Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The man believed to be the last surviving World War II official American ace naval fighter pilot has died at age 103.
Described in his legacy.com page as a compassionate and humble soul, Don McPherson, of Nebraska, died Aug. 14.
McPherson enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1943 and was qualified for a naval aviator's golden wings and an ensign's commission in August 1944.
He was posted in February of 1945 aboard an aircraft carrier as part of a fighter squadron equipped with Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat planes. McPherson served in the war campaign on Okinawa, Japan, in which he was credited with five aerial victories and bestowed flying ace status.
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