AIR HEROES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 25, 6 March 1942, Page 5

AIR HEROES

SIX YOUTHFUL FLIERS GAIN DISTINCTION TYPIFIES AMERICAN SPIRIT The names of six youhtl'ul iliers who downed 10 enemy planes in the Japanese attack on Hawaii have been inscribed by the Army on the Avar roll of air heroes. Their "spectacular feats of heroism" Avere said by Lieut. Gen. Waiter C. Short, Hawaiian department commander, to'typify the "magnificent fighting of American pilots." which since has been demonstrated as well in tlie Philippines and at Wake Island. Second Lieut George S. Welch, a Wilmington, Del., youth. Avas credited Avith downing four enemy planes. Thus, in a single combat he failed by only one plane of becoming an ; "ace." According to 1014-18 tradii tion. a flier attains that rating upon , accounting for live enemy era ft. Second Lieut Kenneth M. Taylor, of Hominy. Okla.. destroyed two Japanese planes and four other pilots bagged one apiece. The four are First Lieut Louis M. Sanders, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Lieut Gordon H. Sterling, jun., West Hartford, Conn; Second Lieut Philip M. Rammussen. Boston, and Second Lieut Harry W. Brown, Amarillo, Texas. Flying fast, single-seat pursuit planes, they fought in each instance against odds, finding their foes "decidedly cleA r cr and dangerous Iliers,"' the "War Department reported. V Pilot Welch's feat A'ied Avith the most spectacular exploits of British and Nazi airmen in the Battle of Britain. Only Captain Colin Purdie Kelly, jun., who gaA T e his life in scoring three direct hits on the Japanese battleship Haruna in the Philippines, has struck a harder bIoAV against the foe in the Pacific thus far. The six cited are pictured by proud air force officials, as typical of the skilful and aggressive young fliers trained in recent months at the scattered Arfny schools. Their military careers Avere so brief before they Avere sent to reinforce Hawaii's air defences that the War Department Avas hard put to dig up biographical material.