WW II fighter ace Fritz Payne dies; fought at Guadalcanal

Source: AP

By JOHN ROGERS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Frederick R. "Fritz" Payne, a World War II fighter ace who left his mark on aviation and wartime history by shooting down six Japanese warplanes during the Battle of Guadalcanal, a bloody, months-long confrontation that helped change the course of the war, has died at age 104.

The retired Marine Corps brigadier general, who was believed to be the oldest surviving U.S. fighter ace, died on Aug. 6 at his home in Rancho Mirage.

Hundreds had turned out to honor him last Memorial Day at the Palm Springs Air Museum, which on Tuesday confirmed his death.

"He was an extraordinary guy, and we can only hope that we can live up to his and others' example and carry on in their footsteps and remember what they did," said the museum's director, Fred Bell.

FULL story at link.



FILE - In this July 30, 2011 file photo, retired Brig. General Frederick "Fritz" Payne of Palm Desert, the oldest living fighter ace, celebrates his 100th birthday at the Palm Springs Air Museum in Palm Springs, Calif. Payne, a World War II flying ace who shot down six Japanese warplanes during the Battle of Guadalcanal, has died at age 104. (Denise Goolsby/The Desert Sun, File via AP, File) RIVERSIDE PRESS-ENTERPRISE OUT; NO SALES; NO FOREIGN; MANDATORY CREDIT

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/585f02e99d5b476c9c2330f2b5c94b57/ww-ii-fighter-ace-fritz-payne-dies-fought-guadalcanal