William Francis Fielder Jr. (June 5, 1920 – June 30, 1943) was an American fighter pilot during World War II. He holds the distinction of being the only American fighter pilot to become a flying ace in the Bell P-39 Airacobra.
William Francis Fiedler Jr. | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Bill |
Born | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | June 5, 1920
Died | June 30, 1943 Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands | (aged 23)
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army Air Forces |
Years of service | 1941–1943 |
Rank | First lieutenant |
Unit | 70th Fighter Squadron 68th Fighter Squadron |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Air Medal (2) |
Early life edit
Fiedler was born on June 5, 1920, in Indianapolis, Indiana and grew up at Akron, Ohio. He graduated from Central High School in Akron and then enrolled in Ohio Northern University where he attended for one year and was a quarterback on the football team.[1][2]
World War II edit
Following United States entry into World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Fiedler enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces on December 21 at Fort Hayes, Ohio as an aviation cadet. He completed flight training, and earned wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.[1][3]
After completion of flight training, he was sent to Nadi, Fiji and was assigned as a Bell P-39 Airacobra pilot with the 70th Fighter Squadron of the 347th Fighter Group. In January 1943, the 347th FG was assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force and was stationed at Henderson Field in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands during the Solomon Islands campaign. On January 26, while flying a patrol over Choiseul Island, he and his wingman spotted a Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis' flying boat. Both the pilots made a low approach and strafing pass at the flying boat, resulting in substantial damage and subsequent sinking of the H6K. Then, the escorting Mitsubishi A6M 'Zeroes' noticed the P-39 and then intercepted the P-39s, shooting down Fielder's wingman. In the subsequent dogfight, Fiedler managed to down one Zero and returned to base safely. [4][5][6]
On February 4, 1943, during an interception of 25 Zeroes flying cover for Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers evacuating exhausted Japanese troops from Guadalcanal, Fiedler shot down a Zero just north of Kolombangara Island, his second aerial victory. He was assigned to the 68th Fighter Squadron and on June 12, while intercepting a formation of Zeroes conducting a fighter sweep over Russell Islands, he shot down one of them ten miles of Cape Esperance, his third aerial victory.[5]
On June 30, 1943, after being alerted by an Australian coast watcher on Vella Lavella of a formation 38 Zeroes along with 30 other Zeroes escorting a formation of Aichi D3A 'Val' dive bombers to attack US Navy transports off Guadalcanal, Fielder along with five other P-39 pilots flew to intercept the formation. In the dogfight, he shot down two Vals, with the second one with only .30 caliber wing guns of his P-39. With a total of five aerial victories, this earned him the title of flying ace and only American pilot to earn so while flying the P-39.[5][7]
On June 30, 1943, while onboard his P-39 waiting to depart for combat mission from Henderson Field, a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, suffering from engine failure, landed on same runway and collided with the P-39, causing both aircraft to explode. Fiedler was pulled from the wreckage unconscious and died hours later while being treated at a field hospital.[5][8]
Military decorations edit
References edit
- ^ a b Stanaway. Pages 34-35.
- ^ "Fiedler Awarded Navy Air Medal". The Berkshire County Eagle. 1943-07-14.
- ^ "William F. Fiedler". Access to Archival Databases (AAD). Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ Letourneau, Roger; Letourneau, Dennis (2012). Operation KE: The Cactus Air Force and the Japanese Withdrawal from Guadalcanal. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781591144465.
- ^ a b c d Dorr, Robert F. (2007). Air Combat: A History of Fighter Pilots. Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN 9781101206164. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ "347th Fighter Group". Army Air Corps Museum. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ Dorr, Robert F. (2012-09-02). "Flying the P-39 Airacobra in the Pacific Posed Challenges". Defense Media Network. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ "Akron Hero Helped Make 13th Air Unit Bugaboo For Japan". The Akron Beacon Journal. 1943-09-19.
- ^ "Valor awards for William Fielder". Military Times. Retrieved 2024-04-08.
- ^ "Former Footballer Gets Navy Medal; Downed 5 Planes". Nevada State Journal. 1943-07-14.
Bibliography edit
- Stanaway, John (2001). P-39 Airacobra Aces of World War 2 (Hardcover). Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781841762043.