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Commander Dean "Diz" Laird is the only U.S. Navy "ace" pilot to have shot down enemy aircraft in both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II.
One week after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on January 2, 1942, Laird drove to San Francisco to enlist. Laird entered the U.S. Navy cadet program. On August 11, 1942, he became a commissioned officer. In NAS Miami, Florida, on October 21, 1942, he became a Naval Aviator. Laird shot down 5.75 enemy aircraft in combat and he damaged an additional plane. Two of his victories were German planes: A Ju-88 and a He-115 in October 1943 near Norway. The other victories were Japanese planes so Laird has the distinction of being the only Navy ace to have scored air victories against both Germany and Japan. He flew F4F Wildcat and then F6Fs and was assigned from November 1942 to March 1943, to the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-4). From November 1944 to March 1945 he was assigned to the USS Essex (CV-9).
In December 1944, Laird was almost shot down. His F6F Hellcat was riddled with bullets over the Philippines, but he was able to pilot the plane back to the USS Essex which was 250 miles away. His landing gear did not work and Laird landed the plane skidding on its bottom across the runway of the aircraft carrier USS Essex.
He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions on February 7, 1945. Laird was escorting bomber planes which were attacking heavily defended Japanese aircraft engine factories. He shot down two Japanese planes during that mission near Tokyo, Japan.
Interview recorded in 2017.
Commander Laird passed away on August 10th, 2022.
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