ACES OF THE 354TH FIGHTER GROUP

An ace is a military fighter pilot who shoots down five or more enemy aircraft in aerial combat during the course of their tour. The action had to occur between December 7, 1941 to September 2, 1945.

The enemy aircraft had to be airborne, heavier than air, manned, and armed. Destruction involved shooting an enemy aircraft down, causing the pilot to bail out, intentionally ramming the airplane to make it crash, or maneuvering it into the ground or water. If the enemy airplane landed, despite its degree of damage, it was not counted as destroyed.

It was not uncommon for a destroyed enemy aircraft to be shared between two or more pilots, thus getting ½ to ¼ credit. Some commands also credited aircraft destroyed on the ground as equal to aerial victories.

There has only been a handful of American fighter pilots who became ace in a day, Lt. Bruce Carr of the 353rd Fighter Squadron was the only 354th Fighter Group pilot to accomplished that remarkable feat. On 2 April 1945, a flight encountered approximately 60 Me 109s and Fw 190s assembling northwest of Nuremburg. Lt. Carr, as flight leader led his four Mustang into a diving attack, destroying three Fw 190s and two Me 109s. His element leader Lt. Rudolph was credited with two kills.

Upon return and debriefing, pilots would officially file an Encounter Report to claim a destroyed enemy aircraft or as a supporting statement to a witnessed engagement. Encounter reports were a detailing account of aerial engagement(s) against an enemy aircraft. Wing mounted gun cameras were also reviewed to help confirm a destroyed claim. Credits were awarded as destroyed, probable, or damaged enemy aircraft.

Example of Claim Report and Supporting Statement

1st Lt. Robert L. Shoup, 356th Fighter Squadron, files a detailed CLAIM REPORT claiming one FW-190 destroyed near Brunswick. 2nd Lt. Robert Reynolds and 1st Lt. James W. Edwards submitted "supporting statements", confirming a destroyed FW-190 for Lt. Shoup.