![]() ![]() The individual actions of aces were widely reported and the image was disseminated of the ace as a chivalrous knight reminiscent of a bygone era. It was a propaganda term intended to provide the home front with a cult of the hero in what was otherwise a war of attrition. The concept of the “ace” emerged in 1915 during World War I, at the same time as aerial dogfighting. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually considered to be five or more. Was a true hometown American hero in every sense of the word.A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The time he served in the Navy, passed away peacefully with his familyīy his side at 10 p.m. Duncan, age 92, lifelong resident of Marion, except for Duncan was featured in 2007 byĬommenting on his part in aerial combat for the History Channel'sįeature series "Dogfights" about World War II flying aces. In 2001, he was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award"īy the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce. President of Central Technology of Herrin. President of the Illinois Regional Airport Association and Vice Williamson County Regional Airport Board for 21 years and was also He was credited with a lifetime career of more than 100 missionsĪfter his retirement from the military, Duncan became a real estateīroker with Rodd Realty of Marion. Headquartered in San Francisco, when he retired in 1966 after 26 years Was rescued by helicopter from the Korean Sea just off Wonsan afterĭuncan was Commander of the Eighth Navy Recruiting Area, ![]() It was while flying an F6F Jet Fighter aircraft that he His post World War II duty includedĪ tour with a Jet Fighter Squadron flying from the USS Boxer during the Over, he discovered that one of his early kills was a veteran JapaneseĪce who had over nine American kills credited to him.īetween World War II and the Korean War, Duncan attended Washington Much to Duncan's surprise, over 40 years after the war was Him two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Navy Cross, eight Air Medals By the end of the war, Duncan had seven kills in air-to-airĬombat, six enemy aircraft on the ground and one Japanese ship earning To qualify as an ace, a pilot had to shoot down at least fiveĪircraft. Title of "Fighter Ace" and the Navy's highest honor, the In a laterīattle at Truk Island, called the "Japanese Pearl Harbor,"ĭuncan would go on to shoot down more Zeros that would earn him the ![]() Zero planes scoring two kills, Duncan became the first Yorktown pilotĪnd the first pilot flying an F6F Hellcat to score a kill. His first aerial combat occurred at Wake Island, where the planes Left wing, the first of many times that his plane would take damage on They caught the Japanese off guard and did severe damage to the facilityĮven though one Japanese gunner managed to put a hole in Duncan's Triangle-shaped atoll less than 1,000 miles from Tokyo. 31, 1943, Duncan saw his first combat at Marcus Island, a small, New F6F Grumman Hellcat fighter planes from the deck of the ship. "Fighting Five" of the USS Yorktown who got to fly the then The scalp and injuries to one leg and was treated in a Miami hospital.Īfter training, Duncan became one of the original members of the Started losing power and he managed to find a small patch of ground in Underwent further training at Corpus Christi, Texas and also at an airīase near Miami. The mud with a rifle on my shoulders," and by enlisting, he couldĪt least choose the branch of service he desired.ĭuncan qualified as a fighter pilot and completed his initial air Wasn't thinking of much more than avoiding "Slogging through Signed up to serve in the United States Navy. Within a month, in January 1942, Duncan had The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred in December 1941 and the United Robert was into his third year at Southern Illinois University when Marion High School, his parents had begun operating a grocery store atġ000 N. His father worked at installing upholstery, drape and window shades out Duncan, was a Marion hometown boy, born in 1920 toĪbsalom and Nelle Mae Duncan at 931 W. APA style: Robert Duncan: World War II ace fighter pilot. ![]() Robert Duncan: World War II ace fighter pilot." Retrieved from MLA style: "Robert Duncan: World War II ace fighter pilot." The Free Library. ![]()
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