The WW2 Killer Nobody Knew Where He Came From

The skies over North Africa roared with the sound of engines and gunfire. One pilot stood out among the chaos - an elusive ace whose very existence would become a wartime enigma. Lance C. Wade, legend said, was a force of nature, a Texan farm boy turned aerial predator who had claimed up to 50 enemy planes. But as the dust settled on World War 2’s battlefields, a chilling question emerged: Who was Lance C. Wade?

No American record acknowledged him. No ace compendium bore his name. It was as if he had vanished from history, leaving only rumors of his prowess in his wake. The truth, however, was far more electrifying than fiction.

Rejected by his own country’s air corps, Wade had done the unthinkable. With forged papers and a heart burning for vengeance, he infiltrated the British Royal Air Force. Soon, he was soaring over war-torn Europe in legendary Spitfires and Hurricanes, becoming a nightmare for German pilots long before American forces joined the fray.

On November 24, 1941, Wade’s guns ripped through an SM.79 Sparviero, earning him ace status. But fate had more in store for this maverick. A few weeks later, as his bullets tore through an enemy bomber, the shooting debris reached Wade’s Hurricane. The plane shuddered, smoke billowing from its broken hull.

As the unforgiving desert rushed up to meet him, Wade grappled with the controls of his wounded aircraft. The forgotten ace was about to face his greatest challenge yet - one that threatened to erase him from history forever...

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As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Docs sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect. I do my best to keep it as visually accurate as possible. All content on Dark Docs is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas. -

[ronaldjohnson]

As MacArthur said, "old soldiers never die, they just fade away". There will always be true heroes, but when their conflict is over they are forgotten rapidly.

[cole]

My great grandfather on my moms side flew crop dusters before ww2 and lost a hand in starting the plane at one point. When WW2 rolled around he tried to enlist in the Air corps when he was denied he went over to England and enlisted in the RAF and ended up flying B-17s over Europe.

[cycoholic]

As an Aussie whose dad served in WWII, who worked on Spitfires (amongst others, like the Catalinas), both here in Australia and in the UK where he was seconded (transitioning through Egypt), I'd love one of those watches, even though I haven't worn a watch in decades.

I still feel proud whenever I see a Spitfire (as well as Catalinas), knowing my old man worked on the engines in those warbirds to help bring the boys back home.

Sadly, I can't afford such a watch. 😢

[tanksalot]

What a great story.Thank you so much.
It's men like wade that need to be remembered

[dritzzdarkwood]

He was ghosted by the US.
First they didn't want him, then when he was somebody he didn't want them.
Such independent behaviour is frowned upon in this man's army.

[nelliejames]

what a top bloke, thank you for your service to our little country, rip

[nnee]

My grandfather was a member of the 133rd RAF Eagle squadron. The USAA wasn't taking recruits at the the time, so he went where the action was.

[smithwesson]

Wade joined the RAF in Canada in December 1940 and trained with No. 52 Operational Training Unit (OTU). in Debden home of 403 Squadron RCAF.

[FrankOdonnell-ejhd]

don't know who your narrator is but he has one of the most compelling voices I've ever heard⚛

[norwegiangadgetman]

You may want to look up WWI pilot 'Teddy Grant'...
He once refused to take part in a bombing mission because the German Emperor was assumed to be in the city they were bombing, and he knew The Emperor personally...
Oh, and he's assumed to be the pilot who shot down Göring in WWI. (They compared notes when they met during WWII)

[godwhymenowman]

Thank You for Your Service Wade You complete lovely nutter 💚
RIP

[dwaynekoblitz]

Very awesome! Thank for the history lesson. What a hero. God bless all of our veterans before, now, and into the future. 💯❤️🇺🇸

[ClintozBurnall-xfsq]

My best friends grandfather fly the spitfire during battle of Britain..much and all ways respect to all those people land sea and air that saved England and that we owe so much .thanks to u all

[aussie]

13:55 Auster light bomber???
The Auster was about equivalent to the Piper Cub.

[nicko]

My book about Spitfire pilots includes the wart story of Hurricane & Spitfire pilot John Anderson who flew with L C Wade. Anderson's family shared copies of a handwritten letter L C Wade had written to him. He had huge respect for Wade. It was a special moment to share a scanned copy of this letter with LC's family.

[MinhThu-xnbt]

Dark Docs,
can you make a video on Major William Dyess who fought desperately on Bataan
leading Americans & Filipinos in raids
on the Japanese bases encircling Bataan.
He was later among the POWs in the Death March, but managed to escape
& was the 1st to reveal on the Bataan DM.
Thank you.

[johnmoran]

Ahh, those clever Brits! Camouflaging their Hurricanes as Spitfires!

[brianartillery]

Excellent, apart from the fact that the Auster was never a bomber, or, indeed ever officially armed - it was (and is, a lot survived the war) a light aircraft, used by the army as an artillery spotter, forward control aircraft and utility hack.

[gyslainbeauchamp]

This Man must be remember, & get reconnaissance, thanks for our freedom 🇨🇦

[ObamaoZedong]

Do we really need *EPIC* music when his tragic and mysterious end is described? Sheesh