ONE BAD ANGEL!

[BEAST]

What happeneds to an American pilot who intentially shoots down another American plane? How about awarding him a DFC?

 

Much of the following was published in the most recent copy of the AAMUC "FOOTLOCKER"

 

Louis E. Curdes was born on November 2, 1919, in Fort Wayne, Indiana In December 1942, after 2 ½ years of study at Purdue University, he enlisted into the Army Air Force. All of his training was in California, completing Advanced at Luke Field. He arrived in Europe in March 1943 and on April 17th was assigned to the 95th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force, flying P-38s. On April 29th, he downed three Me-109s (plus one damaged) on his first mission and knocked down two more 109s on May 19th. The nose of his P-38 now carried the markings for five “kills”, making him an Ace in a little more than his first month of combat. He continued to increase the tally; on June 24 he brought down an Italian Mc.202 over Golfo Aranci, Sardinia, and damaged a Me-109 on July 30 at Pratice di Mare, Italy. In August, he was awarded his first Distinguished Flying Cross.

 

On August 27th, he shot down another 109, but noticed a P-38 pilot under attack. As he went in to assist, he engaged and destroyed another Me 109. However his aircraft suffered serious damage and he crash-landed on the Italian coast approximately ten miles south of Salerno.

 

He was captured, escaped and returned to the Allied lines on May 27, 1944 and was sent back to Fort Wayne for leave. For his mission on August 27th, he was awarded thirteenth and fourteenth oak-leaf cluster to his Air Medal and the Purple Heart. While back in the United States, he volunteered for another combat tour and was assigned to the 4th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Air Commando flying P-51s in the Pacific Theatre.

 

After five months in the States, Curdes left for the Pacific Theatre arriving November 19. 1944. The mission of the 3rd Air Commando Group was to attack Japanese airfields and installations in the Philippines, support ground forces on Luzon, provide escort for missions to Formosa and the China coast, make raids on airfields and railways on Formosa, and furnish cover for convoys. Also transport personnel, drop supplies to ground troops and guerrilla forces, evacuate casualties from front-line strips, adjust artillery fire, and fly courier and mail routes.

 

On February 7, 1945, he shot down a Ki-46 “Dinah” while flying a P-51D thirty miles SW of Formosa. This feat made him one of three aces to have shot down enemy aircraft of all three Axis Powers.

 

February 10th was a day that truly set 1LT Curdes apart from all other Airmen. Curdes led a flight of four P-51s from a field at Mangaldan in Central Luzon to perform reconnaissance of the southern tip of Formosa. Their mission was to locate a small temporary airfield being used by the Japanese. Finding nothing there, they continued on to the northernmost of the Bataan Islands. Curdes and his wingman, Lt. Schmidtke flew over the northern half and the two other P-51s flown by Lieutenants. Scalley and La Croix took the southern half.

 

Suddenly Scalley called out that they were attacking a small field on Bataan Island and Curdes and Schmidtke joined them. La Croix’s aircraft was hit and he had to bail out. Curdes saw La Croix’s parachute open as his Mustang went into the water. La Croix climbed into a little rubber dingy that was part of the parachute pack. Curdes ordered Sculley back to base in order to get another flight out to provide cover for La Croix. Also Sculley was to see if a rescue PBY amphibian aircraft stationed at Linguyan was available. He told Schmidtke to climb to 15,000 feet and broadcast a “Mayday” and to provide cover for Curdes. Curdes would stay low to make sure that the Japanese didn’t try anything. Curdes made another strafing run on the airfield

 

When he pulled up, he saw a twin engine aircraft heading for Japanese held territory. Although it looked like a C-47, he wasn’t sure that it wasn’t a Japanese copy of a DC-2. He closed in and saw the American insignia on the aircraft. He attempted to contact the pilot of the aircraft using various VHF frequencies, but received no reply. The aircraft now went into its final approach glide to land on the strip below. Curdes dove in front of the aircraft three times to try and spoil the C-47s landing, but the pilot continued to try and land. Curdes fired a burst of machine gun fire across the nose of the aircraft, but the transport pilot ignored it. Finally Curdes decided that he would force the transport to ditch into the ocean.

 

Closing to within approximately twenty yards, he shot out the right engine, then the left. The plane hit the water and came to a stop with 50 yards from La Croix’s raft. Two large rubber dingies inflated and twelve personnel including two women climbed in. Curdes flew above the rafts and dropped a note that said “For God’s sake, keep away from shore. Japs there.” After seeing that they were safe, Curdes returned to flying protective cover. La Croix paddled over to the two dingies and tied them together.

 

The pilot of the transport became lost in bad weather, his radio had gone out and his fuel gauge read empty when he had sighted the landing field on Bataan. La Croix explained the situation to them.

 

Curdes continued to fly cover until four more Mustangs arrived to replace him and Schmidtke. A PBY came out at dawn the next morning to rescue La Croix and the others. After Curdes returned to base, he was in for a shock when he saw the names of the survivors of the transport. One of the nurses aboard that plane was the very same nurse that he had a date with the night before!

 

General George Kenney, Commander of the Fifth Air Force awarded Curdes with his second Distinguished Flying Cross. On Curdes P-51 the “Bad Angel”, he now added a Japanese flag indicating the downing of the “Dinah” and an American Flag for the transport.

 

Lou Curdes returned back to the US in July 1945 and was discharged in September of 1946. Curdes’ post-WWII Summary of Military Occupations may best sum up his wartime experience.

 

“FIGTHER PILOT, TWIN ENGINE, AND SINGLE ENGINE: Operated P-38 and P-51 fighter aircraft to obtain air superiority over enemy in order to free other combat units to carry out their missions. Was responsible for efficient maintenance and operation of aircraft. Was proficient in pilotage and dead reckoning navigation, radio operation, instrument flying, fixed aerial gunnery, meteorology and general and local flying regulations. Completed 105 combat missions in the European Theater and Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operation with the 12th, 15th and 5th Air Forces. Has 394 combat hours, total flight time 856 hours. Shot down 27 August 1943 by German Fighter aircraft. Escaped after capture, recaptured, escaped again, spent 81/2 months evading before rejoining own outfit. Rejoined “outfit” 27 May 1944.”

 

Upon discharge, he joined the local Air National Guard unit at Baer Field and remained with them until 1948. He then returned to active duty serving in various assignments and participating in the Berlin Airlift. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel on November 1, 1963.

 

Perhaps the best tribute to the life and service of Louis Curdes came after his death in 1995. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar read the following on the floor of the Senate: “Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to the outstanding life and service of Louis E. Curdes. Mr. Curdes, who recently passed away at his home in Fort Wayne, IN, served his country with honor, and was a recognized hero of World War II.

Mr. Curdes demonstrated his skill and valor during his first 2 weeks as a fighter pilot in World War II, when he shot down a total of five German planes to become a flying ace. Several months later, when his plane was damaged in fighting, he was forced down in Italy and spent months in war prisons, until his eventual escape and walk to freedom.

Late in the war, Louis Curdes saw action in the South Pacific. He shot down aircraft from Japan and Italy, as well as Germany. Two of the Italian aircraft he shot down are displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

In 1963, Mr. Curdes retired as a lieutenant colonel after 22 years of service in the U.S. Air Force. He earned numerous medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and Air Medals. Upon his retirement, he began Curdes Builders Co., and devoted his life to his family and work in Fort Wayne, IN.

Mr. President, it is with great respect that I call to my colleagues' attention the contributions Louis Curdes made to his country. He is truly an example and inspiration for all who follow him.”

 

This is his post war coat:

 

 

Tokyo label:

 

[BEAST]

His ribbons:

 

 

Copy of his file photo:

[BEAST]

Photo of Curdes' with his aircraft showing all of his kills.

 

[BEAST]

Nose art of Curdes' P-38

[teufelhunde.ret]

GREAT story... thank you for preserving and sharing this with us!

[APO472]

Amazing story. Thanks for sharing this.

[The Meatcan]

holy cow! that is an incredible story.

[CNY Militaria]

Fantastic story and uniform with amazing history, thanks!

Justin

[BEAST]

Thanks for the kind words. One other thing that I have that can't be shown (wouldn't do much good) is an audio interview of Curdes done in the 1980s which includes a recording of a wartime radio show where he retells the story! It's interesting to be able to hear him describe the event in his own words less than a year after it occured.

[bobgee]

Wonderful aviation story. Great uniform. An American Hero! Thanks for posting! Bobgee

[BEAST]

Just ran across this. Curdes was also involved in an Operation Blue Book UFO investigation. Here is an excerpt from the report:

 

[Cobrahistorian]

The Pima Air Museum just finished their "new build" P-51D and have painted it in LTC Curdes' markings. Awesome story!

 

Jon

[BigJohn#3RD]

Awesome Story :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Regards

John

[Misanthropic_Gods]

Outstanding, thanks for posting this up!

[army pilot_1967]

That is simply an amazing war story. I had never heard of LT Curdes or his accomplishments...and I wonder why since he distinguished himself in several ways: shooting down at least one aircraft from each of the three Axis powers and shooting down an American C-47 (and not getting court martialed for it). Wow! What a story. While undergoing an in-country OH-6 transition in Vietnam, I had an instructor pilot accused me of trying to shoot down some Hueys, but that's an entirely different story. Hahahahahaaaaaa. And, no, I wasn't trying to shoot the Hueys out of the sky.

[BEAST]

Just ran across another image of Curdes' P-51 on FOLD3, so I thought I add it to the thread.

 

[automatic]

Awesome story, great uniform! Thanks for sharing!

[BILL THE PATCH]

Incredible, !

[Garandomatic]

Incredible!

[Matthew1945]

Amazing story, thanks for sharing!