George Schwartz Welch (May 10, 1918 – October 12, 1954) was a World War II triple ace, a Distinguished Service Cross recipient, and an experimental aircraft pilot after the war. Welch is best known for having been one of the few United States Army Air Corps fighter pilots able to get airborne to engage Japanese forces in the attack on Pearl ...

George Welch was the first American Air Force pilot to shoot down a Japanese airplane in the Pacific. He continued to serve throughout the war, becoming a U.S. Army Air Forces...

Nov 28, 2016 · During the attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. pilots George Welch and Kenneth Taylor managed to get airborne under fire—twice—and shot down at least six Japanese planes between them.

Welch became the chief test pilot for North American Aviation (NAA). He flew new aircraft including the like P-82B, P-82E and F-86. On October 1, 1947 flying the XP-86 Sabre prototype over the desert in California and claimed he broke the sound barrier flying at Mach 1 several weeks before Chuck Yeager.

Sep 30, 2016 · Test pilot and retired Army Air Forces Major George Welch dove a prototype North American F-86 Sabre jet past Mach 1 two weeks before the official “in level flight” record of the experimental Bell X-1.

George Welch was born on May 10, 1918, in Wilmington, Delaware. He entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps in October 1939, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on October 4, 1940.

George Welch was the first American Army Air Forces pilot to shoot down a Japanese airplane in the Pacific. Mach 1 Claim In the spring of 1944, now-Major Welch was approached by North American Aviation to become a company test pilot.

George Welch was the first American Air Force pilot to shoot down a Japanese airplane in the Pacific. He continued to serve throughout the war, becoming a U.S. Army Air Forces...

Oct 27, 2023 · George Schwartz Welch (May 10, 1918 – October 12, 1954) was a World War II flying ace, a Medal of Honor nominee, and an experimental aircraft pilot after the war.

Mar 3, 2024 · George Schwartz Welch (May 18, 1918 – October 12, 1954) was a World War II flying ace, a Medal of Honor nominee, and an experimental aircraft pilot after the war. Many people contest that Welch verifiably broke the sound barrier one week before Chuck Yeager in his prototype P-86 Sabre.