Tales of a War Pilot (Smithsonian History of Aviation and Spaceflight Series)

322 Pages·1999·1.33 MB·English

by  Kirkland Richard C

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Page i
Tales of a War Pilot
Page ii
Smithsonian History of Aviation Series
Von Hardesty, Series Editor
On December 17, 1903, human flight became a reality when Orville
Wright piloted the Wright Flyer across a 120-foot course above the
sands at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. That awe-inspiring twelve
seconds of powered flight inaugurated a new era. The airplane quickly
evolved as a means of transportation and a weapon of war. Flying
faster, farther, and higher, airplanes soon encircled the globe,
dramatically altering human perceptions of time and space. The dream
of flight appeared to be without bounds. Having conquered the skies,
the heirs of the Wrights eventually orbited the Earth and landed on the
Moon.
Aerospace history is punctuated with extraordinary feats of heroism
and technological achievement. But that same history also showcases
the devastating impact of aviation technology in modern warfare. The
airplaneas with many other important technological breakthroughshas
provided safe, reliable, and inexpensive travel for millions. Vertical
flight continues to play a key role in rescue and communications.
International in scope, this scholarly series includes original
monographs, biographies, reprints of out-of-print classics,
translations, and reference works. Both civil and military themes are
included, along with studies related to the cultural impact of the
airplane. Together, these diverse titles contribute to our overall
understanding of aeronautical technology and its evolution.
Associate Series Editor: Michael Gorn, historian
Advisory Board: Horst Boog, historian, Germany; Tom D. Crouch,
National Air and Space Museum; Carl-Fredrik Geust, independent
scholar, Finland; John T. Greenwood, Center for Miltary History; R.
Cargill Hall, NRO Historian; Roger D. Launius, chief historian,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Felix Lowe,
publisher, South Carolina; Howard McCurdy, American University;
Stephen McFarland, Auburn University; John H. Morrow Jr.,
University of Georgia; Richard J. Overy, King's College, London;
Dominick Pisano, National Air and Space Museum; Robert van der
Linden, National Air and Space Museum; Kenneth Werrell, Radford
University; Christine White, Pennsylvania State University; Robert
Wohl, University of California at Los Angeles
Page iii
Tales of a War Pilot
Richard C. Kirkland
© 1999 by the Smithsonian Institution
All rights reserved
Copy Editor: Anne Collier Rehill
Production Editor: Robert A. Poarch
Designer: Kathleen Sims
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kirkland, Richard C.
Tales of a war pilot / Richard C. Kirkland.
p. cm. (Smithsonian history of aviation series)
ISBN 1-56098-888-6
1. Kirkland, Richard C. 2. World War, 19391945Personal narratives, American.
3. World War, 19391945Aerial operations, American. 4. Korean War, 19501953
Personal narratives, American. 5. Korean War, 19501953Aerial operations,
American. 6. Fighter pilotsUnited StatesBiography. 7. Helicopter pilotsUnited
StatesBiography. 8. United States. Air ForceBiography.
I. Title. II. Series.
UG626.K57 1998
358.4'0092dc21
[B] 93-30425
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data available
Manufactured in the United States of America
05 04 03 02 01 00 99 5 4 3 2 1
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for
Printed Library Materials ANSI Z39.48-1984.
For permission to reproduce illustrations appearing in this book, please
correspond directly with the owners of the works, as listed in the individual
captions. (The authors own the rights to the illustrations that do not list a
source.) The Smithsonian Institution Press does not retain reproduction rights
for these illustrations individually, or maintain a file of addresses for photo
sources.
Publisher's note: The descriptions of otherwise undocumented personal
incidents and the recollections of episodes and persons are entirely the author's.
Every effort has been made to verify details and ensure correctness; inaccuracy,
if it occurs, is regretted.
Page v
To my wife, Maria,
whose help and encouragement
was my inspiration.
Page vii
Contents
Introduction A War Pilot's Journey 1
The Violent Decade: 19431953
Chapter 1 5
To Shoot Down a Zero
Chapter 2 22
On the Wing of the Lone Eagle
Chapter 3 29
Escape from the Stone Age
Chapter 4 51
Ace of Aces
Chapter 5 61
R and R
Chapter 6 71
Mystery of the Magnificent Beast
Chapter 7 87
The Ultimate Game
Chapter 8 105
Pedro One
Chapter 9 119
Christmas at Ch'o Do
Chapter 10 132
Geisha
Chapter 11 146
Night Mission at the 8055 MASH