Re: Wildcat (Grumman F4F/General Motors FM-1) victories
Thanks for that tidbit Michael.
I only had 7 in my lists, so I checked the book and followed up - the eighth is Henry T Elrod who was not an ace and whose fighting time spanned only 12 days on Wake Island. He shot down 2 a/c, sunk a destroyer (his bombs hit the depth charges), carried out strafing attacks, and when all the squadron's a/c on the island were destroyed, he organised the ground defences, repulsing repeated enemy attacks. He was mortally wounded while protecting his men who were getting ammo for a gun emplacement.
Not detracting in any way from his courageous and exceptional acts, this one is possibly more appropriately characterised as a MO recipient who also flew the F4F.
Cheers
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