Frederick R. Payne Jr.

Frederick Rounsville "Fritz" Payne Jr. (July 31, 1911 – August 6, 2015) was a World War II Ace.[1] was a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps. Payne was awarded the Navy Cross for service with VMF-212.[1]

Frederick R. Payne Jr.
Born	(1911-07-31)July 31, 1911 Elmira, New York, United States
Died	August 6, 2015(2015-08-06) (aged 104) Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1935–1958
Rank	Brigadier general
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Navy Cross Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (5)

Education

He attended the United States Naval Academy from 1930 to 1932 and subsequently graduated from the University of Arizona in 1935.[1][2][3][4]

Careeer

Payne was awarded the Navy Cross for service with VMF-212 on Guadalcanal between September and October 1942, shooting down six Japanese airplanes.[1] After the war, he continued his service with U.S. Marines and fought in the Korean war unitl he retired from U.S. Marines in 1958. In his post-military career, Payne helped plan the construction of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, He retired from Southern California Edison in 1976. He was also honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in May 2015. Payne died six days after his 104th birthday on August 6, 2015 at Rancho Mirage, California; at the time of his death he was the oldest living former fighter ace.[5]

Awards

A gold medal awarded in May 2015 in recognition of U.S. fighter aces

• Congressional Gold Medal (2015)[6]
• Navy Cross[1]

Personal

He came from a military family: his father served in the Spanish American War after graduating from the United States Naval Academy and World War I. He was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and he also attended the Naval Academy. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and became a pilot. He was married to Dorothy and had two children: Son, Dewitt, and daughter, Ann Wilson Payne.[7]

See also

• List of World War II aces from the United States
• List of World War II flying aces

References

1. "Valor awards for Frederick Rounsville Payne Jr". militarytimes.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
2. "A Salute to Our Oldest Alumni". Feature. United States Naval Academy. July 9, 2012. Archived from the original on February 25, 2015. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
3. "Major Frederick R. Payne Jr. USMC". 475th.org. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
4. "Fritz Payne US Marine Corp Ace of World War Two". garfieldsteamhouse.org. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
5. Chawkins, Steve (August 12, 2015). "Brig. Gen. Frederick Payne Jr. dies at 104; Marine fighter ace in WWII". Los Angeles Times. |accessdate=July 24, 2020}}
6. 113th Congress. "H.R.685 - American Fighter Aces Congressional Gold Medal Act". Congress.gov. Library of Congress. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
7. Roberts, Sam (21 August 2015). "Frederick Payne, Decorated Fighter Ace in the Pacific, Dies at 104". New York Times. Retrieved 24 July 2020.

Further reading

• Hammel, Eric (2010) [1992]. Aces Against Japan. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 9781890988081. ISBN 0671529080.
• Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak. 5. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 0935553614. ISBN 978-0935553611.
• Tillman, Barrett (1996). Hellcat Aces of World War 2. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855325969. ISBN 9781855325968.
• Tillman, Barrett (1979). Hellcat: The F6F in World War II (1st ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1557509918. ISBN 1557509913.