Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Birmingham, Alabama
Honored By
Ken Tilley
COMMISSIONED AND RATED A PILOT ON NOVEMBER 3, 1943. HE FLEW P-51D MUSTANGS IN THE 505TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 339TH FIGHTER GROUP, 8TH AIR FORCE. IN HIS FIRST AIR BATTLE ON NOVEMBER 26, 1944, SOUTH OF HANNOVER, HE SHOT DOWN FIVE GERMAN FW-190 FIGHTERS TO BECOME AN ACE IN ONE DAY. WHILE PERFORMING THIS FEAT, HE WAS ALSO ONE OF THE FIRST PILOTS TO TEST THE NEW G-SUIT, WHICH ALLOWED PILOTS TO PERFORM MORE HIGH SPEED MANEUVERS. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.