George Welch

George Schwartz Welch (May 18, 1918 – October 12, 1954) was a World War II flying ace, a Medal of Honor nominee, and an experimental aircraft pilot after the war. Many people contest that Welch verifiably broke the sound barrier one week before Chuck Yeager in his prototype P-86 Sabre.

World War II

After a year of training, Welch was posted to the 47th Fighter Squadron on Oahu island, Hawaii. At dawn on December 7, 1941, George and another pilot, Ken Taylor, were returning from a late-night party when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Welch phoned ahead to the airfield to ready two Curtiss P-40 fighters and immediately drove with Ken to airfield. Upon taking off, Welch claimed two kills before returning to refuel and reload. On a second sortie Welch downed two more aircraft for a total of four that day. Both Welch and Taylor were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions, but despite nominations were not awarded the Medal of Honor because they had taken off without orders.

Related Topics:
47th Fighter Squadron - Oahu - Hawaii - December 7 - 1941 - Ken Taylor - Japanese - Pearl Harbor - Curtiss P-40 - Distinguished Service Cross - Medal of Honor

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After Pearl Harbor, Welch returned to the continental U.S. to give war bond speeches until being assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron of the 8th Fighter Group in New Guinea. Dissatisfied with the considerably older Bell P-39 Airacobra, Welch repeatedly appealed to be transferred to the 80th Fighter Squadron which flew the P-38 Lightning until he was granted a transfer. Welch continued his record of success, flying a total of 348 combat missions with 16 confirmed kills before a bad case of malaria retired him from the war.

Related Topics:
36th Fighter Squadron - 8th Fighter Group - New Guinea - Bell P-39 Airacobra - 80th Fighter Squadron - P-38 Lightning

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George Welch was portrayed in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora! by Rick Cooper.

Related Topics:
1970 - Tora! Tora! Tora! - Rick Cooper

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