Another WWII ace in the making?

I mentioned Saturday that there are only a few aces left from WWII – over the years, there have been a few certified post-war after reviewing their records. Here’s a case which is ongoing – and most likely to be the last ace to be certified from WWII.

Think we’ve seen mention of James McCubbin (no, not the rugby player) a couple of years back. Then 101 years old, his nursing home in Rome, Georgia got together with the Confederate Commemorative Air Force and arranged to fly a P-51D to Rome on June 4, 2022 so he could sit in the cockpit one last time.

McCubbin enlisted after a couple of years at Mizzou to become an aviation cadet.

Once training was behind him, he was assigned to the 385th Squadron of the 364th Fighter Group, based at Honington, England.

Initially equipped with the Lockheed P-38J Lightning, the squadron began transitioning to the North American P-51D Mustang in August 1944.

His first couple of months with the squadron he flew without any victories.

On Nov. 21, however, he was credited with destroying two Junkers Ju 88s.

On Dec. 2, McCuddin attacked a Messerschmitt fighter at approximately 15,000 feet over Mannheim, Germany, reporting hits around the enemy’s cockpit and noting, “As I pulled up, I saw him hit the ground without bailing out.”

Gets a bit confusing here – sounds like three kills, but apparently he was only credited with two. However, December 5th was a red-letter day.

I was flying Yellow No. 3 in 385th Ftr. ‘B’ Sq. As the bombers began their bombing run, we moved away from the close escort we had been furnishing. As we headed north we saw a gaggle of 50-plus enemy aircraft at ten o’clock to us. They were at about 22,500; we were at 23,000 in behind the nearest e/a. I swung to the outside of the turn, picked out a target on the other side of the gaggle. I opened fire at about 700 yards dead astern. The enemy took no evasive action. I closed to 300 yards firing several bursts. The Fw 190 blew up in flames. The gaggle maintained its practice of flying straight and level.

“I picked out another target and at about 400 yards dead astern I opened fire, closing on 250 yards. I fired several bursts, obtaining numerous hits. The enemy pilot bailed out.

“I immediately pulled up behind a third Fw 190, opened fire at 300 yards and closed to 200 yards. I obtained hits all over him. He appeared to be out of control and went into a … dive heading straight down.

“I got behind a fourth Fw 190 and at 200 yards I opened fire. I closed to 100 yards. I observed many hits. He split essed and I followed him. I was firing short bursts and saw his elevator come off. I was then reaching compressibility so I pulled out. He was still going straight down when I pulled out at 11,000 feet. I went down to the deck looking for more e/a, but found nothing. I then headed for home.

“I claim three (3) Fw 190?s dest and one (1) Fw 190 prob dest in the air.

The intelligence officer only have him credit for two and two probables, but his plane had six kills noted on it.

Crashing on  Christmas Eve,  he was able to avoid capture and rejoined his unit. He got another Fw-190 on New Year’s Day (even without the probables, this shold be a solid five, right?) Shot down on February 19, 1945 and ended the war in a POW camp.

The article says he did two years in the Air Force Reserves as an instructor while he finished his degree -given we did not HAVE an Air Force in ’46 and ’47, I am hoping they mean the Army Air Corps? Should his kills be certified as adding up to five (at least!) he will be the last named US ace of WWII. Here’s hoping the Pentagon acts fast.

Category: Air Force, Army, WWII