Ace in a Day

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]

P-47 Thunderbolt

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]

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Perdomo, Oscar F.

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

464th Fighter Squadron, 507th Fighter Group, Twentieth Air Force

Date of Action: August 13, 1945

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Oscar Francis Perdomo, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 464th Fighter Squadron, 507th Fighter Group, TWENTIETH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area, on 13 August 1945. When a group of five enemy planes was sighted over Keijo, Korea, by the flight in which Lieutenant Perdomo was an element leader, he pursued the last three enemy aircraft and as he came within range, directed a burst which converged on the nose and cockpit of the last Japanese plane and set it aflame and plunging downward until it exploded. Lining his sights on a second aircraft, he fired until flames broke out in the hostile plane and it rolled over and dived into the ground. Closing on the flight leader, he remained inside a tight turn, firing all the way, until the Japanese craft stalled 100 feet from the ground and crashed. Turning toward Keijo to search for his comrades, Lieutenant Perdomo observed two Willow-type aircraft flying in close formation at 800 feet and went after them. The enemy sighted him and separated, and he chose the closer ship and fired, setting it aflame. Slowing his plane, Lieutenant Perdomo then fired several more bursts at the burning craft which spiraled to the right and dived into the ground. Failing to find the other hostile aircraft, he started to climb above the clouds but suddenly came upon three or four Oscars. He skillfully evaded their concerted attack and came in on them from the rear. One of the enemy turned to the right, but Lieutenant Perdomo fired with deadly accuracy until the plane burst into flames and exploded. Returning to rendezvous with his group, he encountered an Oscar engaged with two P-47's, and as the enemy exposed himself, Lieutenant Perdomo dived, firing steadily, and followed him in a turn, but just as he reached the Oscar his guns stopped. Calling in another P-47, he evaded the hostile plane while his comrade destroyed it. He then rejoined his men in order to complete the round trip of 1,500 miles back to his base. Through his outstanding skill and courage, coupled with his unfaltering determination to destroy the enemy at all costs, Lieutenant Perdomo shot down five Japanese aircraft and upheld the finest traditions of the Army Air Corps.^[9]