Frederick R. Payne Jr.

Frederick R. Payne Jr.
Born	(1911-07-31)July 31, 1911 Elmira, New York, United States
Died	August 6, 2015(2015-08-06) (aged 104) Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1935–1958
Rank	Brigadier general
Battles / wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Navy Cross Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (5)
Other work	Southern California Edison (1958–1976)

Frederick Rounsville "Fritz" Payne Jr. (July 31, 1911 – August 6, 2015) was a World War II Ace and a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps. Payne was awarded the Navy Cross for service with VMF-212.

Education

He attended the United States Naval Academy from 1930 to 1932 and subsequently graduated from the University of Arizona in 1935.

Career

Payne was awarded the Navy Cross for service with VMF-212 on Guadalcanal between September and October 1942, shooting down six Japanese airplanes. After the war, he continued his service with U.S. Marines and fought in the Korean war until he retired from U.S. Marines in 1958. In his post-military career, Payne helped plan the construction of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, He retired from Southern California Edison in 1976. He was also honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in May 2015. Payne died six days after his 104th birthday on August 6, 2015, at Rancho Mirage, California; at the time of his death he was the oldest living former fighter ace.

Awards

• Congressional Gold Medal (2015)
• Navy Cross

[[File:|thumb|right|upright=1.4|The Congressional Gold Medal presented in 2015 to American Fighter Aces]] Personal He came from a military family: his father served in the Spanish–American War after graduating from the United States Naval Academy and World War I. He was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana and he also attended the Naval Academy. He enlisted in the Marine Corps and became a pilot. He was married to Dorothy and had three children: Son, Robert Payne, Son, Dewitt, and daughter, Ann Wilson Payne. See also List of World War II aces from the United States List of World War II flying aces References Further reading Hammel, Eric (2010) [First published 1992]. Aces Against Japan. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 978-189098808-1. Hammel, Eric (1998). Aces in Combat: The American Aces Speak. Vol. 5. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Military History. ISBN 093555361-4. Tillman, Barrett (1996). Hellcat Aces of World War 2. London: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 185532596-9. Tillman, Barrett (1979). Hellcat: The F6F in World War II (1st ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-155750991-8.