Page 9 - DFCS News Magazine Summer 2015

BGen Frederick “Fritz” Payne USMC (Ret) recently joined the DFC Society thanks to his good friend and fellow DFCS member Harry Ziegler. Fritz turned 104 on July 31, 2015 and submi ed his DFCS applica on the very next day. He is the oldest Naval Aviator as well as being the oldest American Ace. The Congres- sional Gold Medal was awarded to all living and deceased Aces earlier but since Fritz couldn’t make the ceremony in DC, Harry arranged for the medal to be presented to him in Palm Springs, CA. Several years ago, I had the good fortune to meet Fritz during the 100th Anniver- sary of Naval Avia on and he is a really great and interes ng person.
Born in Elmira, NY, he entered the Naval Acade- my in 1930 but due to the depression and other factors, he resigned in 1932. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1935 and joined the rst class of Marine cadets at NAS Pensacola, receiving his wings in1936. He joined VMF-2 at North Island in 1940 and a year later joined VMF -221 aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) ying Brew- ster Bu aloes. Payne said. “The only good thing a Brewster Bu alo could do was a slow roll”.
In September 1942, Payne was fying Wildcats from Guadalcanal on detached duty with VMF-223 when he had his rst victory, a half
By Chuck Sweeney and Harry Ziegler
score on a Japanese bomber followed by a solo victo- ry two weeks later. When his own squadron, VMF- 212, arrived in October, he added four more victories which were two bombers and a pair of Zeros, becom- ing a Wildcat Ace.
He departed Guadalca- nal in late October, served as CO of VMF-212 and then commanded Marine Air Group 3. He also ew F4Us and ADs in the 1st Marine Air
Wing during the Korean War. He later ew Sikorsky HRS helos while commanding Marine Aircra Group 36 in Tus n, CA. His awards include the Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with Combat V, Dis nguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with one silver star
Volume 15, Issue 2 - Summer
Fritz Payne, Americas Oldest Living Ace Joins the DFC Society
Ace Fritz Payne Holds his Congressional Gold Medal in front of a Wildcat at the Palm Springs Air Museum in California on Memorial Day 2015
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