Herschel Green

Herschel Harper "Herky" Green (July 3, 1920 – August 16, 2006) was a World War II flying ace in the United States Army Air Forces.[1][2] Green was the leading ace of the Fifteenth Air Force, shooting down 18 enemy aircraft and destroying 10 more on the ground.

Herschel Green
Col. Green with his P-51 Mustang
Nickname(s)Herky
Born(1920-07-03)July 3, 1920
Mayfield, Kentucky
DiedAugust 16, 2006(2006-08-16) (aged 86)
Torrance, California
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1941–1964
RankColonel
Commands held4756th Air Defense Group
4th Fighter Group
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Purple Heart
Air Medal (26)
Croix de guerre (France)

Green was born in Mayfield, Kentucky.

325th Fighter Group
Checkertail P-51D Mustang of the 325th Fighter Group

Green flew in 1943 and 1944 in the North Africa and Italian campaigns with the 325th Fighter Group. By the end of 1944, he had flown 100 missions and received the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 25 Oak Leaf Clusters, Silver Star, and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.[3]

Memoir

He published his memoir Herky!: the Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace in 1996.[4][5] The "Checkertail" refers to the group's recognition markings. The tail of each aircraft was painted yellow with black squares. He died in Torrance, California, aged 86.

Notes
  1. "Green, Herschel Harper, Col". Togetherweserved.com. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  2. "Herschel Harper Green". Military Times. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  3. "World War II fighter ace Herschel Green dies at 86". The Mercury News. August 18, 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-23.
  4. Herschel H. Green (1996). Herky!: The Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace. Schiffer Pub. ISBN 978-0-7643-0073-8.
  5. Air Age Publishing June 2000 Review of Herky!: the Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace

References
  • Green, Herschel H. Herky! The Memoirs of a Checkertail Ace. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 1996 (republished in 2000). ISBN 0-7643-0073-3.
  • McDowell, Ernest R. Checkertails: The 325th Fighter Group in the Second World War. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1994. ISBN 0-89747-316-7.
  • McDowell, Ernest R. and William N. Hess. Checkertail Clan: The 325th Fighter Group in North Africa and Italy. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1969.
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