Valor Friday

Guy Bordelon

Guy Bordelon is a unique man. He was a naval aviator, and a fighter ace, but it took him a roundabout way to get there. Along the way he claimed more than one “only” title.

Bordelon, hailing from Louisiana, first took pre-law classes at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute, before attending Louisiana State College. In 1942, with America now firmly in World War II, he joined the Navy. He earned his wings of gold in 1943 and a commission as an ensign.

You’d not be remiss in thinking that he should have seen considerable action, having become a fighter pilot just when the Pacific War needed pilots the most. Unfortunately for young Guy, he was relegated to stateside service. Everyone does their part in Uncle Sam’s war effort, and I expect that Bordelon’s was as an instructor here.

After the war, he remained in the Navy and received an active duty commission. By the start of the Korean War a few years later he was a lieutenant. In the summer of 1953, he was flying the venerable F4U Corsair off USS Princeton over Korea.

F-4U Corsair

The Corsair is a spectacular aircraft. It was first produced during World War II, but was such a good design that it continued to be built until 1953. That’s not something that happened for any other frontline fighters of the war. For comparison, the P-51 ended production in 1946, the P-47 in 1945, and the F8F Bearcat in 1949.

During World War II, the Corsair gained a reputation as an excellent fighter and ground attack plane. It had issues with landing on the smaller carriers, so was used mostly from shore bases and predominately by the USMC. It was flown by many of the Pacific War’s top aces including Pappy Boyington, Joe Foss, Robert Hanson, and Kenneth Walsh.

As with most of WWII’s best piston-engined fighters, by the time of the Korean War, they were supplanted in the air-to-air combat role by the faster jets. The F4U, and other WWII-era designs like the P-51, were used in large numbers during Korea, but for close air support or reconnaissance. I’ve talked more than once about Navy Lieutenant Thomas Hudner, who earned the Medal of Honor in Korea for trying to rescue his wingman, who flew the F4U.

Many Korean aces had been aces in WWII, including men like Vermont Garrison (7.3 kills in WWII, 10 in Korea), James Hagerstrom (6 WWII, 8.5 Korea), and Gabby Gabreski (28 WWII, 6.5 Korea). Only one man became an ace in Korea while flying propeller-driven aircraft; Guy Bordelon. All the rest flew jets. On both sides of the conflict. All of the North Korean, Chinese, and Soviet fighter aces of the war flew MiG-15s, and all of the other Americans scored their kills in F-86 Sabres.

As if this weren’t enough of a record, Bordelon was the only US Navy ace of the war (though we’ve noted recent MoH recipient Royce Williams came very close to being another one).

Bordelon’s victories were over similarly dated enemy aircraft. He shot down three La-9 or La-11 planes (the two designs are essentially indistinguishable), and two Yak-18s. The La-9 and La-11 were post-WWII Soviet fighter designs that, like the F4U were dated by the start of the Korean War. The Yak-18 was a Soviet primary flight trainer that the North Koreans put to use as a night bomber to great effect.

Bordelon remained in the Navy, becoming a flight instructor. He taught survival tactics to pilots destined for the Vietnam War. He retired as a commander in 1969. He died in 2002 at the age of 80.

Bordelon received two Silver Stars and the Navy Cross for his aerial heroics, which cover a span of just a couple of weeks in 1953. Here are the citations (in chronological order);

Service: United States Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Batallion: Fighting Squadron 152 (VF-152)
Division: U.S.S. Princeton (CVS-37)
Action Date: June 29, 1953

Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 1408 (July 5, 1953
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Guy Pierre Bordelon (NSN: 0-278231), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot of a Night Fighter Plane attached to Composing Squadron THREE (VC-3), serving with Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO (VF-52), embarked in U.S.S. PRINCETON (CVS-37), on 29 June 1953, in Korea. Lieutenant Bordelon, as the officer in charge of a four-plane night fighter detachment, was ordered by Commander Task Force 77 to temporarily base his unit ashore at Pyongtaek Airfield in South Korea as a means of intercepting the nightly air attacks that had been harassing friendly positions. On the night of 29 June, Lieutenant Bordelon, while flying a combat air patrol in the Suwon area of South Korea, encountered five enemy aircraft. Demonstrating outstanding skill and daring, he engaged and personally destroyed two Yakovlev Eighteen aircraft, which returned his fire and took violent evasive action at dangerously low altitude over mountainous terrain. Lieutenant Bordelon’s ability, courage and complete disregard for his personal safety contributed directly to the successful accomplishment of the mission. His actions and steadfast devotion to duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Action Date:July 1, 1953

Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 1408 (July 5, 1953
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Silver Star to Lieutenant Guy Pierre Bordelon (NSN: 0-278231), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a Pilot of a Night Fighter Plane attached to Composing Squadron THREE (VC-3), serving with Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO (VF-52), embarked in U.S.S. PRINCETON (CVS-37), while temporarily based ashore at Pyongtaek Airfield in South Korea on 1 July 1953. Flying in total darkness over mountainous terrain and through adverse weather conditions, Lieutenant Bordelon intercepted a flight of enemy planes in the vicinity of the Jaeju peninsula of North Korea. Utilizing his intercept radar, he exhibited superior ability and airmanship by maneuvering his plane into an attack position on each of two enemy Lavochkin Nine aircraft and destroyed them. The second enemy pilot attempted to escape into the restricted air space surround the Armistice Delegation Headquarters at Munsan-ni. Despite the heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire during the pursuit, Lieutenant Bordelon was able to attack and destroy this plane just before entry into the restricted zone. By his skill, courage and complete disregard for his personal safety, Lieutenant Bordelon successfully accomplished his mission. His actions and steadfast devotion to duty were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Korean War
Service: United States Navy
Rank: Lieutenant
Batallion: Fighting Squadron 152 (VF-152)
Division: U.S.S. Princeton (CVS-37)
Action Date: July 17, 1953

Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 1487 (July 24, 1953)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Guy Pierre Bordelon (NSN: 0-278231), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Pilot of a night fighter plane in Fighting Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO (VF-152), embarked in U.S.S. PRINCETON (CVS-37), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the vicinity of Seoul, Korea, on 17 July 1953. While flying a night mission, Lieutenant Bordelon intercepted and destroyed a Communist night intruder aircraft bringing to a total of five such aircraft he has destroyed recently, thereby becoming the first Navy pilot to achieve such a record during the Korean War. For many months the enemy has conducted a series of night air raids which constituted a serious threat in the thickly populated area of Seoul, and Lieutenant Bordelon’s actions have assisted materially in the removal of this threat. He exhibited superior ability and airmanship by maneuvering his plane into an attack position which enabled him to destroy the enemy aircraft. His conspicuous gallantry, fearless aggressiveness and unparalleled performance in pressing home vigorous and superbly executed attacks contributed directly to the successful accomplishment of his assigned mission. By his outstanding professional skill and great personal courage, Lieutenant Bordelon’s accomplishments represent an important increase in the night security of friendly forces. His conduct throughout reflects great credit upon himself and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Category: Historical, Korea, Navy, Navy Cross, Valor, We Remember