George Welch (pilot)

George Welch
Birth name	George Lewis Schwartz, Jr.
Born	(1918-05-10)May 10, 1918 Wawaset Park, Wilmington, Delaware, US
Died	October 12, 1954(1954-10-12) (aged 36) Palmdale, California, US
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces
Years of service	1939–1944
Rank	Major
Unit	47th Fighter Squadron 36th Fighter Squadron 80th Fighter Squadron
Battles / wars	World War II Attack on Pearl Harbor
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal (2)
Other work	Test pilot

George Schwartz Welch (May 10, 1918 – October 12, 1954) was a World War II flying ace, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient, and an experimental aircraft pilot after the war. Welch is best known for having been one of the few United States Army Air Corps fighter pilots able to get airborne to engage Japanese forces in the attack on Pearl Harbor and for his work as a test pilot. Welch resigned from the United States Army Air Forces as a major in 1944, and became a test pilot for North American Aviation.