How could Jimmy Doolittle have been left out of this? Talk about great.
You're absolutely correct. He flew a lot of early stuff , making the initial flights with any knowledge of what would happen and he mastered them on the spot. He was a great one for sure and made no boasts about it.One of the last and great things that he did is attached Image Unavailable, Please Login .
Robin Olds and General Chappie James. Call signs "Blackman and Robin". Not sure where they'd fall on the list of great pilots but they are considered 2 of the best in combat flying leadership. After all his years in the Air Force the General retired and died before cashing his 1st retirement check. Olds flew in the ETO in WW2. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Doolittle's copilot on the Japan Raid, Richard Cole. Original available. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Lindbergh worked hard during the war to fix his reputation after a few too many trips to Germany in the 30s. He taught the P-38 guys all kinds of tricks to stretch out their range.
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington. Perhaps my first childhood hero, and the impetus for my lifelong fascination with aviation. I was fortunate to meet Pappy at Oshkosh when I was a small child and likely only a short time before he died of cancer. A great combat pilot for sure, but a deeply troubled human being. I think it is well documented that a number of his aerial victories are unsubstantiated and/or fraudulent. I think it's a shame that the USMC does not publicly acknowledge this, and give Bob Hansen his rightful credit at the top-scoring USMC ace.
Not sure about Pappy. I read his book when I was a kid, watched the TV show, etc. and while I'm sure he was a decent stick and rudder guy, and his experiences as a POW were certainly harrowing (but had nothing to do with being a pilot), I just don't see him up there with the people mentioned above-- Doolittle, Hoover, Lindbergh... who were real pioneers and accomplished much more. I had no idea about his kills being fraudulent-- if so, I would be even less supportive of including him here.
Well, yeah...but 20+ (real total unknown) kills and having been awarded the Medal of Honor does place him among some pretty elite company. He's not my hero anymore but he did have a positive impact on my life, in a manner of speaking. So when I think of great pilots, I think maybe he is worth the consideration.
I met him a few times and admired his audacious approach to combat flying but if he were alive I think he'd tell you 2 things. 1. His CMH was as much for being shot down and assumed dead while being on a tear shooting down Japanese as anything else. He was good for moral back home. If he had landed back at base he never would have been recommended for it. In fact the day it was pinned on him a General who liked him told him he pissed off his superiors again...he lived. 2. He would have given you the names of half a dozen better Corsair pilots. I loved Pappys stories and he was a good guy when he finally crawled out of the bottle but not in this league.
Excellent points made by @donv and @Rifledriver, and I don't disagree. As for "half a dozen better Corsair pilots", I offer the following for consideration: Charles Lindberg (yes, he was a Corsair pilot, too), Bob Hansen, Tommy Blackburn, Ken Walsh, John Bolt, and Boone Guyton.
Oh yes, Kepford definitely ranks high among the great Corsair pilots. And what self-respecting Corsair fan hasn't built at least one model of Kepford's #29?
The first pilot I ever became aware of was Chuck Yeager, when I read his autobiography (multiple times) as a kid in the 80s. One of my favorite books. I can't imagine him not being among the greatest ever; he was a personal hero to me.
And this man, too...only his last two victories where when flying the F4U, but as for his entire career he was one of a select group: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Eugene_Carl Rgds
It still amazes me how many flew combat in both WW2 and Vietnam. Pappy Boyington was named Pappy because he was 30+ in WW2. My uncle, an F6F pilot was asked by my Dad at the end of the war if he was staying in. He said no "These new jets coming along are for the kids. I'm too old". He was 25 or so.
Yeager definitely belongs in this group. His flying skills were impressive. On the other hand, I have heard nothing good about him as a person.
Yeager was fine. I met him at a Gathering of Eagles in 1987. He was pretty intolerant of being asked the same stupid questions over and over. He really enjoyed talking about WW-II and the P-51, though, since nobody seemed too interested in that except another fighter guy.
I have met him. He did 2 different friends favors that were very nice. He did have prolonged legal battles with his kids a few years ago having to do with his estate, a new wife and possible competency issues alleged by the kids. Bad deal all around. He lived most of his retired life in the California gold country. When Right Stuff was released a friend looked him up in the phone book and called him at home. Had a very nice chat with him. Rodger apologized for calling at home. Yeager said it was quite all right, he was the only one who had the balls to do it(His words). Rodger asked if he sent book would Yeager sign it for his Dads B day present. Yeager asked a little info about Dad and send sure, send it. Rodger gets book back with the 10 bucks sent to cover return and has a great inscription to Rodgers Dad. A few years later Yeagers own book comes out. Rodger calls again. Starts out with "You probably do not remember but". Yeager says "of course I remember you Rodger, you know you're still the only one with balls enough to call me at home? How did your dad like the book?". Another nice conversation and Rodger mentions new book and Yeager said "no problem, send it up".
