Guy Bordelon
Guy Bordelon | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant Guy Bordelon in Korea, 1953 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Lucky Pierre" |
| Born | February 1, 1922 Ruston, Louisiana, US |
| Died | December 19, 2002 (aged 80) Alexandria, Louisiana, US |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1969 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Navy Cross Silver Star (2) |
Guy Pierre Bordelon Jr. (February 1, 1922 – December 19, 2002) was a United States Navy flying ace during the Korean War, shooting down five enemy aircraft. Bordelon was the only U.S. Navy aviator to become an ace in the war.[1][2]
A veteran of World War II, then-Lieutenant Guy Bordelon was the leader of VC-3 Detachment D off the USS Princeton. In addition to being the Korean War's only navy ace, he was the only night ace and the only American ace to do so flying a piston engined aircraft, the F4U Corsair.[3] Bordelon, nicknamed "Lucky Pierre", was credited with three Lavochkin La-9s or La-11s, and two Yak-18s between 29 June and 16/17 July 1952.[4]
Bordelon became an instructor after Korea, and taught survival training to pilots during the Vietnam War. He was also chosen for the prestigious Top Gun award. Guy Bordelon retired as a commander after 27 years in the U.S. Navy, returning to his home town of Ruston, Louisiana. He died in 2002 at the age of 80.
See also
References
- ^ Varhola 2000, p. 42
- ^ Gurney 1958, p. 248
- ^ Tillman, Barrett (1979). Corsair: the F4U in World War II and Korea. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1557509949.
- ^ Thompson, Warren (2009). F4U Corsair units of the Korean war. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 66, 85–86, 90. ISBN 978-1846034114.
Sources
- Gurney, Gene (1958), Five Down and Glory: A History of the American Air Ace, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ISBN 0-405-03764-3, (1972 Arno Press edition)
{{citation}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - Varhola, Michael J. (2000), Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950–1953, Mason City, IA: Da Capo Press, ISBN 978-1-882810-44-4