The “Flying Undertaker”, a P-51 Mustang variant, was flown by Major William ‘Bill’ A. Shomo from the U.S Air Force. Captain Shomo was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations with the 5th Air Force, 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. On January 11 1945, flying a typical recon mission north of Luzon, Capt. Shomo spotted a formation of Japanese planes; one Betty bomber that was being escorted by a squadron of fighters 11 Tonys and one Tojo. On their first pass through the formation, Shomo and wingman Lipscomb had the advantage of surprise, and Shomo shot down four Tonys and the Betty. Shomo made a second diving pass, nailing two more Tonys with a short burst, for a total of seven victories.
In less than six minutes, Bill Shomo had become an ace, the ultimate goal of every fighter pilot. On April 1 1945, William A. Shomo, by then a major, was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack against heavy odds and destroying seven enemy aircraft. Only one other USAAF pilot, Bill Leverette in the MTO, scored that many confirmed victories in a single mission.
P-51D-20NA 44-72505
"the Flying Undertaker"
82nd TRS, 71st TRG
