Neel E. Kearby

NEEL E. KEARBY (1911 ~ 1944). Medal of Honor Recipient Neel Kearby was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, on June 5, 1911, and grew up in Mineral Wells and Arlington, where he graduated from Arlington High School in 1928. Kearby graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1937.  Upon his graduation, he received flight training at Randolph Field in San Antonio.

By 1943, Kearby was a Lieutenant Colonel in charge of the 348th Fighter Group, which consisted of P-47 Thunderbolts. The P-47 was thought to be too large to win against the highly maneuverable Japanese fighters, but Kearby, bringing the first P-47s to the Pacific in June 1943, was ready to prove the aircraft's abilities.

Many in the military felt that Kearby (age 32) was too old to be a fighter pilot, yet in about a month of combat he had eight enemy kills and had sworn to become the leading ace pilot in the Pacific. On October 11, 1943, Kearby led a group of four fighters in New Guinea out on patrol to scout enemy numbers and positions. After observing several targets and personally downing one enemy fighter, Kearby's group came upon 36 enemy fighters escorting twelve bombers. Despite being numerically overwhelmed, Kearby ordered a diving attack on the formation. Kearby himself shot down three aircraft on his first pass through the formation and clocked his dive at well over 400 miles per hour. He ordered a retreat to high altitude, but saw one of his planes pursued by two enemy fighters. Kearby dove into an attack on one and then the other enemy planes, downing them both. Running low on ammunition, Kearby had to dive into a patch of clouds to shake his pursuers, emerging to find all enemy planes gone from the area. Returning home with his group intact, Kearby had made six enemy kills.  At the time, Kearby set an American record for flying aces.  As a result, Kearby was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Colonel Kearby was transferred to the staff of the Fifth Air Force Fighter Command. However, Kearby agreed to take the desk job on one condition. He would continue to participate in air combat with whatever squadron he was visiting in his new administrative role.  His new role allowed him the opportunity to compete with rival ace pilot Dick Bong in accruing the greatest number of kills in the Pacific.  Kearby continued to fly and win victories against great odds. By February 1944, he and Captain Bong were tied with a score of 21 kills.

While leading a 3 plane patrol on March 5, 1944, Colonel Kearby sighted three enemy bombers preparing to land. He dove into attack, shot down one bomber, but failed to see three enemy fighters closing in on his patrol from above and behind. His wingmen were able to kill two, but the third fired on Kearby's plane at close range. Kearby's Thunderbolt crashed into the New Guinea jungle.

Colonel Kearby’s remains were not immediately recovered.  In 1949, Kearby’s remains were recovered and returned to Texas.  He was buried with full military honors at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Dallas.  Colonel Kearby was laid to rest next to his brother, Major John Gallatin Kearby, III (U.S. Army). 

Bibliography: "Above and Beyond: The Medal of Honor in Texas," Capitol Visitors Center, State Preservation Board of Texas. Ace Pilots.com, http://acepilots.com/usaaf_kearby.html, October 10, 2005. Dallas Morning News: November 12, 1959. Handbook of Texas Online, Texas State Historical Association, University of Texas, http://tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/KK/fkevv.html, September 26, 2005. Hucker, Robert. "Neel Kearby- Thunderbolt Ace," Air Classics, July, 1979. San Antonio Express: March 16, 1944.