“Satan’s Angels” Ace – Tales from a P-38 pilot in the South Pacific

When the 475th Fighter Group Association decided to put its memorabilia into a purposely built display hangar at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California, the museum’s Lockheed P-38J Lightning was refinished to represent the fighter flown by Perry Dahl in World War II. Although it’s not a particularly comfortable ride, as seen in this photo, the P-38 is sometimes used to give supporters “piggy-back” warbird orientation flights, which are quite popular. (Photo by Frank B. Mormillo)

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“As a kid growing up on the bow of my father’s tugboat, hauling oil from Seattle to Alaska, I had a lot of time on my hands. I used to read the pulp magazines about the aces of WW I, such as the Red Baron. That’s probably how I became interested in flying. But when I became a fighter pilot, I didn’t care about flying straight and level; I was more interested in the fighter...

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All the stories featured in Flight Journal are as unique and varied as the airplanes and warriors who flew them. From popular warbirds like the P-51 Mustang and Me 109 to the Lockheed SR-71 and futuristic hypersonic fighters, we cover the whole spectrum of aviation. We’ve heard from countless readers over the years about how much they enjoy the compelling stories and beautiful photography.