Frederick R. Payne Jr.
United States Marine Corps general and fighter ace (1911–2015)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frederick Rounsville Payne Jr. (July 31, 1911 – August 6, 2015) was a World War II Ace[1] and a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps. Payne was awarded the Navy Cross for service with VMF-212.[1]
Frederick R. Payne Jr. | |
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| Born | July 31, 1911 Elmira, New York, United States |
| Died | August 6, 2015 (aged 104) Rancho Mirage, California, United States |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
Branch | United States Marine Corps |
Service years | 1935–1958 |
Rank | Brigadier general |
| Nickname | Fritz |
Conflicts | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | |
| Other work | Southern California Edison (1958–1976) |
Education
He attended the United States Naval Academy from 1930 to 1932 and subsequently graduated from the University of Arizona in 1935.[1][2][3][4]
Career
Payne was awarded the Navy Cross for service with VMF-212 on Guadalcanal between September and October 1942, shooting down six Japanese airplanes.[1] After the war, he continued his service with U.S. Marines and fought in the Korean war until he retired from U.S. Marines in 1958. In his post-military career, Payne helped plan the construction of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, He retired from Southern California Edison in 1976. He was also honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in May 2015. Payne died six days after his 104th birthday on August 6, 2015, at Rancho Mirage, California; at the time of his death he was the oldest living former fighter ace.[5]
Awards
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| Naval Aviator Badge | ||
| Navy Cross | Legion of Merit w/ Combat "V" |
Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Air Medal w/ 5⁄16" silver star |
Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3⁄16" bronze star |
Navy Unit Commendation |
| American Defense Service Medal w/ fleet clasp |
American Campaign Medal | Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal w/ one 3⁄16" silver star and two 3⁄16 bronze stars |
| World War II Victory Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Korean Service Medal w/ two 3⁄16 bronze stars |
| Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | United Nations Service Medal Korea | Korean War Service Medal (retroactive) |
- Congressional Gold Medal (2015)[6]
Navy Cross citation
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Major Frederick Rounsville Payne, Jr., United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Fighting Squadron TWO HUNDRED TWELVE (VMF-212), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat against enemy Japanese forces over Guadalcanal, in the Solomons Islands Area during September and October 1942. Throughout that strenuous period when the island airfield was under constant bombardment and our precarious ground positions were menaced by the desperate counter thrusts of a fanatical foe, Major Payne repeatedly patrolled hostile territory and intercepted enemy bombing flights. With bold determination and courageous disregard of personal safety, he pressed home numerous attacks against heavily escorted waves of invading bombers and, in five vigorous fights against tremendous odds, shot down a total of six Japanese planes. His superb flying skill and dauntless initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Personal
He came from a military family: his father served in the Spanish–American War after graduating from the United States Naval Academy and World War I. He was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and he also attended the Naval Academy. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and became a pilot. He was married to Dorothy and had three children: Son, Robert Payne, Son, Dewitt, and daughter, Ann Wilson Payne.[7]