George Andrew Davis, Jr.

Who was George Andrew Davis, Jr.?

George Andrew Davis, Jr. was a highly decorated flying ace of the United States Army Air Forces in World War II, and later of the US Air Force during the Korean War. Davis rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in "MiG Alley" during the war. He was the only flying ace of the United States to be killed in action in Korea.

Born in Dublin, Texas, Davis joined the US Army Air Corps in early 1942, and after training was sent to the Pacific Theatre during the war. There, Davis flew in the New Guinea Campaign and the Philippines Campaign, scoring seven victories over Japanese aircraft. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled pilot and accurate gunner whose "daredevil" flying style contrasted with his reserved personality. Davis did not see action in Korea until late 1951. In spite of this, he achieved considerable success flying the F-86 Sabre, quickly rising to become the war's ace of aces and downing 14 Chinese, North Korean and Soviet aircraft before his death in 1952. During his final combat mission, Davis surprised and attacked 12 Chinese MiG-15 fighters, downing two before being shot down and killed.