 A U.S. Army Air Force Medal of Honor recipient Col. Neel E. Kearby. Image by USAF, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed Public domain |
Neel John And The Marching MachineNeel E. Kearby (1911-1944) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and the first fighter pilot in the service to receive the Medal of Honor. He was recognized for his exceptional bravery in combat, particularly for leading a successful mission over Wewak, New Guinea, where he claimed six enemy aircraft in a single engagement. Kearby scored a total of 22 aerial victories and was the highest-scoring P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in the Pacific Theater before his death in action. His legacy includes several military honors and commemorations in Texas, his home state. (Source: Wikipedia)
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