George Andrew Davis, Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Andrew Davis, Jr.
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| Nickname(s) | "Curly" "One Burst Davis" |
| Born | December 1, 1920 Dublin, Texas USA |
| Died | February 10, 1952 (aged 31) Sinuiju, North Korea |
| Place of burial |
Unknown
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| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942 – 1952 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel (posthumous) |
| Service number | 13035A |
| Unit | 342nd Fighter Squadron 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron 334th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron |
| Commands held | 334th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron |
| Battles/wars | World War II New Guinea Campaign Philippines Campaign Korean War "MiG Alley" |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Purple Heart Air Medal (10) Presidential Unit Citation (3) |
George Andrew Davis, Jr. (born December 1, 1920 – died February 10, 1952) was a very brave and skilled pilot from the United States. He was known as a "flying ace," which means he shot down many enemy aircraft in air battles. He fought in two major conflicts: World War II and the Korean War.
Davis became a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force. He was given the Medal of Honor, the highest military award in the U.S., after he died for his heroic actions during the Korean War. He was the only American flying ace to be killed in action during the Korean War.
George Davis was one of only seven U.S. pilots to become an ace in two different wars. He shot down a total of 21 enemy planes, making him one of only 31 U.S. pilots with more than 20 victories. He was also the fourth-highest scoring ace of the Korean War.
About George Davis
George Andrew Davis Jr. was born in Dublin, Texas, on December 1, 1920. He was one of nine children in his family. As a child, he lived for a short time in Maple, Texas.
He went to Morton High School and then attended Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas. After finishing college, he returned to Texas. He worked on a farm with his family for a while before deciding to join the military.
His Amazing Flying Skills
Throughout his career, George Davis was officially credited with shooting down 21 enemy planes. He also likely shot down one more and damaged two others. This incredible record made him one of the top 30 U.S. pilots with more than 20 confirmed victories.
Davis was known as an extremely talented pilot. He was especially good at "deflection shooting." This means he could accurately hit moving targets from far away, even when they were flying at an angle.
He became a World War II ace by shooting down seven planes during that war. Later, he became a Korean War ace with 14 more victories. When he died, he was the top-scoring American ace in the Korean War. By the end of the war, he was the fourth-highest scoring ace overall.
Related pages
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
Images for kids
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The P-47 Thunderbolt, the type of aircraft Davis flew during World War II
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Davis in the cockpit of his F-86 Sabre jet in South Korea during his 1952 tour in the war
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Zhang Jihui, the Chinese pilot who was one of two claiming to be responsible for Davis' death
