International: The Navy's First Ace

• Share

Naval Lieut. Guy P. Bordelon, now 31, spent eleven years waiting for a crack at enemy planes. He got his wings in World War II, but, as he says, "when the war ended, I had seen one Japanese aircraft— one they showed us back in flight-training days." In Korea, enemy aircraft seemed as far away as ever: Bordelon was assigned to a prop-driven F-4U Corsair— no match for a MIG-15—and set about the essential but dull task of attacking Communist supply lines.

Last month at last, Aviator Bordelon got his chance. Nearly every night, singleengine, Russian-made airplanes were sneaking across U.N. lines, dropping small bombs on Seoul and Kimpo airfields. Against these bothersome "Bedcheck Charlies," high-speed jets were helpless: they could not turn tightly enough to draw a bead on ancient trainers and biplanes. The Air Force called for Navy help, and up flew Lieut. Bordelon in his World War II vintage Corsair.

Last week Guy Bordelon shot down his fifth "Bedcheck Charley" and became the Navy's first ace of the Korean war. Gratefully, the Navy gave him the Navy Cross.