| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charles Michael Sweeny (January 26, 1882 – February 27, 1963) was an American soldier of fortune, United States Army lieutenant colonel, French Foreign Legion officer, Polish army brigadier general, Royal Air Force (RAF) group captain, and journalist who fought in numerous conflicts in the 20th century. He recruited fellow Americans to fight in World War II prior to the United States entering the war. He was friends with Ernest Hemingway, who valorized Sweeny in later years.
Sweeny's recruiting activities during World War II while the U.S. was neutral made him a target of J. Edgar Hoover. The British government made him an honorary colonel. His nephew, Charles Francis Sweeny, convinced the British government to create what became the Eagle Squadrons.
Charles Sweeny in Or Even Eagle Flew[]
After the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Colonel Charles Sweeny recruited a number of American pilots to fight for France, including Amelia Earhart, Gene Tobin, Andrew Mamedoff, and Vernon Keough.[1]
The process was by no means smooth. When the four pilots arrived in Montreal, it was several hours before Sweeny contacted them again with letters and train tickets for Halifax, where they obtained money and passage of France.[2]
Sweeny was in France as it fell to Germany, though he escaped. His nephew, also named Charles Sweeny, was in London when the four Americans successfully landed in the U.K. in June, 1940.[3]
References[]
- ↑ Or Even Eagle Flew, pgs. 4-7 loc. 73-108, ebook.
- ↑ Ibid., pgs. 7-12, loc. 108-169.
- ↑ Ibid, pgs. 34-35, 412-428.
| |||||||
