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3) Most successful American pilot during a single mission (9 Japanese fighters on October 24, 1944). Also scored 7 victories on June 19, 1944 during the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot". This made him the only US pilot to make "ace in a day" twice. For these two actions he would be awarded the Medal Of Honor (MOH) by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Holy crap..... Just one? Impossible. I have many, Albert Ball, Werner Voss, Stanford Tuck, Hans-Joachim Marseilles, James Howard, Marion Carl, Alex Vraciu........
Hey, no problem, and thanks! Jim Howard is so interesting; he was a naval aviator then went to the AVG, the Flying Tigers and scored against the Japanese. After the AVG broke up he took a commission in the AAF and flew the Mustang and was the one and only European theater fighter pilot to receive the MOH. He retired as a USAF general. Hell of a pilot, interesting guy.Being unfamiliar with the emboldened pilots mentioned, I went to look them up. Holy cow, here's one fearless sonofabitch::
On January 11, 1944, Howard flew his P-51 unaccompanied into some 30 Luftwaffe fighters that were attacking a formation of American B-17 Flying Fortress bombers over Oschersleben, Germany.[3][6] For more than a half-hour, Howard defended the heavy bombers of the 401st Bomb Group against the swarm of Luftwaffe fighters, repeatedly attacking the enemy and shooting down as many as six.[6] Even after Howard's P-51 ran out of ammunition, he continued to dive on enemy airplanes.[6] The leader of the bomber formation later reported, "For sheer determination and guts, it was the greatest exhibition I've ever seen. It was a case of one lone American against what seemed to be the entire Luftwaffe. He was all over the wing, across and around it. They can't give that boy a big enough award."[5][/i]
... and:
Flight Lieutenant Roland Robert Stanford TUCK, D.F.C. (37306).
Since 11 June 1940, this officer has destroyed six enemy aircraft, and probably destroyed or damaged six more. One day in August, 1940, he attacked three Junkers 88's, destroyed two and damaged the third. Later in the month he intercepted two Ju 88's at 15,000 feet, and in a head-on attack, destroyed one. In a similar attack on the second, a cannon shell blew away his oil and glycol tank and a piece of his propeller, but he reached the coast and landed by parachute. In September, 1940, he shot down one Messerschmitt 110 and probably a Messerschmitt 109, and one week later destroyed a Bf 109 over the sea. Flight Lieutenant Tuck has displayed gallant and determined leadership.[14]
Thanks so much,rob23 .
Hey, no problem, and thanks! Jim Howard is so interesting; he was a naval aviator then went to the AVG, the Flying Tigers and scored against the Japanese. After the AVG broke up he took a commission in the AAF and flew the Mustang and was the one and only European theater fighter pilot to receive the MOH. He retired as a USAF general. Hell of a pilot, interesting guy.
Gentlemen
John Landers made ace in the Southwest Pacific with 6 victories with the P-40 and then scored 8.5 victories in the ETO, (4 in P-38's and 4.5 in P-51's I believe) to also be an ace in multiple theaters.
Source: USAF study 85, page 110
FYI
Eagledad
Two of my favorite aces are James Morris and Lawrence "Scrappy" Blumer. Although Blumer only had 6 total victories and flew with the 9th AF, 367th FG. 5 FW-190's fell to his guns in a low-level fight on Aug 25, 1944. James Morris, of the 20th FG, 8th AF, only scored 7.33 victories. 6.33 of his total came in the period of February 1944, including 4 on the 8th, 2 FW-190's and 2 Me-109's. Both men flew P-38J's, both scored their multiple victories at altitudes below 15,000 feet.Thanks for the correction and additional info.