THE LAST U.S. “ACE IN A DAY”! (A G+ Aviation Guild exclusive)
A “flying ace” or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The term “ace in a day” is used to designate a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day. Since World War I, a number of pilots have been honored as “Ace in a Day”. The last “Ace in a Day” for the United States in World War II was 1st Lt. Oscar Francis Perdomo.[3]
Perdomo was a first lieutenant and a veteran of ten combat missions when on August 9, 1945 the United States dropped the world’s second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. The allies were still awaiting Japan’s response to the demand to surrender and the war continued, when on August 13, 1945 1st Lt. Perdomo, shot down four Nakajima “Oscar” fighters and one Yokosuka “Willow” Type 93 biplane trainer. While the 507th Fighter Group mission reports confirm his kills as “Oscars”, they were actually Ki-84 “Franks” from the 22nd and 85th Hiko-Sentais. The combat took place near Keijo / Seoul, Korea when 38 Thunderbolts of the 507th Fighter Wing, USAAF, encountered approximately 50 enemy aircraft. It was Perdomo’s last combat mission, and the five confirmed victories made him an “Ace in a Day” and thus the distinction of being the last “Ace” of the United States in World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Medal with one leaf cluster.[4]
Perdomo was born June 14, 1919 in El Paso, Texas, one of five siblings born to Mexican immigrants to the United States.[1] His father served in the Mexican Revolution under the command of Francisco “Pancho” Villa before emigrating to the United States.
From Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_F._Perdomo
Originally shared by Pete Panozzo
Lt. Oscar Perdomo. “Meat Choper” 146. 44-88211. Le Shima. August 1945. | P-47N Thunderbolt. 464th Fighter Squadron. 507th Fighter Group. | Pinterest
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