Perry J. Dahl

Perry John Dahl (18 February 1923 – 2 December 2024) was a United States Air Force colonel and a flying ace, who was credited in destroying nine enemy aircraft in aerial combat during World War II.

Early life Born on 18 February 1923, in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, Dahl and his family emigrated to the United States, where they settled in Seattle, Washington. He attended three years of high school before enlisting in the military.

Military career On 17 June 1940, Dahl enlisted in the Washington National Guard. He completed his training and was assigned to the 41st Infantry Division. On 7 December 1941, Japan attacked the American military bases at Pearl Harbor. Dahl entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on 26 September 1942. On 22 June 1943, he was awarded his pilot wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Williams Field in Arizona.

World War II After he completed his training with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Dahl was assigned to the 55th Fighter Group (FG) at Tumwater, Washington. In October 1943, he was sent to the South West Pacific theatre where he was assigned to the 432d Fighter Squadron of the 475th Fighter Group at Dobodura Airfield in New Guinea.

Flying in his first mission on 9 November 1943, and piloting a P-38 Lightning while escorting A-20 Havocs and B-25 Mitchells on a strike against a Japanese airfield in Alexishafen, Dahl scored his first aerial victory when he shot down a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero". On 22 December 1943 and on 23 January 1944, he shot down Zeros over Wewak, his second and third aerial victories. On 24 February, Dahl took off from Nadzab on a mission against the Japanese-held Momote Airfield. Due to bad weather, he was forced to turn back from the mission and was diverted to an airfield in Cape Gloucester; while Dahl was landing his P-38, he collided with a B-24 Liberator on the runway.

In April 1944, Dahl was promoted to the rank of captain and became operations officer of the 475th Fighter Group. On 3 April, during a mission over Hollandia, Dutch East Indies, he shot down a Zero and a Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar", bringing his total to five aerial victories and thus earning for himself the title of flying ace. He shot down another Oscar, his sixth aerial victory, on 8 June. The 475th FG moved to the Philippines in October 1944 and was stationed at San Pablo Airfield in Leyte during the Philippines campaign. On 10 November 1944—while Dahl was escorting B-25s that were attacking Japanese shipping at Ormoc Bay—an eastbound formation of Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tonys" intercepted Dahl's P-38 squadron. The P-38s made a first pass and Dahl shot down one of the Tonys, for his seventh aerial victory. As Dahl banked his P-38 for a second pass, it collided with a P-38 flown by 2nd Lt. Grady Laseter Jr. After the two planes had struck each other, Dahl ditched his P-38 in Ormoc Bay, while Laseter—who did not bail out in time—was killed when his plane crashed into the sea. Dahl was captured by a Japanese Army patrol; later he was rescued by the Philippine resistance who kept him hidden till his return to American lines on 10 December.

During World War II, Dahl flew in 158 combat missions, and he destroyed nine enemy aircraft in aerial combat. During his time in service with the 475th FG, one of his P-38s bore the nickname Skidoo.

In 2015, he along with other flying aces received the Congressional Gold Medal, in recognition of "their heroic military service and defense of the country's freedom throughout the history of aviation warfare".

On 18 February 2023, Dahl turned 100. He died at his home in Tampa, Florida on 2 December 2024, at the age of 101.

Awards and decorations

United States Air Force Command Pilot BadgeSilver StarLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying CrossBronze StarPurple HeartMeritorious Service Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Medalwith three silver oak leaf clustersAir Force Commendation MedalAir Force Presidential Unit Citationwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Outstanding Unit AwardArmy Good Conduct MedalAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith silver campaign starWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medalwith service starVietnam Service Medalwith silver campaign starAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith silver and bronze oak leaf clusterArmed Forces Reserve MedalSmall Arms Expert Marksmanship RibbonPhilippine Liberation Medalwith service starPhilippine Independence MedalPhilippine Presidential Unit CitationRepublic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit CitationVietnam Campaign Medal

Silver Star citation

Dahl, Perry J. Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces 432d Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, Far East Air Forces Date of Action: 28 March 1945

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