John C. Herbst

John C. Herbst
John C. "Pappy" Hearst in his personal P-51B Mustang
Nickname(s)"Pappy"
Born(1909-09-25)September 25, 1909
San Diego North County, California
DiedJuly 4, 1946(1946-07-04) (aged 36)
Del Mar, California
Buried
Los Angeles National Cemetery
AllegianceCanada
United States
Service / branchRoyal Canadian Air Force (1941–42)
United States Army Air Forces (1942–46)
Years of service1941–1946
RankLieutenant colonel
UnitEagle Squadrons
23d Fighter Group
Commands74th Fighter Squadron
445th Flight Test Squadron
Venice Army Airfield
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (4)
Purple Heart
Air Medal (6)[1]

John C. "Pappy" Herbst (September 25, 1909 – July 4, 1946) was an American flying ace of World War II who was officially the second highest-scoring fighter pilot in the China Burma India Theater with 18 confirmed victories scored during 7 months with the 23d Fighter Group.[2][3][4][5] The group commander, David Lee "Tex" Hill, called Herbst "one of the greatest fighter pilots I ever saw."[6]

Often described as "colorful", Herbst was one of the more successful aces of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).[7] Herbst first fought with the Royal Canadian Air Force in Europe against German aircraft, possibly downing one. He joined the USAAF as an instructor training fighter pilots stateside. After two years of teaching and intelligence duties, Herbst was sent to China to fight the Japanese. For seven months he led the 74th Fighter Squadron on far-ranging independent missions, operating from advance airfields under crude conditions and in the face of Operation Ichi-Go; a successful Japanese pincer movement. Herbst scored the majority of his kills during so-called "administrative" flights after he had already completed the theater requirement of 100 combat missions. After the war, Herbst toured in an aerobatic demonstration team flying jets. The day after marrying his second wife he crashed during an aerobatic maneuver and died.[8]

  1. ^ "Deputy Commanding Officer Popular At Venice Airfield". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. May 16, 1945. p. 2.
  2. ^ Stanaway, 1999, p. 67.
  3. ^ Molesworth, 2009, p. 96. Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Older of 23d Fighter Group headquarters scored 18.5 in the air and 4 on the ground, while Herbst scored 18 Japanese air-to-air victories, one possible (unverified) German victory with the RCAF in the Mediterranean, and many more Japanese aircraft destroyed on the ground.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CBIRoundupFebruary1945 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Older Is Leading Ace". The China Lantern. July 6, 1945. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2009.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference ExCBIRoundupOctober1954 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Aerospace was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sherwood was invoked but never defined (see the help page).