Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos
Home Previous Post Next Post
Follow @fightersweep

Legendary WWII “Ace in a Day” Dies

August 24, 2016
FighterSweep Staff No Comments History, News, WWII

WWII USMC Ace, Jerry O’Keefe who is also a Congressional Gold Medal winner and former Biloxi, Mississippi Mayor passed away on Tuesday morning. He was 93.

Not many people can say they flew fighters. Even fewer can say they were a combat ace (5 air to air kills). Jerry O’Keefe did one even better.  He became an ace in a single day.

O’Keefe was a 1st Lt. with VMF-323 Marine Squadron, known as the “Death Rattlers”, who flew the F-4U Corsair at the time. On April 22, 1945, he shot down five Japanese Kamikazes near Okinawa.

“The Corsair was a superior plane to anything the Japanese had at that point,” said O’Keefe.

O’Keefe used the Corsair’s speed to close in on 6 Japanese dive bombers. At over 400 mph, the Corsair was the fastest plane at the time.

“I was behind them, and it was my intention to shoot all six of them” O’keefe.  “I missed him, and he left the formation and turned sharply to the left. I decided I was going to stay with him until we settled that matter.”

O’Keefe continued to pursue, diving after the lumbering bomber. The speed of the Corsair was almost too much in the pursuit.

“I put my landing flaps down a little bit so I wouldn’t run past him”.

O’Keefe settled in behind  him with the Corsair’s .50 cal machine gun.

“He just blew up,” said O’Keefe.

O’Keefe continued to pursue the remainder of the Japanese dive bombers, trading airspeed for altitude, and climbing above the enemy planes. At the end of the engagement, O’Keefe had 5 kills.

Later in life O’Keefe became the mayor of Biloxi in the 1970’s, serving for 8 years.  He also became a philanthropist starting The O’Keefe Foundation with an endownment of $10 million. He was awarded the Congressional Gold medal, the highest honor bestowed by Congress.

You can see the History Channel’s reenactment of O’Keefe’s dogfight in the video below:

Video Courtesy: You Have Made History Today via YouTube

Top Photo: Jerry O’Keefe of Biloxi holds a photograph in June 2007 of him receiving medals for his exploits as a Marine pilot during World War II. TIM ISBELL [email protected] File

You can read the Sun Herald’s full article here

 

Related Posts

  • USMC Pilot Killed in F/A-18 Crash in Japan IdentifiedUSMC Pilot Killed in F/A-18 Crash in Japan Identified
  • Class C Aviation Mishap Rate DoublesClass C Aviation Mishap Rate Doubles
  • A Fighter Pilot’s Passion: Helping Wounded VetsA Fighter Pilot’s Passion: Helping Wounded Vets
  • DoD Aviation Readiness Crisis: Congress is AwareDoD Aviation Readiness Crisis: Congress is Aware
  • Here Are Three Unusual Facts About the Battle of Midway You Should KnowHere Are Three Unusual Facts About the Battle of Midway You Should Know

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • Whistling Death: How The Corsair Got Its Nickname
    August 30, 2019

    Whistling Death: How the Corsair got its nickname

  • b-52-stratofortress-refueling-kc-135
    August 16, 2017

    Watch: B-52 Stratofortress Aerial Re-Fueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker. Great Cockpit View!

  • Dragon Lady In Distress
    April 30, 2015

    Dragon Lady in Distress: Watch Some INSANE U-2S Landings!

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Lars Dirch Sørensen This didn't age well.
  • Speir Mor Media Amazing history and pride in the old B-52! And that’s one hell of a range. [...]
  • disqus_lkVjMrnsGt As an 8th grader in 1960 I first became acquainted with the 1952 Washington [...]
  • SWS Irrational fears and misinformation is not a reason to get a waiver from a [...]

© Copyright 2022 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers