wade was born in the small farming community of Broaddus, Texas, in 1915. He was the second son of Bill and Susan Wade, who named him L.C. (only after the RAF demanded a forename did he call himself Lance Cleo Wade). After the family moved to a farm near Reklaw, Texas, in 1922 he worked on the family farm and attended the local school. He was unable to join the US Army Aviation Cadet Program due to a lack of a college education. He began flying at age 17, at Tucson, Arizona.[2] In 1934, at age 19, Wade joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Arizona.[3]
He joined the RAF in Canada in December 1940 and trained with No. 52 Operational Training Unit (OTU). Wade was then sent to the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal and flew off her deck in a Hawker Hurricane to reinforce the depleted ranks of aircraft on the island of Malta. He was then sent to Egypt as a Hurricane Mk I pilot in September 1941, and was posted to 33 Squadron. The squadron's mission was to provide close air support for Operation Crusader, the British assault launched on 18 November 1941, against the German Afrika Korps. His first kills were two Fiat CR.42 Falcos on 18 November. He attained the rank of "ace" on 24 November 1941. On 2 December, his Hurricane was damaged by debris from a bomber that he had just shot down. Wade was forced to land 25 miles behind enemy lines, but evaded capture and returned to British lines on foot.[4] He began flying Hurricane Mk IIs in April 1942, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He had 15 aerial victories in September 1942.
He spent the next several months back in the US on various RAF projects including evaluating some American fighters at Wright Field. He also sold war bonds, which he disliked. Upon his return to operational duty in the Middle East, Wade reportedly said that this duty was more exhausting than air combat.[5]
He returned to combat as a flight commander in 145 Squadron with a bar to his DFC, flying Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vs. Promoted to squadron leader, he had a busy 60 days, as by the end of April his score was 21, by then flying Spitfire Mk IXs. His squadron moved to Italy, and as a Spitfire VIII pilot he claimed two Focke-Wulf Fw 190s of Schlachtgeschwader 4 on 2 October 1943. His last claims were three Fw 190s (again of SG 4) damaged on 3 November. Wade was promoted to wing commander and joined the staff of the Desert Air Force but was there only briefly, as he was killed in a flying accident on 12 January 1944 at Foggia, Italy.
Wade was credited with 25 aerial victories and was the leading American fighter ace to serve exclusively in any foreign air force. Since he never transferred to the USAAF, or any other American air service, Wade didn't enjoy all of the publicity that some other American aces received and is often overlooked when discussing Historical American Aces.