Clyde East 90th Birthday

Not many fighter pilots of World War II shot down three German planes in one morning. There are also only a few airmen living who flew an English Spitfire 200 hours in the Battle of Britain after transferring to the U.S. Army Air Force.

In retrospect, it seems naturally that the pilot who did this would shoot down the first German plane on D-Day. It is mind boggling however, to know that this same airman was decorated by the government of England, France and Belgium. His World War II record shows that he flew 200 combat missions in which he accumulated a total of 350 hours of combat time.

His own country awarded him the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with an incredible 36 Oak Leaf Clusters. Before his 25 years of service were completed, he was to add more repeat medals to the above, plus five more Oak Leaf Clusters to his Air Medal.

His name entered the Guiness Book of World Records 1955-56 as having the highest number of repeat awards of combat medals prior to that time.

One would not be surprised to find that the above achievements were accomplished by the combined efforts of six or eight hot pilots of W. W. II vintage. What is astonishing, though, is that all of the above were accomplished by one American pilot.

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People & Blogs

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• WWII
• Triple Ace
• P51 Mustang plane