OLDNAVYMCPO
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Throughout the annals of American military history, there have been thousands of individuals who have risen to the demands of the circumstances with honor, professionalism and sacrifice. To these persons we owe our liberty and our way of life. I salute each and every one but I prefer to celebrate those that have arrived at their place in history by a path less traveled. One such individual, whose story is so unusual, is Paul Gunn.
Paul was born in 1899 in Quitman, Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S.Navy prior to the start of WWI and eventually became an aircraft mechanic. Paul was so enthralled with flying that he paid for his own flying lessons to become a licensed pilot. Upon reenlisting in 1923, Paul applied for and was accepted as an enlisted Naval Aviator ( a program which stood until the late 1950's). He served with VF-1B, the Navy's legendary fighter squadron the "TOPHATTERS" and as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola until 1939 when he retired with 21 years of service.
Paul Gunn moved to the Philippines where he started the Hawaiian Airlines and the Philippines Airlines. He was operating a 5 plane air fright service in the P.I. when WWII broke-out.
As a civilian volunteer, Paul flew unarmed and unarmored aircraft in and out of enemy held territory repeatedly to evacuate military personnel and bring in desperately needed supplies to the besieged troops on Bataan. For this he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross ( one of only a few civilians to receive such an award).
In 1942, Paul was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force as a Captain and put in charge of not only his own companies' aircraft but other confiscated airplanes. On a mission to Australia, he was ordered to remain. Frustrated that his own family was being held in the P.I. by the Japs, Paul commenced his own personal vendetta to defeat the Japanese. He flew every mission he could to Bataan and Mindanao, and even flew fighters with the Royal Australian Air Force over Rabaul. On one such mission, he was shot down and spent two weeks trekking through the jungles of New Guinea to friendly lines.
Upon his return to Australia, Paul was placed in command of all transport aircraft in the southwest Pacific. During this time, he stole enough B-25's from the Dutch to equip the 3rd Attack Group which had arrived in Australia from the states with no aircraft. Paul then led them as their C.O. on missions against Jap shipping.
Paul's greatest asset to the war was his mechanical genius. Using salvaged .50 cal machine guns, he reconfigured the 3rd's A-20 Boston Bombers to enhance their strafing ability. His genius was quickly recognized by the new commanding general, Lt. Gen. George Kenny. Now promoted to major, Paul was ordered to Kenny's staff and put in charge of special projects. This entailed modifying A-20's and B-25's with additional armament to make them more suitable for anti-shipping missions. The b-25 Mitchells were modified by grafting tailgun turrets onto the nose. This modification reputedly won the Battle of the Bismark Sea.
As a LT Col, Paul went ahead of the invasion of the Philippines from a submarine where he was to lead a battalion of mechanics and engineers. He was also tasked with organizing Filipino guerrillas. He was subsequently wounded by a Jap Willy Peter artillery and had to be air-evaced to Australia where he remained hospitalized until the end of the war.
When Paul's family was finally liberated from a Jap internment camp, they were personally greeted by Gen Douglas MacAuthor and flown on his personal C-54 to Australia. Paul was promoted Col by war's end and his personal decorations include the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal and nine Purple Hearts.
After the war, Paul started an air taxi service out of P.I. He died in a plane crash during a storm over the P.I. on Oct 11, 1957.
Paul was born in 1899 in Quitman, Arkansas. He enlisted in the U.S.Navy prior to the start of WWI and eventually became an aircraft mechanic. Paul was so enthralled with flying that he paid for his own flying lessons to become a licensed pilot. Upon reenlisting in 1923, Paul applied for and was accepted as an enlisted Naval Aviator ( a program which stood until the late 1950's). He served with VF-1B, the Navy's legendary fighter squadron the "TOPHATTERS" and as a flight instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola until 1939 when he retired with 21 years of service.
Paul Gunn moved to the Philippines where he started the Hawaiian Airlines and the Philippines Airlines. He was operating a 5 plane air fright service in the P.I. when WWII broke-out.
As a civilian volunteer, Paul flew unarmed and unarmored aircraft in and out of enemy held territory repeatedly to evacuate military personnel and bring in desperately needed supplies to the besieged troops on Bataan. For this he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross ( one of only a few civilians to receive such an award).
In 1942, Paul was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force as a Captain and put in charge of not only his own companies' aircraft but other confiscated airplanes. On a mission to Australia, he was ordered to remain. Frustrated that his own family was being held in the P.I. by the Japs, Paul commenced his own personal vendetta to defeat the Japanese. He flew every mission he could to Bataan and Mindanao, and even flew fighters with the Royal Australian Air Force over Rabaul. On one such mission, he was shot down and spent two weeks trekking through the jungles of New Guinea to friendly lines.
Upon his return to Australia, Paul was placed in command of all transport aircraft in the southwest Pacific. During this time, he stole enough B-25's from the Dutch to equip the 3rd Attack Group which had arrived in Australia from the states with no aircraft. Paul then led them as their C.O. on missions against Jap shipping.
Paul's greatest asset to the war was his mechanical genius. Using salvaged .50 cal machine guns, he reconfigured the 3rd's A-20 Boston Bombers to enhance their strafing ability. His genius was quickly recognized by the new commanding general, Lt. Gen. George Kenny. Now promoted to major, Paul was ordered to Kenny's staff and put in charge of special projects. This entailed modifying A-20's and B-25's with additional armament to make them more suitable for anti-shipping missions. The b-25 Mitchells were modified by grafting tailgun turrets onto the nose. This modification reputedly won the Battle of the Bismark Sea.
As a LT Col, Paul went ahead of the invasion of the Philippines from a submarine where he was to lead a battalion of mechanics and engineers. He was also tasked with organizing Filipino guerrillas. He was subsequently wounded by a Jap Willy Peter artillery and had to be air-evaced to Australia where he remained hospitalized until the end of the war.
When Paul's family was finally liberated from a Jap internment camp, they were personally greeted by Gen Douglas MacAuthor and flown on his personal C-54 to Australia. Paul was promoted Col by war's end and his personal decorations include the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal and nine Purple Hearts.
After the war, Paul started an air taxi service out of P.I. He died in a plane crash during a storm over the P.I. on Oct 11, 1957.
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