Shot Down Six Enemy Airplanes During Battle Of Guadalcanal

The retired Marine Corps brigadier general believed to be the oldest surviving fighter ace from WWII has Gone West. Gen. Frederick R. "Fritz" Payne, who was credited with 5 1/2 kills during the months-long Guadalcanal campaign during WWII, died at his home in Rancho Mirage, CA at the age of 104.

Payne shot down four Japanese bombers and two fighter planes flying an F4F Wildcat during September and October of 1942. Another pilot was also credited with half a kill for one of those airplanes, so his record for the campaign stood at 5 1/2 kills ... enough to make him an Ace.

According to Fox News, Payne was awarded the Navy Cross, a silver star, a Distinguished Flying Cross, and other medals during his career.

The Battle of Guadalcanal is considered the turning point of the war in the Pacific. Until then, the Allied forces were struggling, but they held their ground at Guadalcanal and prevented the Japanese from gaining control of the Pacific ocean from Australia's east coast to the west coast of the U.S.

Earlier this year, Congress honored all of the military's "Ace" pilots with a Congressional Gold Medal. Payne was unable to make the trip to Washington to be on hand for the presentation, but one was presented to him by Congressman Paul Ruiz (D-CA) at the Palm Springs Air Museum of Flying.

(F4F Wildcat pictured in public domain photo)

FMI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalcanal_Campaign