I just returned from the following at the Museum of Flight in Seattle:
During the Memorial Day Weekend Programs: A Gathering of Aces, visitors can meet World War II pilots who all scored five aerial victories in one day of combat. Four pilots will share their amazing stories. Panelists will include: Col. Ernest E. Bankey, Jr., USAF (Ret.); Col. Richard G. Candelaria, USAF (Ret.); Cmdr. John T. Crosby, USN (Ret.); and Cmdr. Willis E. Hardy, USN (Ret.). Following the presentation, the panelists will sign autographs.
The panel discussion was excellent. Crosby and Hardy both became aces near Okinawa, flying off the hornet. Bankey and Candelaria were both Mustang drivers over Europe.
Candelaria had a particularly interesting story: he had a probable kill on an ME-262 (probable rather than a kill because the 262 flew through a low cloud cover before almost certainly hitting the ground. ) On another mission, he was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, killed two German soldiers and two civilians (who tried to skewer him with pitchforks) with a .45 while trying to avoid capture, was rescued by the German army from civilians who were about to hang him, and later escaped back to allied lines.
It was great to hear these guys talk about their experiences. The audience gave them a standing ovation.
Trivia question: during WW II, how many US pilots earned the ace designation in a single day of combat?
