ACE IN A DAY - FOR THE 2ND TIME!
October 24, 1944 - Leyte Gulf
[size=12][left]On June 19, 1944, during the "Marianas Turkey Shoot," Commander David S. McCampbell shot down seven Japanese aircraft, to become an "Ace in a day." On October 24, 1944, he repeated the feat, the only American airman to do so. McCampbell and his wingman, flying for VF-15, intercepted 60 IJA and IJN fighters headed for the U.S. fleet off Leyte in the Philippines. McCampbell shot down nine (two Oscars and seven Zekes) and his wingman knocked down six more, disrupting the attack on the fleet. His kill count set a single mission aerial combat record. When he landed his Grumman F6F Hellcat, his six machine guns had two rounds remaining and the plane had only enough fuel to keep it aloft for 10 more minutes. Commander McCampbell received the Medal of Honor for both actions, becoming the only fast carrier task force pilot to be so honored.
