Ernie P.

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Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

Ernie P.

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Hmmmm..... No responses. I would have thought the first 3, maybe 4, clues would have rendered a correct answer. Maybe this will help. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

An evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

(8) When war broke out, he performed well, but was reprimanded for a stunting incident.

RCKen

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Saburō Sakai????

Ernie P.

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Hmmm..... Not a bad guess, actually; but no. Maybe this will help. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

(8) When war broke out, he performed well, but was reprimanded for a stunting incident.

(9) For a while, he lead the list of his country’s aces.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

(8) When war broke out, he performed well, but was reprimanded for a stunting incident.

(9) For a while, he lead the list of his country’s aces.

(10) When he left the service, he became a taxi driver.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

(8) When war broke out, he performed well, but was reprimanded for a stunting incident.

(9) For a while, he lead the list of his country’s aces.

(10) When he left the service, he became a taxi driver.

(11) A postage stamp was issued in his honor.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

I'm starting to wonder about this question. I didn't think it was all that difficult. Or is everyone on vacation? Ah well; an afternoon question. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

(8) When war broke out, he performed well, but was reprimanded for a stunting incident.

(9) For a while, he lead the list of his country’s aces.

(10) When he left the service, he became a taxi driver.

(11) A postage stamp was issued in his honor.

(12) The three aircraft in which he scored five or more victories were produced by three different countries.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

(8) When war broke out, he performed well, but was reprimanded for a stunting incident.

(9) For a while, he lead the list of his country’s aces.

(10) When he left the service, he became a taxi driver.

(11) A postage stamp was issued in his honor.

(12) The three aircraft in which he scored five or more victories were produced by three different countries.

(13) He was his country’s leading biplane ace in one of the aircraft.

Top_Gunn

My Feedback: (6)

Oiva Tuominen

The "three different countries" clue was a big help.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Right on the money, Top_Gunn. And now you have the pleasure of posing the next question. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) In addition to victories over enemy aircraft, he scored at least one balloon kill.

(2) He scored victories while flying four different aircraft types.

(3) He was an ace, with five or more victories, in three of those aircraft types.

(4) He began his career as an aircraft mechanic.

(5) His mother didn’t like the idea of him being a pilot, because it was so dangerous.

(6) After seven years, during which time he was married and had a son, he finally decided to pursue his dream, and became a pilot.

(7) His superiors recognized his superior eyesight, his skills in shooting and piloting a fighter; but considered him to be stubborn.

(8) When war broke out, he performed well, but was reprimanded for a stunting incident.

(9) For a while, he lead the list of his country’s aces.

(10) When he left the service, he became a taxi driver.

(11) A postage stamp was issued in his honor.

(12) The three aircraft in which he scored five or more victories were produced by three different countries.

(13) He was his country’s leading biplane ace in one of the aircraft.

(14) He was also his country’s leading ace, of those who flew another of the three aircraft.

(15) He received the very first of his country’s highest award for pilots. The decision was based upon a remarkably simple statement: “(He) is the best fighter pilot”.

(16) He was once asked by a fellow pilot, who had just shot down an aircraft at which they had both been shooting, why he had failed to shoot the plane down. He responded that he had been shooting at the aircraft’s wing struts, as he wanted to see the wings fold up in mid-air.

(17) The fourth aircraft in which he scored was produced by yet another country.

Answer: Oiva Emil Kalervo ‘Oippa’ Tuominen

Oiva Emil Kalervo ‘Oippa’ Tuominen
The Finnish ace

‘Oippa’ Tuominen was born in Kouvola on 5 March 1908 as his mother’s only child.
He did his compulsory military service in the Air Force. He was accepted despite his minimal education, four years of school, and was trained as assistant mechanic in 1926. Complying with his mother's wish, he did not apply for "dangerous" pilot training, but chose to become a professional aircraft mechanic instead.


He got married and his only son was born in 1932. He earned his living as a FAF mechanic up to 1933 when he no more could resist the call of his dreams. He applied for and was accepted to a NCO pilot training course. After training he was promoted to kersantti and posted to LLv 26 on 1 January 1938. This unit was a fighter squadron equipped with Bristol Bulldogs. He showed good flying and shooting skills, his eyesight was phenomenal, but his superiors considered him stubborn.


When the Winter War broke out kersantti Tuominen initially was commanded to LLv 24 to fly Fokker D.XXIs.

He claimed his first victory on 25 December when he shared a SB-2 over Kannas.

In February he was transferred back to his own squadron to fly the new Gloster Gladiators.

When the Continuation War broke out in June 1941, Tuominen had acquired an excellent skill in flying his Fiat G.50.Once his Squadron Leader gave him a reprimand for inverted flying over a lake at the wave-tops. (In inverted position the Fiat engine would leak oil and fuel, causing a risk of fire.) The pilot retorted that he, Tuominen, was able to do whatever he wanted to do, while others were able to do only what they could!

Tuominen received the Finnish Air Force’s first Mannerheim Cross on 17 August 1941. At this time he was the most successful Finnish fighter pilot. His commendation reads:

Lentomestari. Tuominen who is a very successful fighter pilot has shot down 18 enemy aircraft is nominated as a Knight of the Mannerheim Cross.

The document that Marshal Mannerheim based his decision on was if possible even shorter: Gen. Lundqvist wrote:

Tuominen is the best fighter pilot!

..the last I-153 was seen leaving for Soviet territory by Bruun, Tuominen and Paronen. Tuominen flew slightly to the side and behind of the enemy fighter. When he fired the shots went to the right of the I-153 and he had to turn away. Paronen was next and his fire hit the armoured seat and sparkles was seen to fly around but the fire couldn’t penetrated the seat since the Finnish fighters wasn’t yet equipped with armour-piercing ammunition. Bruun was next and he followed the I-153 at low altitude over the fields at a speed of 360 km/h. He opened fire but to no effect. At this time Tuominen was flying to the right of the enemy fighter and Paronen to the right. Bruun saw the enemy pilot looking at the other Finnish pilots but he probably couldn’t spot him since he was less than ten meters behind him. At the edge of a wood the Soviet fighter was forced to climb a little and at this time Bruun opened fire and probably hit the pilot. The I-153 turned over the right wing and crashed into the woods.


A new pair of Soviet I-153s was spotted to the left but these chose not to engage and they turned south. The Finnish pilots also turned towards home since they began to be low on fuel.


When they returned to base Bruun asked Tuominen why he didn’t shot down the I-153 and he answered that he had been trying to hit the wing-support since he wanted to see the wings folding on the enemy fighter!

Tuominen only claimed five more victories in 1944. This was not bad for a 36-year-old fighter pilot. But he did not excel as he did in 1941- 42. There was no room for lone wolves any more in the confined theatre of war at the Carelian Isthmus. The enemy was better trained, equipped with radar and led with radio, and as usual, numerically superior. Moreover, the Finnish fighters were concentrated in escorting bombers on the strikes against enemy troops and material on the front line. Ilmari Juutilanen, among others, appreciated Tuominen very much, saying that he often was the first one to spot the enemy and very fast in making up a strategy to get in an advantageous position for attack.

Tuominen was Finland’s most successful biplane fighter aces and Finland's fifth highest ranking fighter aces during the Second World War with 6 ½ biplane victories and a total of 44 victories claimed during more than 400 missions.


The victories were scored while flying Fokker D.XXI, Gloster Gladiator II, Fiat G.50, and Messerschmitt Me109G! He had also shot down at least one observation balloon.

On 6 January 1945 Tuominen resigned from FAF service and became a taxi operator. He remained an active hobby pilot as long as he could.

Tuominen pasted away on 28 January 1976.

A rare honour was bestowed on him as Republic of Equatorial Guinea issued a postage stamp with his portrait in the stamp series ’Heroes of the Air’.

With three different planes:

Fiat G.50 23 victories
Gladiator 6.5 victories
Bf 109G 13 victories

Top_Gunn

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Great story! I'll post a new question later today.

Top_Gunn

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Looking for a pilot.

1. He flew for several countries (exactly how many depends on what you count as different countries). At least three for sure.

Ernie P.

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Really hard to narrow anything down at this point. There were a number of Polish pilots who went to France after Poland fell in 1939; then on to England or Russia (or both in a few cases) when France fell in 1940. For example: Thanks; Ernie P.


Last surviving Polish Battle of Britain pilot dies

Brigadier General Tadeusz Sawicz – one of 145 Polish pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain – dies in Toronto aged 97

The last surviving Polish pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain has died at the age of 97, according to a Canadian funeral home.

Turner and Porter funeral directors said that Brigadier General Tadeusz Sawicz died on 19 October at a nursing home in Toronto.

Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza daily said Sawicz was the last surviving pilot among the Poles who served in Britain's Royal Air Force during the second world war, and fought in the 1940 battle. He served with the RAF until early 1947.

In 1939, Sawicz fought in Poland's defence against the Nazis. He flew under German fire to carry orders to troops defending Warsaw.

Following the collapse of the city's defence on 17 September, he joined Polish pilots fighting in France, but after Paris's surrender in July he made his way with tens of thousands of Polish airmen, soldiers and sailors to Britain, making up the largest foreign military force in the country.

Later that year, General Wladyslaw Sikorski, who was the head of Poland's government in exile in London, signed an agreement with the British government to form a Polish Air Force in Britain, in which Sawicz was to play his part.

Top_Gunn

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Looking for a pilot.

1. He flew for several countries (exactly how many depends on what you count as different countries). At least three for sure.

2. Fought in two wars.

Top_Gunn

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Looking for a pilot.

1. He flew for several countries (exactly how many depends on what you count as different countries). At least three for sure.

2. Fought in two wars

3. In the first of these wars, he was an ace many times over. In the second, he claimed only one kill.

Top_Gunn

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Looking for a pilot.

1. He flew for several countries (exactly how many depends on what you count as different countries). At least three for sure.

2. Fought in two wars.

3. In the first of these wars, he was an ace many times over. In the second, he claimed only one kill.

4. He flew a variety of airplanes, including a Bf 109 and an AT-6.

Top_Gunn

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Looking for a pilot.

1. He flew for several countries (exactly how many depends on what you count as different countries). At least three for sure.

2. Fought in two wars.

3. In the first of these wars, he was an ace many times over. In the second, he claimed only one kill.

4. He flew a variety of airplanes, including a Bf 109 and an AT-6.

5. His one claimed kill in his second war occurred when he was flying an AT-6.

Ernie P.

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All;


Going to be gone for a few days. Have fun. Thanks; Ernie P.

Top_Gunn

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Looking for a pilot.

1. He flew for several countries (exactly how many depends on what you count as different countries). At least three for sure.

2. Fought in two wars.

3. In the first of these wars, he was an ace many times over. In the second, he claimed only one kill.

4. He flew a variety of airplanes, including a Bf 109 and an AT-6.

5. His one claimed kill in his second war occurred when he was flying an AT-6.

6. He was awarded a medal by Wolfram von Richthofen, personally.

Top_Gunn

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Looking for a pilot.

1. He flew for several countries (exactly how many depends on what you count as different countries). At least three for sure.

2. Fought in two wars.

3. In the first of these wars, he was an ace many times over. In the second, he claimed only one kill.

4. He flew a variety of airplanes, including a Bf 109 and an AT-6.

5. His one claimed kill in his second war occurred when he was flying an AT-6.

6. He was awarded a medal by Wolfram von Richthofen, personally.

7. After receiving that medal and being promoted, he deserted and changed sides.

Ernie P.

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Okay, I got back late last night. Since no one else seems to want to try to answer this very excellent question by Top_Gunn, I'll take a shot. Thanks; Ernie P.


Mato Dukovac (23 September 1918 – September 1990) was a Croatian World War II fighter ace. With 44 confirmed and one unconfirmed victory he is Croatian fighter ace with the most victories. During his career he flew for Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Independent State of Croatia, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, SFR Yugoslavia and Syria.

Dukovac was born in September 1918 in Surčin, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary (today Belgrade Region, Serbia). He enlisted in the Croatian Air Force soon after the country was declared independent in 1941 and became a puppet fascist state. After training he was posted to the Kuban front in Russia with the Croatian Legion, flying his first mission on 29 October 1942.

After scoring some early combat successes against the Soviet Air Force, his potential was recognised by Cvitan Galić, the leading Croatian ace at the time. Thereafter the two men partnered one another in a pair formation, known as a Rotte, together becoming the two most successful Croatian pilots.

In February 1944 Dukovac flew his 250th mission, scoring his 37th confirmed kill, for which he was awarded the German Cross in gold by Field Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen in person. Later that year, during the Soviet offensive in the Crimea, his tally of kills rose to 44, making him the number one Croatian ace ahead of Galić.

In August 1944 he was promoted to the rank of captain and sent with a contingent of the Croatian Legion to Eichwalde in East Prussia. While training in the use of the latest models of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 at Flugplatz Eichwalde in Eastern Prussia he deserted to the Soviets on 29 September 1944.

He served as a time as a flight instructor with the Soviet Air Force before being sent with other Croats to Pančevo in Serbia in December 1944, also as a flying instructor. In February 1945, for his previous service with the Axis powers, he was supposed to be arrested. He escaped the arrest and flew to Italy on 8 August 1945 with a stolen de Havilland Tiger Moth, where he surrendered to the Americans. He was treated as a Luftwaffe prisoner of war.

In January 1946 he went to Syria and joined the Syrian Air Force. He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War flying initial missions as part of the 1st Aerial Squadron, flying Canadian–built T-6 Harvard trainers, armed with two 0.303 Browning machine-guns, from al Mezze airfield near Damascus. His only aerial claim occurred on a reconnaissance mission, an Israeli scout aircraft thought to be a Fairchild 24.

In late 1948 he emigrated to Toronto in Canada and settled there, raising a family. He commenced a business career with IBM. In 1979 he attended a Luftwaffe anniversary in Munich. In Canada, Dukovac founded an association of Croatian Canadians called "United Canadian Croats". He died in September 1990.

Ernie P.

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Okay, I got back late last night. Since no one else seems to want to try to answer this very excellent question by Top_Gunn, I'll take a shot. Thanks; Ernie P.


Mato Dukovac (23 September 1918 – September 1990) was a Croatian World War II fighter ace. With 44 confirmed and one unconfirmed victory he is Croatian fighter ace with the most victories. During his career he flew for Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Independent State of Croatia, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, SFR Yugoslavia and Syria.

Dukovac was born in September 1918 in Surčin, Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary (today Belgrade Region, Serbia). He enlisted in the Croatian Air Force soon after the country was declared independent in 1941 and became a puppet fascist state. After training he was posted to the Kuban front in Russia with the Croatian Legion, flying his first mission on 29 October 1942.

After scoring some early combat successes against the Soviet Air Force, his potential was recognised by Cvitan Galić, the leading Croatian ace at the time. Thereafter the two men partnered one another in a pair formation, known as a Rotte, together becoming the two most successful Croatian pilots.

In February 1944 Dukovac flew his 250th mission, scoring his 37th confirmed kill, for which he was awarded the German Cross in gold by Field Marshal Wolfram von Richthofen in person. Later that year, during the Soviet offensive in the Crimea, his tally of kills rose to 44, making him the number one Croatian ace ahead of Galić.

In August 1944 he was promoted to the rank of captain and sent with a contingent of the Croatian Legion to Eichwalde in East Prussia. While training in the use of the latest models of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 at Flugplatz Eichwalde in Eastern Prussia he deserted to the Soviets on 29 September 1944.

He served as a time as a flight instructor with the Soviet Air Force before being sent with other Croats to Pančevo in Serbia in December 1944, also as a flying instructor. In February 1945, for his previous service with the Axis powers, he was supposed to be arrested. He escaped the arrest and flew to Italy on 8 August 1945 with a stolen de Havilland Tiger Moth, where he surrendered to the Americans. He was treated as a Luftwaffe prisoner of war.

In January 1946 he went to Syria and joined the Syrian Air Force. He fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War flying initial missions as part of the 1st Aerial Squadron, flying Canadian–built T-6 Harvard trainers, armed with two 0.303 Browning machine-guns, from al Mezze airfield near Damascus. His only aerial claim occurred on a reconnaissance mission, an Israeli scout aircraft thought to be a Fairchild 24.

In late 1948 he emigrated to Toronto in Canada and settled there, raising a family. He commenced a business career with IBM. In 1979 he attended a Luftwaffe anniversary in Munich. In Canada, Dukovac founded an association of Croatian Canadians called "United Canadian Croats". He died in September 1990.

Top_Gunn

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Mato Dukovac it is. You're up, Ernie.