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.infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vcard" style="width:25.5em;border-spacing:2px;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="font-size:125%; background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;"><div style="display:inline-block" class="fn">Neel Ernest Kearby</div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;; line-height: 1.5em"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:Neel_E_Kearby_Col_USAAF_c1943.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Neel_E_Kearby_Col_USAAF_c1943.jpg/220px-Neel_E_Kearby_Col_USAAF_c1943.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="293" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Neel_E_Kearby_Col_USAAF_c1943.jpg/330px-Neel_E_Kearby_Col_USAAF_c1943.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Neel_E_Kearby_Col_USAAF_c1943.jpg/440px-Neel_E_Kearby_Col_USAAF_c1943.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1351" data-file-height="1800" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption" style="font-size: 100%">Colonel Neel E. Kearby, <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1943</span></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Born</th><td class="infobox-data"><span style="display:none">(<span class="bday">1911-06-05</span>)</span>June 5, 1911<br /><a href="/wiki/Wichita_Falls,_Texas" title="Wichita Falls, Texas">Wichita Falls, Texas</a>, U.S.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Died</th><td class="infobox-data">March 5, 1944<span style="display:none">(1944-03-05)</span> (aged 32)<br /><a href="/wiki/Wewak" title="Wewak">Wewak</a>, <a href="/wiki/Territory_of_New_Guinea" title="Territory of New Guinea">Territory of New Guinea</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Buried</th><td class="infobox-data"><div style="display:inline" class="label"><a href="/wiki/Sparkman-Hillcrest_Memorial_Park_Cemetery" title="Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery">Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dallas,_Texas" class="mw-redirect" title="Dallas, Texas">Dallas, Texas</a>, U.S.</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Allegiance</th><td class="infobox-data">United States</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Service <wbr />/ branch</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corps" title="United States Army Air Corps">United States Army Air Corps</a><br /><a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces" title="United States Army Air Forces">United States Army Air Forces</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Years of service</th><td class="infobox-data">1937–1944</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Rank</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Colonel_(United_States)" title="Colonel (United States)">Colonel</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Unit</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/348th_Fighter_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="348th Fighter Group">348th Fighter Group</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Commands</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/14th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron" title="14th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron">14th Pursuit Squadron</a><br />348th Fighter Group</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Battles / wars</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Awards</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Medal_of_Honor" title="Medal of Honor">Medal of Honor</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Silver_Star" title="Silver Star">Silver Star</a> (2)<br /><a href="/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)" title="Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)">Distinguished Flying Cross</a> (4)<br /><a href="/wiki/Purple_Heart" title="Purple Heart">Purple Heart</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Air_Medal" title="Air Medal">Air Medal</a> (5)</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right: 1em">Relations</th><td class="infobox-data">Virginia Kearby (wife)</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Neel Ernest Kearby</b> (June 5, 1911 – March 5, 1944) was a <a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces" title="United States Army Air Forces">United States Army Air Forces</a> <a href="/wiki/Colonel_(United_States)" title="Colonel (United States)">colonel</a> and <a href="/wiki/P-47_Thunderbolt" class="mw-redirect" title="P-47 Thunderbolt">P-47 Thunderbolt</a> pilot in <a href="/wiki/World_War_II" title="World War II">World War II</a> who received the <a href="/wiki/Medal_of_Honor" title="Medal of Honor">Medal of Honor</a> for his actions in combat. Kearby is the first United States Army Air Forces fighter pilot to have received the <a href="/wiki/Medal_of_Honor" title="Medal of Honor">Medal of Honor</a>. He scored 22 aerial victories and was the top-scoring P-47 pilot in the Pacific Theater. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Early_life">Early life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Early life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Kearby was born in <a href="/wiki/Wichita_Falls,_Texas" title="Wichita Falls, Texas">Wichita Falls, Texas</a>, on June 5, 1911, to John Gallatin and Bessie Lee Kearby. He graduated from <a href="/wiki/Arlington_High_School_(Arlington,_Texas)" class="mw-redirect" title="Arlington High School (Arlington, Texas)">Arlington High School</a> in 1928, and graduated from the <a href="/wiki/University_of_Texas_at_Arlington" title="University of Texas at Arlington">University of Texas at Arlington</a> in 1936 (known then as North Texas Agricultural College) with a <a href="/wiki/Bachelor%27s_degree" title="Bachelor's degree">bachelor's degree</a> in <a href="/wiki/Business_administration" title="Business administration">business administration</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Military_career">Military career</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Military career"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Kearby joined the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Corps" title="United States Army Air Corps">Army Air Corps</a> in 1937,<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and received flight training at <a href="/wiki/Randolph_Air_Force_Base" title="Randolph Air Force Base">Randolph</a> and <a href="/wiki/Kelly_Air_Force_Base" class="mw-redirect" title="Kelly Air Force Base">Kelly Air Fields</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="World_War_II">World War II</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: World War II"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Kearby then served with the <a href="/wiki/94th_Fighter_Squadron" title="94th Fighter Squadron">94th</a> and <a href="/wiki/40th_Fighter_Squadron" class="mw-redirect" title="40th Fighter Squadron">40th Pursuit Squadrons</a> of the <a href="/wiki/1st_Fighter_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="1st Fighter Group">1st Pursuit Group</a> at <a href="/wiki/Selfridge_Air_Force_Base" class="mw-redirect" title="Selfridge Air Force Base">Selfridge Field</a> in <a href="/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan">Michigan</a>, until December 1940. Kearby commanded the <a href="/wiki/14th_Fighter_Squadron" title="14th Fighter Squadron">14th Pursuit Squadron</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Panama_Canal_Zone" title="Panama Canal Zone">Panama Canal Zone</a> from December 1940 to August 1942, where he flew <a href="/wiki/P-39_Airacobra" class="mw-redirect" title="P-39 Airacobra">P-39 Airacobras</a>. </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:P-47d-42-75332-348FG.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/P-47d-42-75332-348FG.jpg/220px-P-47d-42-75332-348FG.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="104" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/P-47d-42-75332-348FG.jpg/330px-P-47d-42-75332-348FG.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/P-47d-42-75332-348FG.jpg/440px-P-47d-42-75332-348FG.jpg 2x" data-file-width="647" data-file-height="306" /></a><figcaption>348th FG P-47 Thunderbolt</figcaption></figure> <p>He was transferred in October 1942 to <a href="/wiki/Westover_Field" class="mw-redirect" title="Westover Field">Westover Field</a> in <a href="/wiki/Massachusetts" title="Massachusetts">Massachusetts</a> to take command of the new <a href="/wiki/348th_Fighter_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="348th Fighter Group">348th Fighter Group</a> with the rank of <a href="/wiki/Major_(rank)" title="Major (rank)">major</a>. In June 1943, now a <a href="/wiki/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_States)" title="Lieutenant colonel (United States)">lieutenant colonel</a>, Kearby arrived in Australia with his fighter group after months of training on the <a href="/wiki/P-47_Thunderbolt" class="mw-redirect" title="P-47 Thunderbolt">P-47 Thunderbolt</a>. </p><p>The 348th used the P-47's flight characteristics to their advantage. They used their turbo supercharged engines to fly at high altitude to the target and dove on the Japanese planes before firing their eight .50-caliber machine guns on the lightly armored enemy aircraft. </p><p>Kearby opened his score on September 4, 1943, with a <a href="/wiki/Mitsubishi_G4M" title="Mitsubishi G4M">Mitsubishi G4M</a> bomber and a <a href="/wiki/Nakajima_Ki-43" class="mw-redirect" title="Nakajima Ki-43">Nakajima Ki-43</a>, and followed this up ten days later by shooting down another twin-engined bomber, a <a href="/wiki/Mitsubishi_Ki-46" title="Mitsubishi Ki-46">Mitsubishi Ki-46</a>. On September 23, he was promoted to full colonel. </p><p>He flew an aircraft bearing the name "Fiery Ginger". There were several planes with this title in the <a href="/wiki/358th_Fighter_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="358th Fighter Group">358th Fighter Group</a> at that time. All of Kearby's <a href="/wiki/P-47" class="mw-redirect" title="P-47">P-47</a>D's—bore the names, "Fiery Ginger", "Fiery Ginger II", "Fiery Ginger III" and "Fiery Ginger IV". They were all named after his wife Virginia.<sup id="cite_ref-auto_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Medal_of_Honor_mission">Medal of Honor mission</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Medal of Honor mission"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:P-47Ds_348th_FG_in_flight_over_New_Guinea_1943.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/P-47Ds_348th_FG_in_flight_over_New_Guinea_1943.jpg/220px-P-47Ds_348th_FG_in_flight_over_New_Guinea_1943.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="150" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/P-47Ds_348th_FG_in_flight_over_New_Guinea_1943.jpg/330px-P-47Ds_348th_FG_in_flight_over_New_Guinea_1943.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/P-47Ds_348th_FG_in_flight_over_New_Guinea_1943.jpg/440px-P-47Ds_348th_FG_in_flight_over_New_Guinea_1943.jpg 2x" data-file-width="624" data-file-height="426" /></a><figcaption>348th FG P-47s over New Guinea</figcaption></figure> <p>On October 11, 1943, Kearby led four P-47s on a fighter sweep over the Japanese base at <a href="/wiki/Wewak" title="Wewak">Wewak</a>, and ran into 40 <a href="/wiki/Imperial_Japanese_Army" title="Imperial Japanese Army">Japanese Army</a> fighters. The ensuing combat lasted close to an hour, and when it was over, Kearby had shot down six enemy planes: four Nakajima Ki-43s and two <a href="/wiki/Kawasaki_Ki-61" title="Kawasaki Ki-61">Kawasaki Ki-61s</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-auto_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Two other pilots had downed three Ki-61s between them for a total of nine Japanese fighters shot down without loss. This made Kearby the first P-47 ace of the <a href="/wiki/Pacific_Ocean_theater_of_World_War_II" title="Pacific Ocean theater of World War II">Pacific Theater of Operations</a>, and set a <a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Forces" title="United States Army Air Forces">United States Army Air Forces</a> record for most victories in a single mission. </p><p>Upon hearing of this aerial victory, General <a href="/wiki/George_Kenney" title="George Kenney">George Kenney</a>, head of <a href="/wiki/Fifth_Air_Force" title="Fifth Air Force">Fifth Air Force</a> in the <a href="/wiki/Pacific" class="mw-redirect" title="Pacific">Pacific</a>, recommended Kearby for the <a href="/wiki/Medal_of_Honor" title="Medal of Honor">Medal of Honor</a>, which was presented to him by General <a href="/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur" title="Douglas MacArthur">Douglas MacArthur</a> himself in January 1944. </p><p>The American record for most victories in single mission is nine, set a year later by <a href="/wiki/USN" class="mw-redirect" title="USN">USN</a> <a href="/wiki/F6F_Hellcat" class="mw-redirect" title="F6F Hellcat">F6F Hellcat</a> pilot, <a href="/wiki/David_McCampbell" title="David McCampbell">David McCampbell</a>. Kearby's record was later broken within the <a href="/wiki/United_States_Army_Air_Force" class="mw-redirect" title="United States Army Air Force">United States Army Air Force</a> as well, when <a href="/wiki/P-51_Mustang" class="mw-redirect" title="P-51 Mustang">P-51 Mustang</a> pilot <a href="/wiki/William_Shomo" class="mw-redirect" title="William Shomo">William Shomo</a> downed seven Japanese planes in a six-minute fight over the <a href="/wiki/Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a> in January 1945. </p><p>Postwar evaluation of Japanese records showed that only two of the nine victories credited on the Medal of Honor mission were valid, although three other Japanese fighters were damaged. However, the two losses were a <a href="/wiki/Squadron_leader" title="Squadron leader">squadron leader</a> and a <a href="/wiki/Wing_commander" title="Wing commander">wing commander</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Post_mission">Post mission</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Post mission"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In November 1943, with 12 victories to his credit, Kearby was transferred to the headquarters of the 5th Air Force Fighter Command. Despite his assignment to administrative duties, Kearby still wanted to be in combat. He flew missions whenever he could, and his victory tally continued to rise. For a time Kearby was in competition with <a href="/wiki/Richard_Bong" title="Richard Bong">Richard Bong</a> to be the leading Army ace of the Pacific Theater. Like Kearby, Bong was not assigned to a combat unit at the time and flew in addition to his assigned duty of instructor in order to stay in combat. </p><p>During early March 1944, fighter pilots Bong and <a href="/wiki/Thomas_J._Lynch_(aviator)" class="mw-redirect" title="Thomas J. Lynch (aviator)">Thomas J. Lynch</a> were close to breaking the American World War I record of 26 victories scored by pilot <a href="/wiki/Eddie_Rickenbacker" title="Eddie Rickenbacker">Eddie Rickenbacker</a>. Hoping to break the record himself, Kearby hoped to score more victories to tie or break his record.<sup id="cite_ref-auto_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Neel_E_Kearby_USAAF_with_P-47_c1943.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Neel_E_Kearby_USAAF_with_P-47_c1943.jpg/220px-Neel_E_Kearby_USAAF_with_P-47_c1943.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="292" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Neel_E_Kearby_USAAF_with_P-47_c1943.jpg/330px-Neel_E_Kearby_USAAF_with_P-47_c1943.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Neel_E_Kearby_USAAF_with_P-47_c1943.jpg/440px-Neel_E_Kearby_USAAF_with_P-47_c1943.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1357" data-file-height="1800" /></a><figcaption>Kearby with his P-47 showing 15 "kills"</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Kearby-Plane.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Kearby-Plane.jpg/220px-Kearby-Plane.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="310" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Kearby-Plane.jpg/330px-Kearby-Plane.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Kearby-Plane.jpg/440px-Kearby-Plane.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1100" data-file-height="1550" /></a><figcaption>Kearby in February 1944</figcaption></figure> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Republic_P-47D_Thunderbolt_%22Razorback_Version%22_(5168077843).jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Republic_P-47D_Thunderbolt_%22Razorback_Version%22_%285168077843%29.jpg/220px-Republic_P-47D_Thunderbolt_%22Razorback_Version%22_%285168077843%29.jpg" decoding="async" width="220" height="146" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Republic_P-47D_Thunderbolt_%22Razorback_Version%22_%285168077843%29.jpg/330px-Republic_P-47D_Thunderbolt_%22Razorback_Version%22_%285168077843%29.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/Republic_P-47D_Thunderbolt_%22Razorback_Version%22_%285168077843%29.jpg/440px-Republic_P-47D_Thunderbolt_%22Razorback_Version%22_%285168077843%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4288" data-file-height="2848" /></a><figcaption>P-47 painted to appear as the plane flown by Kearby, at the <a href="/wiki/National_Museum_of_the_United_States_Air_Force" title="National Museum of the United States Air Force">National Museum of the United States Air Force</a>. In the background under left wing can be seen original rudder from Kearby's P-47 wreck.</figcaption></figure> <p>By March 1944, Kearby had 21 kills to his credit. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Death">Death</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Death"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>On March 5, 1944, Kearby took off on a combat patrol with Captain <a href="/wiki/William_D._Dunham" title="William D. Dunham">William D. Dunham</a> and Major Samuel Blair to search for Japanese aircraft. Flying his personal aircraft "Fiery Ginger IV" he proceeded towards the <a href="/wiki/Tadji,_Papua_New_Guinea" title="Tadji, Papua New Guinea">Tadji</a> area. They spotted enemy aircraft over Wewak, and intercepted three <a href="/wiki/Kawasaki_Ki-48" title="Kawasaki Ki-48">Kawasaki Ki-48s</a> of the 208th Sentai approaching <a href="/wiki/Dagua_Airfield" title="Dagua Airfield">Dagua Airfield</a>. </p><p>Kearby opened fire on one aircraft, but did not observe it to go down and made a complete circle to attack it again. While performing this maneuver, he was attacked by a Ki-43 from the 77th Sentai before wingman Dunham could shoot it down. Kearby's P-47 crashed into the jungle below. Afterwards, Dunham and Blair unsuccessfully searched for him until they ran short on fuel and returned to <a href="/wiki/Saidor_Airport" title="Saidor Airport">Saidor Airfield</a>. </p><p>Kearby was observed by local people on the ground to have escaped by <a href="/wiki/Parachute" title="Parachute">parachute</a> and as he descended he became tangled in a tree and died of bullet wounds from the attack.<sup id="cite_ref-auto_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-auto-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> His remains were found in 1947 by a <a href="/wiki/Royal_Australian_Air_Force" title="Royal Australian Air Force">Royal Australian Air Force</a> search team, but they were not identified until two years later. He was buried in <a href="/wiki/Sparkman-Hillcrest_Memorial_Park_Cemetery" title="Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery">Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery</a> in July 1949. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Personal_life">Personal life</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Personal life"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Kearby was married to Virginia Cochran, née Shoemaker (1919–1989). They had three children; Robert (1939–1974), John (1941–1977) and Kenneth (1942–1974). All of the children died in unrelated aircraft accidents.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Military_awards_and_honors">Military awards and honors</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Military awards and honors"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Kearby's military decorations and awards include the following: </p> <table style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:USAAF_Wings.png" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/USAAF_Wings.png/205px-USAAF_Wings.png" decoding="async" width="205" height="61" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/USAAF_Wings.png/308px-USAAF_Wings.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/USAAF_Wings.png/410px-USAAF_Wings.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="178" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg/110px-Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg/165px-Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg/220px-Medal_of_Honor_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="279" /></a></span> </td> <td><div style="position:relative; width:110px; border:none; line-height:1.5em; display:-moz-inline-stack; display:inline-block; zoom:1; *display:inline;"><div style="position:relative; display:inline-block;"><div style="position: absolute; left: 43px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg/110px-Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg/165px-Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg/220px-Silver_Star_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="279" /></a></span></div></div> </td> <td><div style="position:relative; width:110px; border:none; line-height:1.5em; display:-moz-inline-stack; display:inline-block; zoom:1; *display:inline;"><div style="position:relative; display:inline-block;"><div style="position: absolute; left: 13px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><div style="position: absolute; left: 43px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><div style="position: absolute; left: 73px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg/110px-Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg/165px-Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg/220px-Distinguished_Flying_Cross_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="218" data-file-height="60" /></a></span></div></div> </td></tr> <tr> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg/110px-Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg/165px-Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg/220px-Purple_Heart_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="218" data-file-height="60" /></a></span> </td> <td><div style="position:relative; width:110px; border:none; line-height:1.5em; display:-moz-inline-stack; display:inline-block; zoom:1; *display:inline;"><div style="position:relative; display:inline-block;"><div style="position: absolute; left: 4px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><div style="position: absolute; left: 29px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><div style="position: absolute; left: 55px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><div style="position: absolute; left: 81px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze oak leaf cluster"><img alt="Bronze oak leaf cluster" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/22px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="22" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/33px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg/44px-Bronze_oak_leaf-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="297" data-file-height="252" /></a></span></div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Air_Medal_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Air_Medal_ribbon.svg/110px-Air_Medal_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Air_Medal_ribbon.svg/165px-Air_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Air_Medal_ribbon.svg/220px-Air_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="218" data-file-height="60" /></a></span></div></div> </td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg/110px-American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg/165px-American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg/220px-American_Defense_Service_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="279" /></a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg/110px-American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg/165px-American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg/220px-American_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="279" /></a></span> </td> <td><div style="position:relative; width:110px; border:none; line-height:1.5em; display:-moz-inline-stack; display:inline-block; zoom:1; *display:inline;"><div style="position:relative; display:inline-block;"><div style="position: absolute; left: 23px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Silver-service-star-3d.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Silver service star"><img alt="Silver star" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Silver-service-star-3d.svg/18px-Silver-service-star-3d.svg.png" decoding="async" width="18" height="18" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Silver-service-star-3d.svg/27px-Silver-service-star-3d.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Silver-service-star-3d.svg/36px-Silver-service-star-3d.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="476" data-file-height="476" /></a></span></div><div style="position: absolute; left: 63px; top: 5px; padding: 0;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Ribbonstar-bronze.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Bronze service star"><img alt="Bronze star" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Ribbonstar-bronze.svg/18px-Ribbonstar-bronze.svg.png" decoding="async" width="18" height="17" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Ribbonstar-bronze.svg/27px-Ribbonstar-bronze.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Ribbonstar-bronze.svg/36px-Ribbonstar-bronze.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="214" data-file-height="200" /></a></span></div><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg/110px-Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg/165px-Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg/220px-Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="279" /></a></span></div></div> </td> <td><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg/110px-World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="30" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg/165px-World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg/220px-World_War_II_Victory_Medal_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="140" /></a></span> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3"><a href="/wiki/United_States_Aviator_Badge" title="United States Aviator Badge">Army Air Forces Pilot Badge</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Medal_of_Honor" title="Medal of Honor">Medal of Honor</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Silver_Star" title="Silver Star">Silver Star</a><br />with 1 bronze <a href="/wiki/Oak_leaf_cluster" title="Oak leaf cluster">oak leaf cluster</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Distinguished_Flying_Cross_(United_States)" title="Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)">Distinguished Flying Cross</a><br />with 3 bronze oak leaf clusters </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Purple_Heart" title="Purple Heart">Purple Heart</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Air_Medal" title="Air Medal">Air Medal</a><br />with four bronze oak leaf clusters </td> <td><a href="/wiki/American_Defense_Service_Medal" title="American Defense Service Medal">American Defense Service Medal</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/American_Campaign_Medal" title="American Campaign Medal">American Campaign Medal</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Asiatic-Pacific_Campaign_Medal" class="mw-redirect" title="Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal">Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal</a><br />with silver and bronze <a href="/wiki/Campaign_star" class="mw-redirect" title="Campaign star">campaign stars</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/World_War_II_Victory_Medal" title="World War II Victory Medal">World War II Victory Medal</a> </td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg/110px-U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="110" height="42" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg/165px-U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg/220px-U.S._Army_and_U.S._Air_Force_Presidential_Unit_Citation_ribbon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="106" data-file-height="40" /></a></span> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <table class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="3"><a href="/wiki/Presidential_Unit_Citation_(United_States)" title="Presidential Unit Citation (United States)">Army Presidential Unit Citation</a> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Medal_of_Honor_citation">Medal of Honor citation</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Medal of Honor citation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The citation for the Medal of Honor, which was awarded by General <a href="/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur" title="Douglas MacArthur">Douglas MacArthur</a>, describes his combat heroism: </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>Place and date: Near Wewak, New Guinea, 11 October 1943. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy, Col. Kearby volunteered to lead a flight of 4 fighters to reconnoiter the strongly defended enemy base at Wewak. Having observed enemy installations and reinforcements at 4 airfields, and secured important tactical information, he saw an enemy fighter below him, made a diving attack and shot it down in flames. The small formation then sighted approximately 12 enemy bombers accompanied by 36 fighters. Although his mission had been completed, his fuel was running low, and the numerical odds were 12 to 1, he gave the signal to attack. Diving into the midst of the enemy airplanes he shot down 3 in quick succession. Observing 1 of his comrades with 2 enemy fighters in pursuit, he destroyed both enemy aircraft. The enemy broke off in large numbers to make a multiple attack on his airplane but despite his peril he made one more pass before seeking cloud protection. Coming into the clear, he called his flight together and led them to a friendly base. Col. Kearby brought down 6 enemy aircraft in this action, undertaken with superb daring after his mission was completed.</p></blockquote> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Legacy">Legacy</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Legacy"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Colonel Kearby was one of two U.S. fighter pilots to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions while flying the P-47. The other was <a href="/wiki/Raymond_L._Knight" title="Raymond L. Knight">Raymond L. Knight</a>. </p><p>In 1959, a building was named for him at <a href="/wiki/Sheppard_Air_Force_Base" title="Sheppard Air Force Base">Sheppard Air Force Base</a> in Wichita Falls. The city of <a href="/wiki/Alexandria,_Louisiana" title="Alexandria, Louisiana">Alexandria, Louisiana</a>, named a street for him near <a href="/wiki/England_Air_Force_Base" title="England Air Force Base">England Air Force Base</a>. In 2010, the Texas Historical Commission and the City of <a href="/wiki/Arlington,_Texas" title="Arlington, Texas">Arlington, Texas</a>, unveiled a historical marker and statue at the city's public library.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Aerial_victory_credits">Aerial victory credits</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Aerial victory credits"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible collapsed" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; text-align:right; width: 100%;"> <tbody><tr style="color:white;"> <th colspan="6" style="background-color: #3399ff">Chronicle of aerial victories </th></tr> <tr style="color:white;"> <th style="background-color: #3399ff">Date </th> <th style="background-color: #3399ff"># </th> <th style="background-color: #3399ff">Type </th> <th style="background-color: #3399ff">Location </th> <th style="background-color: #3399ff">Aircraft flown </th> <th style="background-color: #3399ff">Unit Assigned </th></tr> <tr> <td>September 4, 1943</td> <td align="center">1<br />1</td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Mitsubishi_G4M" title="Mitsubishi G4M">Mitsubishi G4M</a><br /><a href="/wiki/Nakajima_Ki-43" class="mw-redirect" title="Nakajima Ki-43">Nakajima Ki-43</a></td> <td align="center">Hopoi, <a href="/wiki/New_Guinea" title="New Guinea">New Guinea</a></td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/P-47" class="mw-redirect" title="P-47">P-47D Thunderbolt</a></td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr style="background:#eee;"> <td>September 14, 1943</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Mitsubishi_Ki-46" title="Mitsubishi Ki-46">Mitsubishi Ki-46</a></td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Malahang" title="Malahang">Malahang</a>, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr> <td>October 11, 1943</td> <td align="center">4<br />2</td> <td align="center">Nakajima Ki-43<br /><a href="/wiki/Kawasaki_Ki-61" title="Kawasaki Ki-61">Kawasaki Ki-61</a></td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Wewak" title="Wewak">Wewak</a>, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr style="background:#eee;"> <td>October 16, 1943</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Mitsubishi_A6M" class="mw-redirect" title="Mitsubishi A6M">Mitsubishi A6M</a></td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr> <td>October 19, 1943</td> <td align="center">2</td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Mitsubishi_F1M" title="Mitsubishi F1M">Mitsubishi F1M</a></td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr style="background:#eee;"> <td>December 3, 1943</td> <td align="center">3</td> <td align="center">Nakajima Ki-43</td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr> <td>December 22, 1943</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">Nakajima Ki-43</td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr style="background:#eee;"> <td>December 23, 1943</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">Kawasaki Ki-61</td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr> <td>January 3, 1944</td> <td align="center">1<br />1</td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Mitsubishi_Ki-21" title="Mitsubishi Ki-21">Mitsubishi Ki-21</a><br />Nakajima Ki-43</td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr style="background:#eee;"> <td>January 9, 1944</td> <td align="center">2</td> <td align="center">Kawasaki Ki-61</td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> <tr> <td>March 5, 1944</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"><a href="/wiki/Kawasaki_Ki-48" title="Kawasaki Ki-48">Kawasaki Ki-48</a></td> <td align="center">Wewak, New Guinea</td> <td align="center">P-47D</td> <td align="center">348th FG </td></tr> </tbody></table> <dl><dd><dl><dd><dl><dd><dl><dd><small>SOURCES: <i>Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II</i></small></dd></dl></dd></dl></dd></dl></dd></dl> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Medal_of_Honor_recipients_for_World_War_II#K" title="List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II">List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=626">"Veteran Tributes"</a>. <i>www.veterantributes.org</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.veterantributes.org&rft.atitle=Veteran+Tributes&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.veterantributes.org%2FTributeDetail.php%3FrecordID%3D626&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANeel+E.+Kearby" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-auto-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-auto_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-auto_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-auto_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-auto_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part2/11_kearby.html">"Wings of Valor II – Neel Kearby"</a>. <i>www.homeofheroes.com</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.homeofheroes.com&rft.atitle=Wings+of+Valor+II+%E2%80%93+Neel+Kearby&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homeofheroes.com%2Fwings%2Fpart2%2F11_kearby.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANeel+E.+Kearby" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ottocarter.com/thunderbolt/html/kearby.htm">"Colonel"</a>. <i>www.ottocarter.com</i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=www.ottocarter.com&rft.atitle=Colonel&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ottocarter.com%2Fthunderbolt%2Fhtml%2Fkearby.htm&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANeel+E.+Kearby" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBridges" class="citation web cs1">Bridges, Ken. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.prosperpressnews.com/opinion/20180325/world-war-ii-fighter-pilot-col-neel-kearby">"Texas History Minute: World War II fighter pilot Col. Neel Kearby"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Texas+History+Minute%3A+World+War+II+fighter+pilot+Col.+Neel+Kearby&rft.aulast=Bridges&rft.aufirst=Ken&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.prosperpressnews.com%2Fopinion%2F20180325%2Fworld-war-ii-fighter-pilot-col-neel-kearby&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANeel+E.+Kearby" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFStanaway,_John1997" class="citation book cs1">Stanaway, John (1997). <i>Kearby's Thunderbolts: The 348th Fighter Group in World War II</i>. Schiffer Publishing. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7643-0248-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7643-0248-0"><bdi>978-0-7643-0248-0</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Kearby%27s+Thunderbolts%3A+The+348th+Fighter+Group+in+World+War+II&rft.pub=Schiffer+Publishing&rft.date=1997&rft.isbn=978-0-7643-0248-0&rft.au=Stanaway%2C+John&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANeel+E.+Kearby" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Neel_E._Kearby&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLeatherwood,_Art" class="citation web cs1">Leatherwood, Art. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fkevv">"Kearby, Neel E."</a> <i>Handbook of Texas Online</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-03-18</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Handbook+of+Texas+Online&rft.atitle=Kearby%2C+Neel+E.&rft.au=Leatherwood%2C+Art&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tshaonline.org%2Fhandbook%2Fonline%2Farticles%2Ffkevv&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANeel+E.+Kearby" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.homeofheroes.com/wings/part2/11_kearby.html">"Colonel Neel Kearby: Fire and Ice And the Race to Become the First Top Gun"</a>. <i>Wings of Valor II</i>. HomeofHeroes.com<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2007-04-12</span></span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=Wings+of+Valor+II&rft.atitle=Colonel+Neel+Kearby%3A+Fire+and+Ice+And+the+Race+to+Become+the+First+Top+Gun&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homeofheroes.com%2Fwings%2Fpart2%2F11_kearby.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ANeel+E.+Kearby" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol 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"}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Top_US_World_War_II_Aces" title="Template:Top US World War II Aces"><abbr title="View this template" style="color:inherit">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Top_US_World_War_II_Aces" title="Template talk:Top US World War II Aces"><abbr title="Discuss this template" style="color:inherit">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Top_US_World_War_II_Aces" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Top US World War II Aces"><abbr title="Edit this template" style="color:inherit">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="23x15px&#124;border_&#124;alt=United_States&#124;link=United_States_United_States_World_War_II_flying_aces_with_15+_aerial_victories" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/United_States" title="United States"><img alt="United States" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1235" data-file-height="650" /></a></span></span> United States World War II <a href="/wiki/Flying_ace" title="Flying ace">flying aces</a> with 15+ aerial victories</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">30+</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Richard_Bong" title="Richard Bong">Richard Bong</a> <small>(40)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thomas_McGuire" title="Thomas McGuire">Thomas McGuire</a> <small>(38)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/David_McCampbell" title="David McCampbell">David McCampbell</a> <small>(34)</small></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">25–29</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Gabby_Gabreski" title="Gabby Gabreski">Gabby Gabreski</a> <small>(28)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pappy_Boyington" title="Pappy Boyington">Gregory Boyington</a> <small>(28)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robert_S._Johnson" title="Robert S. Johnson">Robert S. Johnson</a> <small>(27)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charles_H._MacDonald" title="Charles H. MacDonald">Charles H. MacDonald</a> <small>(27)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/George_Preddy" title="George Preddy">George Preddy</a> <small>(26.83)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Joe_Foss" title="Joe Foss">Joe Foss</a> <small>(26)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robert_M._Hanson" title="Robert M. Hanson">Robert M. Hanson</a> <small>(25)</small></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">20–24</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/John_C._Meyer" title="John C. Meyer">John C. Meyer</a> <small>(24)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cecil_E._Harris" title="Cecil E. Harris">Cecil E. Harris</a> <small>(24)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Eugene_A._Valencia_Jr." title="Eugene A. Valencia Jr.">Eugene A. Valencia</a> <small>(23)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lance_C._Wade" title="Lance C. Wade">Lance C. Wade</a> <small>(23)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/David_C._Schilling" title="David C. Schilling">David C. Schilling</a> <small>(22.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gerald_R._Johnson" title="Gerald R. Johnson">Gerald R. Johnson</a> <small>(22)</small></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Neel E. Kearby</a> <small>(22)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jay_T._Robbins" title="Jay T. Robbins">Jay T. Robbins</a> <small>(22)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dominic_Salvatore_Gentile" title="Dominic Salvatore Gentile">Dominic Salvatore Gentile</a> <small>(21.83)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fred_J._Christensen" title="Fred J. Christensen">Fred J. Christensen</a> <small>(21.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ray_Shuey_Wetmore" class="mw-redirect" title="Ray Shuey Wetmore">Ray Shuey Wetmore</a> <small>(21.25)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_J._Voll" title="John J. Voll">John J. Voll</a> <small>(21)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kenneth_A._Walsh" title="Kenneth A. Walsh">Kenneth A. Walsh</a> <small>(21)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bud_Mahurin" title="Bud Mahurin">Walker Mahurin</a> <small>(20.75)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Donald_N._Aldrich" title="Donald N. Aldrich">Donald N. Aldrich</a> <small>(20)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thomas_J._Lynch_(aviator)" class="mw-redirect" title="Thomas J. Lynch (aviator)">Thomas J. Lynch</a> <small>(20)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robert_B._Westbrook_(pilot)" title="Robert B. Westbrook (pilot)"> Robert B. Westbrook</a> <small>(20)</small></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%;background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;">15–19</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Glenn_E._Duncan" title="Glenn E. Duncan">Glenn E. Duncan</a> <small>(19)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Patrick_D._Fleming" title="Patrick D. Fleming">Patrick D. Fleming</a> <small>(19)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cornelius_N._Nooy" title="Cornelius N. Nooy">Cornelius N. Nooy</a> <small>(19)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_Smith_(flying_ace)" title="John Smith (flying ace)">John Lucian Smith</a> <small>(19)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Alexander_Vraciu" title="Alexander Vraciu">Alexander Vraciu</a> <small>(19)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arthur_J._Benko" class="mw-redirect" title="Arthur J. Benko">Arthur J. Benko</a> <small>(18.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Marion_Eugene_Carl" title="Marion Eugene Carl">Marion E. Carl</a> <small>(18.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Leonard_K._Carson" title="Leonard K. Carson">Leonard K. Carson</a> <small>(18.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glenn_T._Eagleston" title="Glenn T. Eagleston">Glenn T. Eagleston</a> <small>(18.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wilbur_J._Thomas" title="Wilbur J. Thomas">Wilbur J. Thomas</a> <small>(18.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Walter_C._Beckham" title="Walter C. Beckham">Walter C. Beckham</a> <small>(18)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Herschel_Green" title="Herschel Green">Herschel Green</a> <small>(18)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_C._%22Pappy%22_Herbst" class="mw-redirect" title="John C. "Pappy" Herbst">John C. "Pappy" Herbst</a> <small>(18)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charles_Older" title="Charles Older">Charles Older</a> <small>(18)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hubert_Zemke" title="Hubert Zemke">Hubert Zemke</a> <small>(17.75)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_B._England" title="John B. England">John B. England</a> <small>(17.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Donald_Blakeslee" title="Donald Blakeslee">Donald Blakeslee</a> <small>(17.5)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Duane_Beeson" title="Duane Beeson">Duane Beeson</a> <small>(17.33)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_F._Thornell_Jr." title="John F. Thornell Jr.">John F. Thornell Jr.</a> <small>(17.25)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gerald_W._Johnson_(military_officer)" title="Gerald W. Johnson (military officer)">Gerald W. Johnson</a> <small>(17)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/James_S._Varnell_Jr." title="James S. Varnell Jr.">James S. Varnell Jr.</a> <small>(17)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/John_T._Godfrey" title="John T. Godfrey">John T. Godfrey</a> <small>(16.33)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bud_Anderson" title="Bud Anderson">Bud Anderson</a> <small>(16.25)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/William_T._Whisner_Jr." title="William T. Whisner Jr.">William T. Whisner Jr. </a> <small>(16.4)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Douglas_Baker_(aviator)" title="Douglas Baker (aviator)">Douglas Baker</a> <small>(16)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bill_Harris_(aviator)" title="Bill Harris (aviator)">Bill Harris</a> <small>(16)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ira_C._Kepford" title="Ira C. Kepford">Ira C. Kepford</a> <small>(16)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Charles_R._Stimpson" title="Charles R. Stimpson">Charles R. Stimpson</a> <small>(16)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/George_S._Welch" class="mw-redirect" title="George S. Welch">George S. Welch</a> <small>(16)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/William_D._Dunham" title="William D. Dunham">William D. Dunham</a> <small>(16)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Don_M._Beerbower" title="Don M. Beerbower">Don M. Beerbower</a> <small>(15.25)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Richard_A._Peterson_(aviator)" title="Richard A. Peterson (aviator)">Richard A. Peterson</a> <small>(15.25)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/James_E._Swett" title="James E. Swett">James E. Swett</a> <small>(15.25)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tex_Hill" title="Tex Hill">David Lee "Tex" Hill</a> <small>(15.25)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jack_T._Bradley" title="Jack T. Bradley">Jack T. Bradley</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Samuel_J._Brown" title="Samuel J. Brown">Samuel J. Brown</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Edward_%22Porky%22_Cragg" class="mw-redirect" title="Edward "Porky" Cragg">Edward "Porky" Cragg</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kenneth_H._Dahlberg" title="Kenneth H. Dahlberg">Kenneth H. Dahlberg</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/James_A._Goodson" title="James A. Goodson">James A. Goodson</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Robert_W._Foy" title="Robert W. Foy">Robert W. Foy</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ralph_K._Hofer" title="Ralph K. Hofer">Ralph K. Hofer</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cyril_F._Homer" title="Cyril F. Homer">Cyril F. Homer</a> <small>(15)</small></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Harold_L._Spears" title="Harold L. Spears">Harold L. Spears</a> <small>(15)</small></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow hlist" colspan="2" style="background-color:#DCDCDC;color:inherit;"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_World_War_II_aces_from_the_United_States" title="List of World War II aces from the United States">List of United States World War II aces</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lists_of_World_War_II_flying_aces" title="Lists of World War II flying aces">List of top World War II aces</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox authority-control" aria-labelledby="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6986702#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><div id="Authority_control_databases_frameless&#124;text-top&#124;10px&#124;alt=Edit_this_at_Wikidata&#124;link=https&#58;//www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6986702#identifiers&#124;class=noprint&#124;Edit_this_at_Wikidata" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Help:Authority_control" title="Help:Authority control">Authority control databases</a> <span class="mw-valign-text-top noprint" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6986702#identifiers" title="Edit this at Wikidata"><img alt="Edit this at Wikidata" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/10px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/15px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="20" data-file-height="20" /></a></span></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">International</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://isni.org/isni/0000000031412156">ISNI</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://viaf.org/viaf/50888000">VIAF</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/312037/">FAST</a></span></li><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJdcBjpwwwWrKCC4FWqPcP">WorldCat</a></span></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">National</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"><ul><li><span class="uid"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n92105688">United States</a></span></li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1130092004">.mw-parser-output .portal-bar{font-size:88%;font-weight:bold;display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:baseline}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-bordered{padding:0 2em;background-color:#fdfdfd;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;clear:both;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-related{font-size:100%;justify-content:flex-start}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-unbordered{padding:0 1.7em;margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-header{margin:0 1em 0 0.5em;flex:0 0 auto;min-height:24px}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;flex:0 1 auto;padding:0.15em 0;column-gap:1em;align-items:baseline;margin:0;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content-related{margin:0;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-item{display:inline-block;margin:0.15em 0.2em;min-height:24px;line-height:24px}@media screen and (max-width:768px){.mw-parser-output .portal-bar{font-size:88%;font-weight:bold;display:flex;flex-flow:column wrap;align-items:baseline}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-header{text-align:center;flex:0;padding-left:0.5em;margin:0 auto}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-related{font-size:100%;align-items:flex-start}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;align-items:center;flex:0;column-gap:1em;border-top:1px solid #a2a9b1;margin:0 auto;list-style:none}.mw-parser-output .portal-bar-content-related{border-top:none;margin:0;list-style:none}}.mw-parser-output .navbox+link+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .navbox+style+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .navbox+link+.portal-bar-bordered,.mw-parser-output .navbox+style+.portal-bar-bordered,.mw-parser-output .sister-bar+link+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .sister-bar+style+.portal-bar,.mw-parser-output .portal-bar+.navbox-styles+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .portal-bar+.navbox-styles+.sister-bar{margin-top:-1px}</style><div class="portal-bar noprint metadata noviewer portal-bar-bordered" role="navigation" aria-label="Portals"><span class="portal-bar-header"><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals" title="Wikipedia:Contents/Portals">Portals</a>:</span><ul class="portal-bar-content"><li class="portal-bar-item"><span class="nowrap"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Aviacionavion.png/19px-Aviacionavion.png" decoding="async" width="19" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Aviacionavion.png/29px-Aviacionavion.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Aviacionavion.png/38px-Aviacionavion.png 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Aviation" title="Portal:Aviation">Aviation</a></li><li class="portal-bar-item"><span class="nowrap"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/P_vip.svg/19px-P_vip.svg.png" decoding="async" width="19" height="19" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/P_vip.svg/28px-P_vip.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/P_vip.svg/37px-P_vip.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1911" data-file-height="1944" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Portal:Biography" title="Portal:Biography">Biography</a></li></ul></div>    </div><noscript><img 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