Evening clue. No; he wasn't USAAF, as this latest clue will show. Thanks; Ernie P.
Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?
Clues:
(1) He isn’t at the top of any of the lists, but he was a truly great fighter pilot.
(2) He fought in three different areas of the war.
(3) He was never shot down.
(4) But he was forced into an emergency landing on a few occasions.
(5) He suffered engine failure while over enemy territory, and was captured; ending his war.
(6) He was noted for deliberately letting a particular type of enemy aircraft, one of his favorite opponents, get on his tail. He would then execute a particular maneuver, which placed him on his opponent’s tail; whereupon he would shoot it down.
(7) He originally joined the air force as a mechanic; but always intended to become a pilot.
(8) His aircraft is one often modeled.
(9) Some reports indicate his aircraft was never hit by an enemy aircraft; all his forced landings being from mechanical problems or ground fire.
(10) He claimed his first victory two months after being posted to combat duty.
(11) After a year in combat, he had scored 21 victories.
(12) After this, he was transferred to a second operational area.
(13) He served in the second area for around three months; scoring enough victories to make a name for himself.
(14) He was then transferred to a different area within his first operational area.
(15) Despite his relatively high scores, he was then assigned to ground support activities within a third operational area; where he served for the remainder of his wartime flying.
(16) He was born during WWI
(17) Half his victims were single engine fighters.
(18) He shot down several twin engine fighters.
(19) He shot down a number of four engine bombers.
(20) In one four month stretch, he shot down 40 aircraft.