air. The American side claimed 31 aerial victories and one of them was a Zero bagged by Fiedler 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Cape Esperance – his third victory.

Four days later, an Australian coast watcher on Vella Lavella radioed that 38 Zeros followed by another 30 Zeros escorting 50 Aichi D3A Type 99 “Val” dive-bombers were on their way at noon from the north-west to attack U.S. Navy transports off Guadalcanal. This was a remarkably strong Japanese bid, and the transports were virtually naked to attack.

William F. Fiedler went into the history books as the only American air ace to rack up five aerial victories in the P-39 Airacobra. It is unclear how much time he had to enjoy the unique status he still holds today in theannals of Air Force history. Sadly, he was killed two weeks later, on June 30, 1943, when his Airacobra was hit by a P-38 Lightning while waiting to take off.

Six P-39s were the last aircraft to take off. They’d been held in reserve to meet a threat to the transports, which had now materialized. Fiedler shot down two “Vals,” the second with his 37 mm nose cannon inoperable, using only his four small .30-caliber (7.62 mm) wing guns. Altogether, American fighter pilots claimed 97 Japanese aircraft against a loss of five friendly aircraft. William F. Fiedler went into the history books as the only American air ace to rack up five aerial victories in the P-39 Airacobra. It is unclear how much time he had to enjoy the