World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as colonel in command of the 348th Fighter Group, 5th Fighter Command, U.S. Army Air Corps. On October 11, 1943, he led a group of four fighters in New Guinea out on patrol to scout enemy numbers and positions. After observing several targets and personally downing one enemy fighter, his group came upon 36 enemy fighters escorting twelve bombers. Despite being outnumbered, he ordered a diving attack, with himself shooting down three aircraft on his first pass. He ordered a retreat to higher altitude, but saw one of his planes pursued by three enemy fighters, so dove into an attack on one and then the other two planes, downing them all. Returning with his group intact, Kearby scored six kills, the largest number of kills scored by any American pilot in a single day. For this action, he was presented Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur on January 23, 1944. While on patrol on March 4, 1944, Colonel Kearby was shot down and killed during an attack on enemy bombers.
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served as colonel in command of the 348th Fighter Group, 5th Fighter Command, U.S. Army Air Corps. On October 11, 1943, he led a group of four fighters in New Guinea out on patrol to scout enemy numbers and positions. After observing several targets and personally downing one enemy fighter, his group came upon 36 enemy fighters escorting twelve bombers. Despite being outnumbered, he ordered a diving attack, with himself shooting down three aircraft on his first pass. He ordered a retreat to higher altitude, but saw one of his planes pursued by three enemy fighters, so dove into an attack on one and then the other two planes, downing them all. Returning with his group intact, Kearby scored six kills, the largest number of kills scored by any American pilot in a single day. For this action, he was presented Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur on January 23, 1944. While on patrol on March 4, 1944, Colonel Kearby was shot down and killed during an attack on enemy bombers.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Inscription
NEEL E. KEARBY
MEDAL OF HONOR
COL US ARMY AIR FORCES
WORLD WAR II
JUN 5 1911 - MAR 5 1944
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