Ace in a Day – The kills and claims of the top shooters
On the morning of April 7, 1943, American fighter pilots on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands responded to a red alert. More than 100 Japanese aircraft were inbound, sending Wildcats and P-40s scrambling to intercept. In a prolonged combat, the defenders claimed 39 victories and actually got 29—a better than normal ratio of actual kills versus claims. The belle of the brawl was 1st Lt. James E. Swett, a 22-year-old Marine entering his first combat....
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