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The Final Ace in a Day of World War II....
On 13 August 1945, 1st Lt. Oscar Perdomo, flying the Republic P-47N Thunderbolt long-range fighter,
shot down four Nakajima “Frank” fighters and one Yokosuka Type 93 biplane trainer. This action took
place near Keijo/Seoul, Korea when 38 Thunderbolts of the 507th Fighter Wing, USAAF, encountered
approximately 50 enemy aircraft. This action was Lt. Perdomo's tenth amd last combat mission, and the
five confirmed victories made him an “Ace in a Day”. Lt. Perdomo also achieved the distinction of being
the last “Ace” of World War II.
For his personal actions during the 13 August 1945 combat, 1st Lt. Perdomo received the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster
and the Distinguished Flying Cross, for extraordinary heroism in action, making him one of the highest decorated
Hispanic “aces” in the history of air warfare.
Oscar Francis Perdomo was born in El Paso, Texas. He was the first of five children. His father had been an officer in
General Francisco Pancho Villa's Division del Norte during the Mexican Revolution.
Perdomo entered flight training as an Aviation Cadet in Class 44-A in February 1943. He received his wings from the AAF
Pilot School, Williams Field, Chandler, Arizona on January 7, 1944. Lt. Perdomo attended Basic Flight School at Chico, California. After
further training as an instructor, he was assigned to the 464th Fighter Squadron which was part of the newly formed 507th
Fighter Wing.
After intensive training between April and June, 1945, the 507th Fighter Wing was transferred to the island of Le Shima
off the west coast of Okinawa. The primary mission of the 507th was to provide fighter cover to 8th Air Force Boeing B-29's
which were to be stationed on Okinawa.
1st Lt. Perdomo served in the USAF until January 1950. He was in the Air Force Reserve until he was recalled to
active duty with the rank of Captain on January 30, 1952 due to the Korean conflict. He remained in the active Air
Force until January 30, 1958, when he left the service with the rank of Major. Oscar Perdomo passed away on March 2, 1976
at USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, California at the age of 56.
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