Colonel Neel E. Kearby

Neel Ernest Kearby served as a colonel in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He was the pilot of the P-47 Thunderbolt during the second world war. His actions and combat skills earned him the most prestigious military decoration in America, the Medal of Honor.

He happens to be the first fighter from the United States Army Air Forces to have received the honor. As per reports, Kearby had 22 aerial victories to his credit and was considered to be the top-scoring P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in the Pacific Theater, Among other honors, he received the Silver Star twice, the Air Medal five times, the Distinguished Flying Cross four times, the Purple Heart once.

His years of service in the military spanned 1937 and 1944. Kearby died in 1944 at the age of 32. That was indeed a pretty young age to lose his life. He is remembered fondly for his contributions.