Guy Bordelon

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]

Guy Bordelon
Lieutenant Guy Bordelon in Korea, 1953
Nickname(s)"Lucky Pierre"
Born(1922-02-01)February 1, 1922
Ruston, Louisiana
DiedDecember 19, 2002(2002-12-19) (aged 80)
Alexandria, Louisiana
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1942–1969
Rank Commander
Battles/wars
World War II
Korean War
AwardsNavy Cross
Silver Star (2)

A veteran of World War II, then Lieutenant Guy Bordelon was the leader of VC-3 Detachment D off the USS Princeton (CV-37). 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, and was buried in the family plot in Greenwood Cemetery, in Ruston.[5]

See also

References
  1. Varhola 2000, p. 42
  2. Gurney 1958, p. 248
  3. Tillman, Barrett (1979). Corsair: the F4U in World War II and Korea. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1557509949.
  4. Thompson, Warren (2009). F4U Corsair units of the Korean war. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 66, 85–86, 90. ISBN 978-1846034114.
  5. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=BOR&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSsr=1121&GRid=20668237&

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)
  • Varhola, Michael J. (2000), Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950–1953, Mason City, IA: Da Capo Press, ISBN 978-1-882810-44-4
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