Basil Arseneau

class photo, Oakland School

Pvt. Basil Arseneau, stationed in Georgia, is visiting his mother, Mrs. Rose Arseneau, while on a 10-day furlough.

Member of Honored Group

A Ninth Air Force Mustang Fighter Base, France -- Destroying 50 enemy fighters in a single day, pilots of the Pioneer P-51 Mustang fighter group of the 9th air force zoomed past the 500 victory mark to set a new European theater of operations record for time in service. Thirty-seven were brought down in aerial dogfights, another record, and 13 were destroyed on the ground. A squadron commanded by Major Robert W. Stephens, St. Louis, Mo., set a new unit high, getting 24 of the "kills."

Pvt. 1/c Basil Arseneau is a member of the military police detachment with the group. He is a son of Mrs. Rose Arseneau, Lowell. Prior to entering the service in Oct. of 1942, he was employed as a roofing plant inspector. He has been on overseas duty for the past 10 months and is with the 19th tactical air command.

All members of the Pioneer group wear the coveted blue and gold Presidential unit citation ribbon awarded them "for outstanding performance against the enemy."