Good find, Kruel.
I remember when it came out on tv. He told me they misquoted him. When he said, "These guys were GOOD," he was actually referring to a different mission (referenced below) than the one they portrayed on the show.
Interestingly enough, his Medal of Honor nomination included a mission in which he and his wingman engaged about twenty Zeroes by themselves. (The high cover wound up losing sight of Alex and the planes they were escorting, so that's why they were alone.) Their courageous actions allowed the dive bombers to get through and sink a Japanese carrier. They got two before his wingman got hit. He didn't make it.
So it was now 18:1. Eventually, Vraciu got bracketed and had to dive away--it was an uncomfortable feeling being out of options he said.
At least that's how I recall it. (If I have details mixed up I apologize in advance. He fought a lot of hair raising engagements, usually outnumbered.)
