WWII pilot Fred Dungan recalls the dogfight of his life: Japanese pilot saluted me before plunging t

Fred "Buck" Dungan could hardly believe his eyes as he piloted his Navy Hellcat fighter plane downward through a cloud and broke back into the open over the Pacific island of Guam. It was June 19, 1944, and below him were 40 Japanese war planes - 20 bombers and 20 torpedo planes - lining up to land at the island's Orote Field. In the corner of his eye, Dungan could see a group of Japanese fighter planes dotting the sky above him to protect the landing formation. Dungan - flying one of only two American planes on the scene - had a split-second decision to make. He dove sharply, passing under the Japanese planes' landing pattern, figuring the Japanese fighters wouldn't dare fire on him there.
(ocregister.com)​

WWII pilot, 90, recalls the dogfight of his life | dungan, japanese, planes - News - The Orange County Register

 

I love these stories. Great Americans, doing great things in one of America's greatest events. I find myself always wanting to hear more about the actual engagements...the pilot's view and cockpit actions that maneuvered him to victory.