Brig. Gen. Frederick Payne Jr. dies at 104; Marine fighter ace in WWII

[syscom3]

Another one of the tiny and rapidly dwindling ranks of aviators who were in the prewar navy and army has left us. A salute for your final sortie. Semper Fi and well done!



One day after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Fritz Payne's Marine unit headed to sea on the aircraft carrier Saratoga. Within a year, Payne flew into the elite ranks of American aces — fighter pilots who downed at least five enemy aircraft.

Payne died of natural causes at his Rancho Mirage home Thursday, a week after turning 104. He was the oldest living ace, according to Arthur Bednar, coordinator of the Seattle-based American Fighter Aces Assn.

(click on the link to see the full story)

Brig. Gen. Frederick Payne Jr. dies at 104; Marine fighter ace in WWII - LA Times

 

[fubar57]

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

View attachment 298307

Blue skies and tailwinds...

 

[Capt. Vick]

RIP devil dog

 

[rochie]

RIP Sir !

 

[Airframes]

RIP and Blue Skies.

 

[bobbysocks]

RIP

 

[BiffF15]

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr

RIP friend!

 

[Gnomey]

 

[vikingBerserker]