Following are the details we have gathered on pilots who were qualified as “Aces” (five or more planes shot down) in the P‑38. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge, but if you find any errors or omissions, please let us know!
Search for Ace by last name:
The Better Known P-38 ACES
Richard Ira Bong
“Dick Bong”
24 SEP 1920 / 6 AUG 1945
America’s “Ace of Aces”
40 aerial victories
Jack Ilfrey
“Happy Jack”
31 JUL1920 / 15 OCT 2004
Major…er Lieutenant…er Colonel! United States Army Air Corps
Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. “Tommy McGuire”
1 AUG 1920 / 7 JAN 1945
38 aerial victories
THE BEST!
– Col. Al Griebling, USAF Ret.
Some pilots are good.
Some pilots are great.
The best of them all
Flew the P-38
MORE INFO!
There are many excellent books written about WWII Aces. Here are a few of the best below.
MORE “ACES” BOOKS
Happy Jack’s Go Buggy: A Fighter Pilots Story
Schiffer Military Aviation History
Undoubtedly one of the finest stories of aerial combat that has ever been written. You will fly through the skies with eight-victory fighter ace, Jack Ilfrey, in his P‑38 and thrill to the stories of aerial combat. Join him on his incredible trip to becoming one of America’s first WWII aces.
P-38 Lightning Aces of the ETO/MTO
Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 19
Written by one of our expert P-38 Association Historians, John Stanaway, this book traces the careers of many unknown Aces within the USAAF in the European Theater. Some 17 pilots scored 7 or more kills in the P-38 in the ETO/MTO.
