US Aces and Aviators in WW2

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USA citizens served with the British RAF, and the Canadian RCAF. You can search for those who served in Allied air services, as well as those who served in the USAAF, US Navy and US Marine Corps (USMC).

Notable aviators flying in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), Middle East Theater (MET) and Pacific Theater of Opertions (PTO) are listed. Plane types include the P40 Warhawk, P38 Lightning, P47 Thunderbolt, P51 Mustang, and variants of the F4F Wildcat and F4U Corsair and F6F Hellcat. Search on Fighter Groups eg 31FG or VMF-215.

MARINE CORPS DESIGNATIONS: The first letter V stood for Heavier-than-air. Z stood for Lighter-than-air, i.e. dirigibles. The second letter M meant Marine Corps. No 2nd letter, by omission, meant Navy; thus VF-17 was a Navy Fighting Squadron. The third (and possible fourth) letters indicated the purpose of the squadron: F = Fighting, SB = Scout Bombing, TB = Torpedo Bombing, O = Observation, J = Transport & Photographic. Marine Fighting Squadrons were identified by VMF and night fighting squadrons by VMF(N)

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#	Name	First Names	Rank	Role	Awards	Victories	Units	Theatre	Air Service	Airplane	Death	Notes	Photo
1	Foss	Joseph		Pilot	Medal of Honor	26.0	VMF-121 VMF-115	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		VMF-121 Ace Joe Foss and 'Joe's Flying Circus' pilots on Guadalcanal Island. VMF-115 was organized on 1 July 1943 at Santa Barbara, California under the command of Major John S. MacLaughlin. Sixteen days later, the command was assumed by one of the Marine Corps' most famous Aces, Major Joseph Foss, holder of the World War II Marine Corps record of twenty-six enemy aircraft shot down. The squadron quickly picked up the nickname, "Joe's Joker's." In May 1944, the squadron joined the Pacific campaign flying the legendary F4U-1 Corsair.
2	Hanson	Robert M		Pilot	Medal of Honor	25.0	VMF-215	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		Robert Murray Hanson (February 4, 1920 – February 3, 1944) was a United States Marine Corps flying ace who shot down 25 Japanese planes from the South Pacific skies. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor. Citation: Medal of Honor: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a fighter pilot attached to Marine Fighting Squadron TWO FIFTEEN in action against Japanese forces at Bougainville Islands, November 1, 1943, and New Britain Island, January 24, 1944. Undeterred by fierce opposition and fearless in the face of overwhelming odds, First Lieutenant Hanson fought the Japanese boldly and with daring aggressiveness. On November 1, while flying cover for our landing operations at Empress Augusta Bay, he dauntlessly attacked six enemy torpedo bombers, forcing them to jettison their bombs and destroying one Japanese plane during the action. Cut off from his division while deep in enemy territory during a high cover flight over Simpson Harbor on January 24, First Lieutenant Hanson waged a lone and gallant battle against hostile interceptors as they were orbiting to attack our bombers and, striking with devastating fury, brought down four Zeros and probably a fifth. Handling his plane superbly in both pursuit and attack measures, he was a master of individual air combat, accounting for a total of 25 Japanese aircraft in this theater of war. His great personal valor and invincible fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Signed: FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT
3	Boyington	Gregory 'Pappy'		Pilot	Medal of Honor	22.0, Some records 26	Flying Tigers China, VMF-214	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	P40 Warhawk, F4U Corsair		Story He was awarded the Medal of Honor 'for extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty' while in command of a Marine Fighting Squadron in the Central Solomons Area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. He was shot down over Rabaul on the latter date, and his capture by the Japanese was followed by 20 months as a prisoner of war.
4	Walsh	Kenneth		Pilot	Medal of Honor	21.0	VMF-124	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		Walsh received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Solomon Islands area August 15 – 30, 1943.
5	Smith	John L		Pilot	Medal of Honor	19.0	VMF-223	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat
6	Swett	James E		Pilot	Medal of Honor	15.5	VMF-221	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F WildcatF4U Corsair		James Elms Swett (June 15, 1920 – January 18, 2009) was a United States Marine Corps fighter pilot and flying ace during World War II. He was awarded the United States' highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for actions while a division flight leader in VMF-221 over Guadalcanal on April 7, 1943. He downed a total of 15.5 enemy aircraft during the war, earning eight Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals.
7	DeBlanc	Jefferson		Pilot	Medal of Honor	9.0	VMF-112	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat		Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc was born on February 15, 1921, in Lockport, Louisiana and was reared in St. Martinsville, Louisiana. He entered Navy flight training in July 1941 under the V-5 Program. Transferring to the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation on April 3, 1942, he was assigned to North Island in San Diego. In October 1942, DeBlanc joined VMF-112 “Wolfpack” ten days before they sailed for the Solomon Islands. He entered combat on November 10, 1942, with less than 10 hours in the F4F Wildcat, and scored a double and one probable two days later when fighter pilots of the “Cactus Air Force” shot down 24 of 25 Betty bombers making runs on the fleet off Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. DeBlanc’s big afternoon came on January 31, 1943, when he shot down two floatplanes and three Zeros about sundown. He was shot down during this engagement, but was picked up by the coast watchers’ network and returned 13 days later. For this action DeBlanc received the Medal of Honor. In 1944 he returned to the Pacific with VMF-422 to the Marshall Islands. The unit later moved up to Okinawa in April 1945, where he scored his last victory, a Val, on May 28. DeBlanc retired with the rank of colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1972, and then he taught in Europe for several years. Decorations: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart and the Air Medal with 4 Gold Stars
8	Bauer	Harold W		Pilot	Medal of Honor	11.0	VMF-212	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat
9	Galer	Robert E		Pilot	Medal of Honor	13.0	VMF-224	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat		Brigadier General Robert Edward Galer (24 October 1913 – 27 June 2005) was a naval aviator in the United States Marine Corps who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in aerial combat during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. He went on to command Marine Aircraft Group 12 during the Korean War and retired a few years after in 1957.
10	McCampbell	David		Pilot	Medal of Honor	34.0		Pacific PTO	US Navy	F6F Hellcat
11	Shomo	Bill		Pilot	Medal of Honor	8.0	82TRS	Pacific PTO	USAAF	P51 Mustang
12	Kearby	Neel		Pilot	Medal of Honor	22.0	342nd Fighter Squadron (Scourgers), 348FG	Pacific PTO	USAAF	P47 Thunderbolt	1944-03-01	The 342nd FS was best known for its commander, Col. Neel Kearby, who was credited with 22 victories until he was himself lost in combat piloting P-47D "Firey Ginger" on March 1, 1944. Also memorialized in the squadronyearbook are MIA and KIA pilots: Lt. Pratt, F/O Desilets, Lt. Frankfort and Lt. Luton.
13	McGuire	Thomas		Pilot	Medal of Honor	38.0	475FG	Pacific PTO	USAAF	P38 Lightning
14	Bong	Richard I		Pilot	Medal of Honor	40.0	49FG	Pacific PTO	USAAF	P38 Lightning		Story
15	Howard	James		Pilot	Medal of Honor	12.3	354FG	Europe ETO	USAAF	P51 Mustang
16	O'Hare	Edward 'Butch'		Pilot	Medal of Honor	7.0		Pacific PTO	US Navy	F4F Wildcat		80-G-K-892-B. Lieutenant Edward H. Butch O'Hare (shown right) in front of his Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat fighter, April 1942. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for shooting down five Japanese planes on 20 February 1942 while he was defending Lexington during the raid on Rabaul.
17	Payne	Frederick Rounsville Jr. 'Fritz'	2nd Lt, Colonel, Brigadier General		Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat Vt, DFC, Air Medal (4 Gold Stars)	5.5	VMF-223 (as detached), VMF-212	Pacific PTO	USMC	Wildcat		Born 1911-07-31, at Elmira, New York. Culver Military Academy in Indiana before U.S. Naval Academy in July 1930. Resigning from the Academy in 1932. University of Arizona in January 1935. Upon graduation he resigned his Army ROTC commission and entered the Marine Corps aviation cadet program that July. Flight training at Pensacola, commissioned a second lieutenant in July 1936. Naval Aviator in September. First combat at Guadalcanal in September 1942 on detached duty with VMF-223. Half-share in a Japanese twin-engine bomber on September 14, solo victory two weeks later. VMF-212 in October: Shot down 2 bombers and 2 Zekes between October 18 and 23. After World War II a variety of duties followed including 1st Marine Air Wing in Korea, helicopter unit command and responsibilities for air elements in atomic weapons tests during 1957. Retired as brigadier general 1958-08-01.
18	Hammers	Eddie		Pilot			VMF-115	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat ?		VMF-115, Eddie Hammers, Santa Barbara, 1943
19	Fowler	William 'Flaps'		Pilot	DFC USA Oak Leaf Cluster Air Medal 3 Oak Clusters		487 Sqd 354 FG	ETO	USAAF	P-47 P-51'Stardust'	2008-01-24 Monmouth Cemetery, Warren County Illinois
20	Brooks	James Lynn		Pilot	Silver Star, DFC (Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (20 Oak Leaf Clusters), Unit Citation	13.0	31FG	Middle East MET	USAAF	P51 Mustang		Born 1921-01-08, in Binton, Virginia. 1942-04-06, joined the Army. Flight training 1942-08-23. 2nd Lt on 1943-05-24 May 24 to Panama, flew P-39s and P-40s. First victory over Campina on 1944-05-18 , Italian Fiat G-50. 3 x Me-109s on May 24 and 29 and June 23. An ace on July 18 Italian Mc-205. Captain 1944-09-09. Returned to combat during the Korean War, he flew F-86s with the 4th FG and participated in the first big all-jet air battle over the Yalu River involving twelve MiGs and four Sabres on December 22, 1950. Resigned from Air Force 1951-04-16, and joined North American Aviation as an engineering test pilot. One of the founders and first president of the American Fighter Aces Association and past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.
21	Johnson	Robert Samuel 'Bobby'		Pilot	DSC DFC (RAF) DFC (US x8) Air Medal (x4)	27.0	56FG	Europe ETO	USAAF	P47 Thunderbolt	1998-12-27	Born 21 February 1920 in Lawton, Oklahoma Reporting to the 61FS 19 July 1942 in Bridgeport, Conn. That unit arriving in the UK, 13 January 1943 After the war he became a test pilot for Republic Aviation.
22	Edens	Billy Gene	2nd Lt, later Colonel	Pilot	Silver Star, DFC (3 Oak Clusters), Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal (15 Oak Lef Clusters)	7	62 Fighter Squadron 56 FG	ETO Europe	USAAF	P-47 Thunderbolt		Born in Cassville, Missouri 1923-01-23. Joined USAAF 1942-06-23. Aviation cadet on 1943 -05-03. Second lieutenant 1943-11-03. April 1944 assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, out of Boxted, England. 1944-06-08, the 62nd supported bombers attacking Dreux. Returning to base Edenssaw fighters taking off from Illiers Airdrome. Pursued Me-109 which was closing on Blue Leader, Mark Moseley, and exploded it. Soon Moseley again found a Messerschmitt on his tail and again Edens closed, blasting it from 100 yards. July 5, Edens downed a FW-190 and two days later he became an ace on a 'Ramrod' mission to Leipzig. On September 10, his P-47 was shot down near Trier while strafing Seligenstadt Airdrome and he spent the rest of the war as a POW. Following the war, Edens flew F-84s in Korea and F-100s in the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. Retired from the Air Force as a colonel. Decorations: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star, Purple Heart with one OLC and the Air Medal with 15 OLCs
23	Buxton	Frances 'Buck'		Pilot			VMF-115	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat ?		VMF-115 Buck Buxton showing 4 victories with his fingers, Bougainville Island 1944
24	Olsen	Theodore	Major	Pilot			VMF-313	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		Major Theodore Olsen, commanding officer of VMF-313 stands in front of his badly damaged Corsair. He was later killed in action.
25	Rosenblatt	Charles J	Maj		DFC & Bar Air Medal 3 x Oak Leaf Clusters	4		Europe, Korea	USAAF			Credited with destroying four Nazi planes and damaging three others. Rosenblatt served in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years, and was a fighter pilot during both World War II and the Korean Conflict. He received two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Air Medal, and three Oak Leaf Clusters in World War II alone.	1944: with ground crew Sgts. Purdue and Culver
26	Pound	Ralston Murphy Jr.			DFC (Gold Star) Air Medal (2 Gold Stars)	6	VF-16	PTO Pacific	US Navy	F6F Hellcat		Born 1920-12-31, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Navy flight program 1941-08-28. Wings 1942-07-18, at Opa Locka, Florida. Lieutenant (jg) 1943-07-01. VF-16 flying F6F Hellcats from the USS Lexington (CV-16) in August. 1943. At Kwajelein Atoll, Pound shot down a Zeke and a Hap and probably destroyed another Hap December 4. Carrier torpedoed that night and limped back to Hawaii and on to the States for repairs. Pound joined VF-9 on the Essex for strikes on Truk, February 16 and 17 and Saipan on the 22nd. Rejoined Lexington and VF-16 at Majuro Islands in mid-March. Pound shot down three Zekes to become an ace April 1944. Shot down a Judy during the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot” on June 19 1944 for his last victory. Retired in July 1969 as a commander in USN Reserve.
27	Murray	Richard L.		Pilot			VMSB-151	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	SBD Dauntless		Richard E. Murray assigned to VMSB-151 in cockpit of an SBD Dauntless. Flew with VMSB-151 off the Marshall Islands on Engibe Island.
28	Moats	Sanford Kenneth 'Kenny'	Lt. Gen		DSC, DSM (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Legion of Merit, DFC (Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (11 Oak Lea Clusters), Spanish Grand Cross with White Ribbon, Croix de Guerre with Palm (Belgium,)	8.5	487 Fighter Squadron, 352 FG	ETO Europe	USAAF	P-51 Mustang		Born Kansas City, Missouri 1921-12-04. Kansas State College before entering the Army Air Forces as an aviation cadet. 2Lt 1943-12-05. Sent to England in early 1944. Assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, stationed at Bodney. 8 1/2 German aircraft destroyed between 1944-06-18 and 1945-01-01, including four FW-190s on New Years’ Day. In 1965 became vice commander of the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing at England AFB, Louisiana. 18 combat missions in Vietnam during temporary deployment to southeast Asia. Following the wing’s move to Torrejon, Spain, he became wing commander and, after his promotion to brigadier general, was named vice commander of Sixteenth Air Force. From 1969 to 1975, vice commander, Tenth Air Force, commander of the 26th Air Division, commander of Sixteenth Air Force and commander of the Sixth Allied Tactical Air Force in Turkey. In 1975 he became vice- commander of the Tactical Air Command, from which he retired as a lieutenant general on July 1, 1977.
29	Schubert	Carl O.	Captain	Pilot			VMF-321	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		Capt.Carl O. Schubert VMF-321 'Hells Angels'
30	Gordon	Robert	1st Lt.	Pilot			VMF-215	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		Ace 1st Lt. Robert Gordon of VMF-215 lands first F4U-1 Corsair on Munda airfield in New Georgia. The first aircraft into Munda were P-40s of the 44th FS about 15 minutes earlier which pissed off the Marines. Twerp #126 was flown by Frank Gaunt the first pilot into Munda Point field.
31	McCall	Lewis	2nd Lt.	Pilot			VMF-222	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		McCall, in the cockpit of his F4U-1A
32	Travers	J.P.		Pilot			VMF-212	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat		1944- U.S. Marine Ace Lieut. J.P. Travers of VMF-212 the 'Hell Hounds' on Bougainville.
33	Stubb		Captain	Pilot			VMF-115	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC			VMF-115 pilots, Bougainville Island, 1944 First section : Capt. Stub and Lt Rainalter Second section : Lt Rosenboom and Lt Robinson
34	Frazier	Kenneth D		Pilot	Navy Cross	12.5	VMF-223	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat
35	Aldrich	Donald N		Pilot	Navy Cross	20.0	VMF-215	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
36	Carl	Marion E		Pilot	Navy Cross	18.5	VMF-223	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat
37	Thomas	Wilbur J		Pilot	Navy Cross	18.5	VMF-213	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
38	Spears	Harold L		Pilot	DFC	15.0	VMF-215	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
39	Donahue	Archie Glenn		Pilot	DFC	14.0	VMF-112	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
40	Cupp	James N		Pilot	Navy Cross	13.0	VMF-213	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
41	Marontate	William P		Pilot	Navy Cross	13.0	VMF-121	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat
42	Shaw	Edward O		Pilot	DFC	13.0	VMF-213	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
43	VMF-323 Death Rattlers			Pilot	-	5+	VMF-323	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
44	Everton	Loren D		Pilot	Navy Cross	12.0	VMF-212	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4F Wildcat
45	Segal	Harold E		Pilot	DFC	12.0	VMF-221	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
46	Magee	Chris 'Wildman'		Pilot	Navy Cross	9.0	VMF-214	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		Story
47	Wade	Robert		Pilot	Navy Cross	8.0	VMF-323	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair
48	Bolt	John		Pilot	Navy Cross	6.0	VMF-214	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair		Story Korean ace also
49	Porter	R. Bruce		Pilot	DFC	5.0	VMF-121 VMF(N)-542	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair F6F Hellcat
50	VMF-214 Black Sheep Aces			Pilot	-	5+	VMF-214	Pacific PTO	US Marine Corps USMC	F4U Corsair

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