Citadel Class of 1938. Lt. Col. U.S.A.A.F. World War II ace. Commissioned as 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corps, earning his pilot's wings in 1939. Served as a fighter pilot in the 20th Pursuit Group, 55th Pursuit Squadron, Moffet Field, Calif., and 23rd Composite Group, 1st Pursuit Squadron, Eglin Field, Fla. Resigned his commission as a 1st Lt. to go to China with the American Volunteer Group (AVG), known as the Flying Tigers, serving as a Flight Leader with the 3rd Pursuit Squadron and scoring 4.5 aerial victories, flying a P-40. He returned to the U.S. in 1942 after the AVG was disbanded. Recommissioned in the U.S. Army Air Force with the rank of Major. He returned to China in 1943, serving briefly in the Chinese-American Composite Wing and the 51st Fighter Group, before taking over as commanding officer of the 449th Fighter Squadron. He attained the rank of Lt. Col. and scored four more kills, flying a P-38. He was killed in action southeast of Pingsiang, China, on June 24, 1944. He received the Bronze Star, two Air Medals with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross (posthumous), and the Order of the Cloud and Banner, 5th Class (Republic of China).
Citadel Class of 1938. Lt. Col. U.S.A.A.F. World War II ace. Commissioned as 2nd Lt. in the Army Air Corps, earning his pilot's wings in 1939. Served as a fighter pilot in the 20th Pursuit Group, 55th Pursuit Squadron, Moffet Field, Calif., and 23rd Composite Group, 1st Pursuit Squadron, Eglin Field, Fla. Resigned his commission as a 1st Lt. to go to China with the American Volunteer Group (AVG), known as the Flying Tigers, serving as a Flight Leader with the 3rd Pursuit Squadron and scoring 4.5 aerial victories, flying a P-40. He returned to the U.S. in 1942 after the AVG was disbanded. Recommissioned in the U.S. Army Air Force with the rank of Major. He returned to China in 1943, serving briefly in the Chinese-American Composite Wing and the 51st Fighter Group, before taking over as commanding officer of the 449th Fighter Squadron. He attained the rank of Lt. Col. and scored four more kills, flying a P-38. He was killed in action southeast of Pingsiang, China, on June 24, 1944. He received the Bronze Star, two Air Medals with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross (posthumous), and the Order of the Cloud and Banner, 5th Class (Republic of China).
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