49th FG Ace Capt. Robert Dehaven Passes Away

[Jester]

A WW II fighter Ace who shot down 10 planes in one day, Capt. Robert M. DeHaven, has died at a hospital in Encino, Calif. at the age of 86.

DeHaven was born in San Diego and jointed the Army Air Force in 1942. Assigned to fly a P-40 for the 7th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group stationed in New Guinea, he shot down 10 Japanese planes on Dec. 10, 1943 in offensives over several islands. Then within seven days in late October 1944, flying a P-38, he flamed four more enemy planes over the Philippines and was credited with one more damaged.

He was awarded several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with 13 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Presidential Unit Citation with one OLC,

He was also awarded the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster after he saved a fellow pilot whose plane was surrounded by Japanese fighters, according to the American Fighter Aces Association.

Because of his good looks, he was offered several movie roles after the war, but gave it up to become Howard Hughes personal pilot, and a test pilot for Hughes Aircraft. He later became director of the flight test division, retiring in the 1980s.

He was a former president of the American Fighter Aces Association.

(c.o. 475FG Salvan)



<SHARP SALUTE!>   
Gone but not Forgotten by those that keep the Colors Flying. Blue Skies Capt. DeHaven.




http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-dehaven19-2008jul19,0,7852947.story
http://www.landings.com/evird.acgi$pass*105533952!_h-www.landings.com/_landings/pacflyer/aug4-2008/An-82-fighter-pilot-dies.html

[angelsandair]

 

[DrDea]

 

[Hangtime]

"After training I requested duty in the Pacific and I requested being posted to a P-40 squadron and both wishes were granted. This was early in 1943 and most pilots already desired more advanced types and some thought my decision a mistake. Yet I had been inspired by the deeds of the Flying Tigers. We had also heard accounts that the P-38 was difficult to bail out of because of its twin-boom tail and that it was difficult when flying with one engine. I also knew that P-38s were still rare in the theater and I wanted to get into the war as soon as possible. That wish, too, was granted. I never regretted the choice.

If you flew wisely, the P-40 was a very capable aircraft. In many conditions, it could outturn a P-38, a fact that some pilots didn't realize when they made the transition between the two aircraft. The P-40 kept me alive and allowed me to accomplish my mission. The real problem with it was lack of range. As we pushed the Japanese back, P-40 pilots were slowly left out of the war. So when I moved to P-38s, an excellent aircraft, I did so not because I believed that the P-40 was an inferior fighter, but because I knew the P-38 would allow us to reach the enemy. I was a fighter pilot and that was what I was supposed to do."



Lt Robert M. DeHaven, 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, leaves Cape Moem with his P-40N at maximum throttle during a ferocious air battle over the Japanese airfields of the wewak base complex on the north coast of New Guinea, 23 January, 1944. It is believed that Capt. Shigeo Nango, executive officer of the 59th Sentai, a 15 victory ace and one of the most outstanding fighter pilot in the theater, fell victim to DeHaven, this Ki-43 "Oscar" was Dehaven's eighth confirmed victory, a score which ultimately reached fourteen.


Sounds like an outstanding fighter pilot.

<S!>

[icemaw]

 

[Maverick]

Fair skies and tail winds forever Cpt. DeHaven.

 

[Yossarian]

God bless you and thank you sir.

<S>

[Captfish]

 

[Redlegs]

 

[lyric1]

Very sad as they are slowly slipping away from us.

[JVboob]

I am currently researching info on his plane. to submit for a skin. The 7th FS isnt represented and his plane looked really nice. silver livery with blue tail and the screaming demon occupining the tail. does anyone have any info on his bird?

[Guppy35]

I am currently researching info on his plane. to submit for a skin. The 7th FS isnt represented and his plane looked really nice. silver livery with blue tail and the screaming demon occupining the tail. does anyone have any info on his bird?

Oboe did that skin at one point.  It may have even been in game for a time.

His 38 was a P-38L-5

[Widewing]

DeHaven passed in 2008.... He did not shoot down 10 planes in one day. It took him almost a year to get to 10, all in a P-40.

[JVboob]

wide wing is correct 10 of his 14 were in the P40.

And I want that skin in game!! along with the J model that had the blue tail with the bunyap in it