My father’s friend, Willie Drier, arrived in the 8th Fighter Squadron in the Autumn of 1943. Willie spent about one year flying P-40s in New Guinea without achieving any aerial victories. Willie should have rotated back to the States after twelve months, but he was still in the 8th Fighter Squadron when Dad returned for his second tour in October 1944. Dad said, “…poor old Willie Drier was made commander…” Dad thought that Willie deserved a break back in the States.
Willie Drier became the 8th commander as the squadron was converting to P-38Js, and his score of aerial victories, was about to change. Willie scored his first kill very soon after the arrival of the 8th Fighter Squadron at Tacloban, Leyte Island, the Philippines. He followed that up with five more confirmed kills to become an Ace with six confirmed kills. An outstanding leader loved by his men; Willie had been promoted several times from first lieutenant to lieutenant colonel by the time the war ended.
Willie’s success flying P-38s in the Philippines versus P-40s in New Guinea begs the question: How many other P-40 pilots who spent their one year in combat flying P-40s in New Guinea without any aerial victories might have achieved several victories in other circumstances?