Guy Bordelon
Guy Bordelon | |
|---|---|
 Lieutenant Guy Bordelon in Korea, 1953 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Lucky Pierre" |
| Born | February 1, 1922 Ruston, Louisiana |
| Died | December 19, 2002 (aged 80) Alexandria, Louisiana |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1969 |
| Rank |  Commander |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Navy Cross Silver Star (2) |
Guy Pierre Bordelon Jr. (February 1, 1922 – December 19, 2002) was a United States Navy flying ace during the Korean War, shooting down five enemy aircraft. Bordelon was the only U.S. Navy aviator to become an ace in the war.[1][2]
A veteran of World War II, then-Lieutenant Guy Bordelon was the leader of VC-3 Detachment D off the USS Princeton. In addition to being the Korean War's only navy ace, he was the only night ace and the only American ace to do so flying a piston engined aircraft, the F4U Corsair.[3] Bordelon, nicknamed "Lucky Pierre", was credited with three Lavochkin La-9s or La-11s, and two Yak-18s between 29 June and 16/17 July 1952.[4]
Bordelon became an instructor after Korea, and taught survival training to pilots during the Vietnam War. He was also chosen for the prestigious Top Gun award. Guy Bordelon retired as a commander after 27 years in the U.S. Navy, returning to his home town of Ruston, Louisiana. He died in 2002 at the age of 80, and was buried in the family plot in Greenwood Cemetery, in Ruston.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Varhola 2000, p. 42
- ^ Gurney 1958, p. 248
- ^ Tillman, Barrett (1979). Corsair: the F4U in World War II and Korea. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1557509949.
- ^ Thompson, Warren (2009). F4U Corsair units of the Korean war. Oxford: Osprey. pp. 66, 85–86, 90. ISBN 978-1846034114.
- ^ "CDR Guy Pierre Bordelon Jr. (1922-2002) - Find A". Find a Grave.
Sources
[edit]- Gurney, Gene (1958), Five Down and Glory: A History of the American Air Ace, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, ISBN 0-405-03764-3, (1972 Arno Press edition)
- Varhola, Michael J. (2000), Fire and Ice: The Korean War, 1950–1953, Mason City, IA: Da Capo Press, ISBN 978-1-882810-44-4
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- 1922 births
- 2002 deaths
- American Korean War flying aces
- United States Navy personnel of the Korean War
- Military personnel from Louisiana
- People from Ruston, Louisiana
- Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- United States Navy officers
- United States Navy pilots of World War II
- United States Navy personnel stubs