Reach for Glory

The "ace business" in U.S. fighter forces got out of bounds last week. The publicity-conscious Eighth Air Force made the whole business absurd by crediting a 23-year-old Mustang pilot, Captain Don Gentile (pronounced genteel) with 30 planes. Reason: seven of the planes had been shot up on the ground. Neither the R.A.F. nor any other Allied air force gives credit for grounded kills.*

In many an airman's book the Eighth's newly revealed custom was not only an injustice to an excellent pilot (squirms Gentile: "It's not good enough . . . I'll never be satisfied until I get four more in the air and make it 27 destroyed upstairs"). The Eighth's action also served to point up by comparison the sounder trend, which is away from individual box scores toward fighter teamwork.

In China General Chennault has already prohibited the publication of his pilots' box scores. Marine Major Joe Foss, who shares the World War II record of 26 kills with missing Marine Major Gregory Boyington, announced recently upon returning to the Pacific: "We're not out for records. ... If we get any Zeros, it will be the result of team play."

But for the citizens of Piqua, Ohio (pronounced Pick-wah) who well remembered Tavernkeeper Patsy Gentile's boy Dominic as the high-school kid who used to buzz St. Boniface's Church in his Arrow Sport biplane, the Eighth's announcement of 30 planes was good enough. They solemnly petitioned President Roosevelt to let Hero Gentile come home (see p. 24).

*Under such a system "Buzz" Wagner, first U.S. ace of World War II, who actually had eight victories when he was killed, would have been credited with about 60 Jap planes.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.