The last dogfight of WWII

[Dimlee]

This is another good video on the topic on this channel.
August 15, 1945 battle between British and Japanese aircraft over Tokyo Bay.

View: https://youtu.be/D__9Jvcutvg?si=yDpYIrP0SdvQkBNY

I wonder if there is an agreed-upon "last dogfight" of WWII?

As for air combat operations in general, the very last of them, most probably, took place either in Northern Korea or Northern Kurils, for example:

Seishin Operation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Battle of Shumshu - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Mike Wenger]

This is another good video on the topic on this channel.
August 15, 1945 battle between British and Japanese aircraft over Tokyo Bay.

View: https://youtu.be/D__9Jvcutvg?si=yDpYIrP0SdvQkBNY

I wonder if there is an agreed-upon "last dogfight" of WWII?

As for air combat operations in general, the very last of them, most probably, took place either in Northern Korea or Northern Kurils, for example:

Seishin Operation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Battle of Shumshu - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I remember during 1961 while 5th-grader in the library of Wells Elementary School in Wilson, NC, I found the book, Great American Fighter Pilots of World War II by Robert D. Loomis... one of several books that propelled me into becoming a military historian. On page 201, Loomis recounted the story of Lt. T.H. Reidy, who scored the last USN victory just prior to cessation of hostilities with Japan.

The following account comes from the website noted at the end of this post.

"It was early in the morning (0540L) of 15 August 1945 that LCDR Thomas Hamil Reidy, USNR, CO of VBF-83 shot down a Nakajima C6N1 Saiun reconnaissance aircraft while flying an F4U-1D #221. It was Reidy's tenth confirmed kill, having scored his first victory on 18 March 1945. It was the last confirmed American air-to-air victory of World War II while hostilities were still officially declared. Five minutes after he destroyed the Nakajima "Myrt" (Saiun) reconnaissance aircraft, the war officially ended."

Sunrise Reidy

Aviation Art, Gifts & Collectibles - Plane Junkie Since 1988 - the largest selection of Aviation Art & Gifts - FREE Shipping

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[Barrett]

I remember during 1961 while 5th-grader in the library of Wells Elementary School in Wilson, NC, I found the book, Great American Fighter Pilots of World War II by Robert D. Loomis... one of several books that propelled me into becoming a military historian. On page 201, Loomis recounted the story of Lt. T.H. Reidy, who scored the last USN victory just prior to cessation of hostilities with Japan.

The following account comes from the website noted at the end of this post.

"It was early in the morning (0540L) of 15 August 1945 that LCDR Thomas Hamil Reidy, USNR, CO of VBF-83 shot down a Nakajima C6N1 Saiun reconnaissance aircraft while flying an F4U-1D #221. It was Reidy's tenth confirmed kill, having scored his first victory on 18 March 1945. It was the last confirmed American air-to-air victory of World War II while hostilities were still officially declared. Five minutes after he destroyed the Nakajima "Myrt" (Saiun) reconnaissance aircraft, the war officially ended."

Sunrise Reidy

Aviation Art, Gifts & Collectibles - Plane Junkie Since 1988 - the largest selection of Aviation Art & Gifts - FREE Shipping

planejunkie.com

Mike, we're members of a big club. Bob Loomis became a very well regarded editor, including some of Rich Frank's work.

But Reidy did not repeat not score the last US aerial kill of the war. His Myrt splashed at 0540, first of 34 USN claims during the day.

 

[Mike Wenger]

Mike, we're members of a big club. Bob Loomis became a very well regarded editor, including some of Rich Frank's work.

But Reidy did not repeat not score the last US aerial kill of the war. His Myrt splashed at 0540, first of 34 USN claims during the day.

Actually... you are correct. The book's caption states... "T.H. Reidy, last man of his naval squadron to get an enemy plane on the day the Japanese surrendered..." etc. Blast! Well, he still inspired me to became a military historian. One of my enduring fantasies is to go to Washington (yet again!), and scan all of the photos that appear in that precious little book that influenced me so much.

Unfortunately, I never contacted Loomis, although I did meet Walter Lord in 1991 when I presented at the 50th Anniversary Commemoration of PH in Honolulu. Lord was confined to a wheelchair by that time (being tended to, full-time, by a nurse) and was a physical wreck. I walked over to his table in the back corner of the room at the Gala gathering on the last night of the event--no one was paying the least amount of attention to him. Almost overcome with emotion, I knelt down alongside his wheelchair, and told him of the profound influence he had had on me upon first seeing his book (Day of Infamy) in the 8th Grade. It is one of those memories that will live with me to the end of my days.

 

[Mike Wenger]

Have had some some trouble getting this attachment to load... here is a photo of the Charles L. Coon Jr. High Library (while it was still Wilson, NC's high school) from school's 1953 annual, the Cocoon, (ten years before I found Lord's Day of Infamy). I've highlighted the area along the back wall where the bookcase containing the book was located.

It's almost impossible to put into words my feelings and thoughts at that moment, but it likely was something similar to Howard Carter peering into King Tut's tomb for the first time. The terrible thing was that those books in the back shelves were reserved for the 9th-grade "upper classmen," and couldn't be checked out by the 8th-grade "riff raff".

 

[Gnomey]

Good one!