Louis Edward Curdes

Louis Edward "Lou" Curdes (November 2, 1919 – February 5, 1995) was an American flying ace of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II who held the unusual distinctions of scoring an official and intentional air-to-air kill against another American aircraft as well as shooting down at least one aircraft from each of the major Axis powers.

Curdes grew up having an interest in aviation and would later drop out of college to join the military to become a pilot on December 6, 1941, the day before the Attack on Pearl Harbor. He served in multiple campaigns of the Mediterranean theater and acquired several victories over enemy aircraft, becoming a Flying ace (meaning that he was confirmed to have shot down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat) in less than a month of combat. He was later shot down and became a Prisoner of war. He then escaped captivity twice and was recaptured twice and after his prison guards abandoned their posts, he spent about nine months in the enemy-held central Apennine Mountains. Curdes eventually returned home and then went back to combat. This time it would be late in the war in the Pacific theater where he would shoot down only two aircraft before the end of the war.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice (one for action in the Mediterranean theater and one for action in the Pacific theater), a Purple Heart, 14 Air Medals and the Prisoner of War Medal. He flew a Lockheed P-38 Lightning in both theaters and a North American P-51 Mustang only in the Pacific. Curdes named his first P-38 "Good Devil" and his P-51 "Bad Angel."

Curdes was one of only three American pilots to shoot down aircraft belonging to the German, Italian and Japanese air forces. The other two pilots were Lt. Col. Carl Payne and Maj. Gen. Levi R. Chase. In total, Curdes shot down seven German Messerschmitt Bf 109s, an Italian Macchi C.202 fighter, a Japanese Mitsubishi Ki-46 reconnaissance aircraft and an American Douglas C-47 Skytrain. After the war, Curdes flew Douglas C-54 Skymasters in a transport unit during the Berlin Airlift. Not long after he was essential in creating an Indiana Air National Guard unit, which in 1946 was federally recognized and is still active today. Curdes then joined the new United States Air Force and served on bases around the country and world until he retired after 22 years of service. After retiring he founded a construction company. Curdes died on February 5, 1995, at the age of 75, almost exactly 50 years after shooting down a C-47.

Early life Louis Edward Curdes was born on November 2, 1919, to Esther H. (née Kover) a former schoolteacher and Walter L. Curdes who worked in development and homebuilding real estate. He grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, during the great depression, with one sister. He graduated from North Side High School in 1938. Curdes played basketball and ran track in high school, but his coach caught him smoking so he was cut from the teams. He would also help maintain many of his father's rental properties.

Walter Curdes had an interest in aviation and had assisted Art Smith with repairing his aircraft. He would also take young Louis to air races at Smith Field, Cleveland and Georgia. When Curdes was eight or nine, he got a ride in a World War I Curtiss JN Jenny. Curdes' father also took him to see the building of the USS Akron and the USS Macon airships. Due to these experiences, young Louis developed a deep interest in aviation. Curdes first mission was on March 23, 1943, near Cape Bon, Tunisia. He engaged multiple Messerschmitt Bf 109s of the Jagdgeschwader 27 and was able to shoot down three and damaged a fourth. He had such a shortage of fuel after this engagement that he had to force a landing in a dry riverbed and wait for the Army to bring him fuel and Marston Mat to create a temporary runway. In August, he was awarded his first Distinguished Flying Cross.

Distinguished Flying Cross citation The Distinguished Flying Cross medalPlace and date: North African Theater of operations, April 29, 1943. General Orders: Headquarters, Northwest African Air Forces, General Orders No. 128 (June 30, 1943).

Citation: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Louis Edward Curdes (ASN: 0-733836), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as pilot of a P-38 type aircraft of the 95th Fighter Squadron, 82d Fighter Group, FIFTEENTH Air Force in the North African Theater of Operations. On April 29, 1943, on a skip-bombing mission in the Sicilian Straits, Lieutenant Curdes' formation was attacked by twelve enemy fighters. Despite the fact that he had been unable to release his bomb, Lieutenant Curdes turned to attack, destroying one ME-109 and damaging another. Sighting two ME-109s attacking a crippled P-38, he unhesitatingly attacked and destroyed both of them and escorted the damaged aircraft to friendly territory. His consistent gallantry and devotion to duty have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Curdes' final score at the wars end would be 9 kills and 2 damaged, which made him the second-highest scoring ace of the 82nd fighter group. During that summer of 1943, Curdes flew 44 combat missions, totaling 200 hours.

Curdes later flew the P-38 Lightning again with the 49th Fighter Group at Gabu Airfield in Laoag, Philippines, from where he attacked Japanese positions in northern Luzon and Okinawa until the end of the war. Louis Curdes died on February 5, 1995, at the age of 75, almost exactly 50 years after shooting down a C-47. He was laid to rest at Lindenwood Cemetery in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was survived by his wife of 48 years, Svetlana Curdes, who later died at the age of 87 on October 10, 2013.

After Curdes' death in 1995, Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind) told the 104th United States Congress: "It is with great respect that I call to my colleagues’ attention the contributions Louis Curdes made to his country. He is truly an example and inspiration for all who follow him."

Awards and decorations Lieutenant Colonel Curdes received the following awards:

Lieutenant Colonel Curdes was also awarded a U.S. Army Distinguished Unit Citation ribbon with one oak leaf cluster and he was given a Certificate of Valor by General Nathan F. Twining.