John C. "Pappy" Herbst

John C. "Pappy" Herbst (September 25, 1909 – July 4, 1946) was an American flying ace of World War II who was officially the second highest-scoring fighter pilot in the China Burma India Theater with 18 confirmed victories scored during 7 months with the 23d Fighter Group. The group commander, David Lee "Tex" Hill, called Herbst "one of the greatest fighter pilots I ever saw." That same year he earned a private pilot's license. He was married in the 1930s and fathered a son named Tommy in 1933. After graduating USC, Herbst studied law at night at Loyola Law School while working as a petroleum engineer during the day. As a flyer, he joined the Wings Club of New York City, and for business advancement he joined the California Club in Los Angeles. Hill thought Herbst was an excellent candidate for air combat in the China Burma India Theater (CBI), and determined to get the flyer transferred. However, Herbst was assigned to air combat intelligence duties in Washington, D.C. until February 1944 when Herbst's request for combat and Hill's request for Herbst were finally satisfied. Herbst shipped out on February 20, 1944, and disembarked onto Chinese soil on May 7.

Herbst scored his first USAAF aerial victory in an early P-51 Mustang. On his arrival in the CBI Theater, Herbst acquired the nickname "Pappy" because of his graying hair, his having a son in school, and his much greater age (34) relative to the other pilots. Herbst converted to P-40N-20 Warhawks as flown by the 74th and soon prevailed again in combat. On August 6 near Hengyang flying against Nakajima Ki-43s, he scored two more USAAF aerial victories to become an ace. The 74th transitioned to P-51C-7 Mustangs in August, and on September 3 Herbst shot down two Japanese aircraft that he reported as Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers but were probably Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" models instead. In his first three months of combat, Herbst completed the required 100 combat sorties and was from that time forward officially restricted to administrative flights. However, Herbst's idea of "administrative" flights was very broad and aggressive, including weather assessment and new pilot training in areas where Japanese aircraft were known to be operating. He flew as an "observer" on combat missions in which he scored against enemy aircraft. of Herbst's aerial victories were achieved during "administrative" flights.

On one such flight on September 5, 1944, Herbst was ferrying his Mustang fighter to a more sophisticated airfield in Liuliang, China, because the ejector chutes of three of its six machine guns were not working properly and needed expert attention.

After racking up 18 victories and 2 probables over Japanese aircraft, Herbst was promoted to lieutenant colonel in February 1945. On November 9, 1945, Herbst became the commander of 445th Flight Test Squadron based at March Field in Southern California.

Herbst led an aerobatic demonstration team equipped with Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars. In April 1946, Herbst and Robin Olds formed a jet aerobatics demonstration team, flying the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star under Herbst's leadership. The two pilots performed a coordinated routine that thrilled the crowds at every stop, including an appearance at Washington, D.C. Herbst named his P-80 "Jeanne" in honor of his bride-to-be.

At the age of 36, Herbst married for the second time on July 3, 1946, to Jeanne Eve Murphy, an actress from New York City. Flying in formation with Olds, Herbst crashed in a dry riverbed near the Del Mar Racetrack after his aircraft stalled during an encore of their routine finale in which the pair of P-80s did a loop while configured to land. Olds narrowly avoided the same fate.

Herbst's new wife witnessed the accident, as did his 13-year-old son Tommy. Both rushed to aid in the rescue, but Herbst died shortly after the accident in a nearby naval hospital. He is buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery.

Awards and decorations Herbst's decorations include:

Army Air Forces Pilot BadgeSilver StarDistinguished Flying Crosswith 3 bronze oak leaf clustersPurple HeartAir Medalwith 1 silver leaf clusterAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith 3 bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory Medal

Army Presidential Unit Citation