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together, and due to cloud cover they chose slightly different targets than were originally assigned. Fleming's ten fighters twice encountered enemy formations. First, before reaching Koryu airfield, they spotted four Zeros flying south just off the western coast of the island. When the
Japanese noticed the Americans, they split into two groups of two on separate headings. One pair continued southward while the other turned inland. The Vipers similarly split into two groups of six and four respectively. Fleming and his wingman Beaudry, in the latter group, loosed their ordnance and raced after the Zeros. Once again Fleming got the better of Beaudry, downing one along with Lt.(jg) Woodward. The men in the other group were similarly successful: both enemy fighters destroyed, no losses incurred. Those among the 10 Hellcats who held onto their payloads delivered them on Koryu and Shinchiku, taking on meager anti-aircraft fire in the process but scoring significant hits on installations on the runways themselves. In the wake of this bombing/strafing activity the sweep encountered its second batch of Japanese fighters, this time consisting of Oscars or Zeros, and
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Mobara's hangars
Fleming spotted a band of Japanese fighters, mostly Zeros, milling about at high altitude north of the target zone. He chased the nearest enemies up to their level just under the clouds, charging his guns for the first pass. Two were quickly flamed from astern; the rest fled. Following some of the running Zekes down almost to ground level at Mobara, Fleming stuck with his quarry even as anti-aircraft fire filled the skies around him. Only after he'd exploded the two planes he was chasing did he pull out of his run and away from enemy fire. One more victory was scored by Fleming before returning to Hancock, running his day's total to five.
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cover fliers. All three
Japanese fighters broke ranks and flew singularly, either to flee or to turn into the American charge. It was over quickly though, and results were similar to those experienced earlier in the day. It was Beaudry's turn to flame his quarry this time; two other pilots had the same luck with their targets. Seeing the high-fliers taken well in hand, Fleming zoomed down through the clouds on the lure planes. He flamed the Tojo on his first past and then shot the Oscar/Zeke off Ensign Parrish's tail, racking up a total of three for the day's efforts.
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towing program was cancelled soon thereafter. Later, participating in the first P-84 flights across the
Atlantic Ocean to England, Fleming's cockpit heat control stuck during his ride from Iceland to Scotland. He endured scorching 170 degree heat, arriving at his destination thoroughly dehydrated. He had better luck in "Glamorous Glennis," the Bell X-1 aircraft Chuck Yeager used as the first man to pass the speed of sound. Fleming took the X-1 to Mach 1.2; its fastest recorded speed was to be Mach 1.45.
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EIGHTY (VBF-80), attached to the U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19), in the action against Tokyo air fields on 16 February 1945. He skillfully and courageously led a division of planes on a fighter sweep against enemy airpower. During the action, he personally destroyed five aircraft in the air amid heavy anti-aircraft fire. His skill and courage coupled with his leadership and complete disregard for his personal safety were at all times in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Service.
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428:"Oscars") flying at lower altitude in loose formation, also heading on a southerly course. The American pilots jettisoned rockets and bombs before approach and a savage first pass was made on the unsuspecting bandits. Either the Japanese were taken completely by surprise or they misidentified the incoming Hellcats as friendlies. Whatever the case, about half of the Japanese fighters were destroyed or damaged in that first pass, negating their numerical superiority. Fleming claimed two.
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covered
Wrangel Island and then held a "racetrack" pattern over the Chukchi Sea. The main crew, led by Donald Hillman, photographed Siberian sites and was spotted by MiG fighters in the middle of the mission, but the Russians were ultimately unable to engage the photo-reconnaissance bombers. The flight was considered a success, winning the approval of newly elected President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who continued the overflight program during his presidency.
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1950:
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498:"Nate" fighters. The Nate model was out of date even before Pearl Harbor and stood little chance against the significantly more advanced Hellcat. Lt. Fleming tore into the half dozen aged fighters, picking off four to the rest of his division's two. After the uneven matchâVF-80 again reported no bullets taken in the brief scuffleâ, the division headed down to the airfields for rocket attacks and strafing before their return to Hancock.
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fuel tank. The resulting leak spilled fuel into the lower crew compartment and ignited a blaze that ultimately downed the bomber. Three died in the crash/explosion that resulted, and
Fleming, the fourth casualty, lost his life when he bailed out of the flaming craft. Fire damage to his parachute prevented its proper deployment as he fell to Earth. He was killed on impact. This tragedy marked the very first B-52 crash.
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March 1943. Later in the year he enrolled in night fighter training at NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, where he meet his soon-to-be wife
Neville. Fleming completed training in November and moved to NAS Atlantic City to serve as a flight instructor while he awaited assignment to an active squadron. His waiting was short lived: on 1 February 1944 VF-80 was commissioned under the command of Lieutenant Commander
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406:"Tico" returned to the Leyte and the Luzon area two more times in November to continue attacks on shipping at e.g. Ormoc Bay and Santa Cruz Harbor, and to destroy air installations at sites like Clark Field. Fleming's next aerial victories came on 25 November 1944 during the second strike of the day. Dive and torpedo bombersâalong with their fighter escortâwere vectored out to finish off a
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structure of the carrier, setting off bombs in compartments adjacent to the hangar deck where fueled, armed planes lay in wait. Explosions wracked the ship, but the firefighting teams aboard Tico ultimately managed to quench the flames. No longer in fighting condition, Ticonderoga retired to Ulithi and
Carrier Group 80 (CVG-80) took up residence aboard the
494:
disable starting in the vicinity of the Katori Area, with subsequent targets heading south as far as Mobara. Finding no significant opposition at Katori, the ten-man sweep proceeded past
Yachimata towards Mobara flying at 12,000â˛. Before arriving there, however, they spotted 15-20 Japanese aircraft at around 6,000Ⲡincluding a group of six
415:"Frances" bombers heading south towards the task group. They moved immediately to intercept, making overhead runs on the slower, comparatively ungainly twin-engine bombers. They knocked out 3 of the 5 with their first passâtwo for Fleming and one for his wingman. There wasn't to be a second pass: the remaining Frances turned tail and ran.
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low-flying bandits. To ease the bureaucratic difficulty of expanding fighter squadrons this way, existing squadrons were split into Fighter (VF) and Fighter-Bomber (VBF) squadrons. When this division was finally achieved aboard Ticonderoga on 10 January, Patrick Fleming became Executive Officer of the newly formed VBF-80.
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stick together. Fleming destroyed two more during the back-and-forth to run his day's score to four. Despite altitude and numerical disadvantages during this scrape, the pilots of VF-80 returned to their carrier without a single bullet hole in their planes, boasting a net of 19 enemy aircraft destroyed and more damaged.
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Fleming was killed in a crash on February 16, 1956, while serving as a supervisor on a routine training flight. Around seven hours after taking off from Castle Air Force Base in a B-52 Stratofortress, a turbine wheel of the right forward alternator broke apart and punctured a cell of the forward body
493:
In the early morning hours of the 17th Fleming knocked another four out of the air. He was again assigned as leader and again flew with the usual suspects in his division: his wingman Beaudry, as well as a section consisting of Lt. Cormier and Ens. Fraifogle. This sweep was assigned more airfields to
457:
At the close of 1944, the US Navy decided it needed to significantly alter carrier air group composition to include many more fighter aircraft. The new norm of Japanese kamikaze tactics required beefed up combat air patrols for task groups and the implementation of supplemental "Jack Patrols" to spot
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fighters nicknamed "Tojo." The enemies were split 3-2 between thin cloud cover, apparently trying to set a trap for any enemy fighters coming it at lower altitudes. Fleming et al. were positioned just right to see both groups, however, and the balance of Hellcats came in hard on the heels of the high
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began launching its first aerial assault against Tokyo. During two consecutive days of this operationâ16 February and 17 February 1945âTiconderoga's fighters shot down more than 65 Japanese aircraft with 25 or more probably destroyed or damaged in aerial combat; Fleming alone scored nine between the
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tactics. The morning of the attack on 21 January offered unlimited visibility and bright skies, giving Japanese pilots clear lines of sight to their targets. A handful got past the CAP and successfully dodged anti-aircraft fire put up by the task group. Two of these struck the flight deck and island
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heavily damaged by the first strike. While the rest of the fighters worked over and successfully sank the crippled cruiser off Luzon's western coast, Fleming and his wingman Ens. Beaudry were busy serving as communications relay on the opposite side of the island. The two-man section noticed a group
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as part of Task Group 3.8, ensuring French warships remained at port and searching for German blockade runners. After his tour of service with the light cruiser was completed in November 1942, Fleming went on to NAS Pensacola to earn his wings of gold. He was officially designated a Naval Aviator in
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for test pilot training. It is at this point Fleming made up his mind to resign from the Navy and transfer to the Army Air Forces. He picked up with the USAAF exactly where he left off with the Navy: he went to test pilot school at Wright Field, working his way up to chief of the Fighter Section of
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When the F6F-5s pulled out of their runs, however, Japanese reinforcements arrived on the scene. VF-80 and company were outnumbered once again and no longer had surprise on their side. A wild dog fight ensued. In the melee many sections were dispersed, but Fleming and his wingman Beaudry managed to
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A more dangerous B-47 mission occurred in 1952, when Fleming and other SAC pilots were personally approached by General LeMay to conduct covert "overflight" missions deep into Soviet territory. Project 52 AFR-18 took place on October 15, 1952, Fleming leading the crew in the backup B-47. His route
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and in each instance experienced harrowing technical malfunctions. While testing the ability of bombers to tow the short-range jets of the day, Fleming's P-80 became stuck to the towline of the B-29 it was flying with. The tow would not release and even snapped back to obstruct Fleming's view. The
1299:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Patrick Dawson Fleming, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Bombing Fighting Squadron
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The next big day for Fleming came on 3 January 1945. He was chosen to lead three divisions on a morning sweep of airfields on central Luzon. Weather conditions rendered strikes difficult; even grouping up was problematic. By the time the divisions assembled only 10 of 12 fighters managed to get
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On 14 December 1944, Fleming became an ace pilot. He led one of two VF-80 divisions flying together with VF outfits from USS Essex, Langley and San Jacinto on an afternoon fighter sweep over enemy airfields on Northern Luzon. Turning up nothing of interest at the first target area, the fighters
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Strikes against Chiba Peninsula's airfields occurred on 16 February. Fleming led a noontime sweep through hazy skies with the objective of destroying installations at Mobara airfield, one of the major strips in the vicinity of Tokyo. In the immediate wake of successful fighter bombing runs on
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Fleming's talent propelled him into a group of elite Air Force pilots operating at the edge of American strategic planning and technological advance. At the time this meant participation in Strategic Air Command initiatives. Moving from jet fighters to jet bombers, Fleming served at
393:, the Vipers flew missions over Luzon between 5â6 November as part of Task Group 38.3, aiding in the retaking of the Philippines. Patrick Fleming became one of the first men in his squadron to record a kill when on the first day of strikes he shot down a
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after strafing/rocket attacks on shipping in Manila Bay. The lone Zero began with an altitude advantage, but upon seeing the division of American fighters dove towards the water to attempt escape. Greater weight and a more powerful engine put Fleming's
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547:. On August 9, 1951, Fleming was part of the flight crew in a B-47 flying from Fairbanks, Alaska to Wichita, Kansas. The record-setting 2,800-mile flight took just 5 hours and 36 minutes to complete. Around this time same Fleming took
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on his enemy's tail in short order, and with two bursts from the plane's six guns he sent the Zero crashing down in flames. From this point on when Fleming scored during a sortie, he would ensure enemy pilots didn't go down alone.
348:(SAC) missions. With SAC Fleming participated in a classified "overflight" mission penetrating Soviet territory. Later he was promoted to deputy wing commander, 93rd Bomb Wing, the first operational group to receive the
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re-routed southward to investigate reports of an enemy destroyer sighted earlier in the day. Cruising en route to those coordinates at 9,000â˛, they spotted a gaggle of twenty or so Japanese fighters (Zeros and
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for fourth-highest-scoring Navy ace. At war's end he resigned his Navy commission and transferred to the Air Force, where he participated in early jet testingâincluding a flight in the
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two days, running his final tally to 19 confirmed kills and cementing his position as the squadron's high-scorer. The Vipers suffered only three combat losses in these sorties.
593:. They were the first unit to receive the B-52 and Fleming was the first SAC pilot to fly one. He flew as pilot instructor after logging extensive hours in the new aircraft.
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1938:
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Fleming was still aboard USS Cincinnati when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. At the time, the ship was patrolling in the vicinity of the
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Towards the end of January Ticonderoga moved to execute strikes against Formosa, prompting the depleted Japanese navy and air forces to respond with
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After post-war leave, Fleming was given command of a fighter squadron, a promotion to Lieutenant Commander, and transferred to the carrier
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Patrick Fleming joined the rest of the squadron for training and carrier assignment. They finally departed for the war zone aboard
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389:"Vorse's Vipers" entered combat in the Pacific in early November 1944. Following closely on the heels of the
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Award in 1957. The award is given annually for "the most outstanding contribution in the field of flight."
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February was a big month for Patrick Fleming and for the whole of Vorse's Vipers. On the 15th, the
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At the time, jet fighter operational use was still in its infancy. Fleming test flew both the
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1986:
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2013:
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2128:
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2005:
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1949:
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bomber. Fleming was among those killed in the first B-52 crash on February 16, 1956.
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1970:
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used to break the sound barrier. Fleming was later personally recruited by General
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Pat Fleming was ultimately promoted to deputy commander of the 93rd Bomb Wing at
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A Need to Know: The Role of Air Force Reconnaissance in War Planning, 1945â1953
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1955:
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Pushing the Envelope: The Career of Fighter Ace and Test Pilot Marion Carl
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Patrick Fleming was also posthumously awarded the Air Force Association's
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334:
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Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
314:(January 17, 1918 â February 16, 1956) was a high-scoring World War II
566:, in January 1952, serving there until June 1953, when he joined the
235:
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Fleming was transferred to Headquarters Strategic Air Command at
1640:. Scientific and Technical Information Branch, NASA. p. 288
1920:
2677:
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
1326:"Miss Neville Bartlett to Wed Lieutenant Patrick D. Fleming"
1697:"Stratojet Bomber Flies Non Stop from Fairbanks to Wichita"
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on 28 August 1944, with Fleming listed as Flight Officer.
329:, putting him in a three-way tie with Cornelius Nooy and
2707:
Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
2587:
1637:
On the frontier: flight research at Dryden, 1946â1981
2212:
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1998:
1963:
255:
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2702:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1956
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444:Fleming in 1945 getting ready to take to the skies
35:Fleming as Deputy Commander of the 93rd Bomb Wing
1863:Marion Carl; Barrett Tillman (15 March 2014).
1598:"Pilot Has Hot Ride Over Ocean In Jet Fighter"
1152:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
1932:
1660:"New B-45 Jet Bomber Is Assigned To Kirtland"
578:, Japan, Fleming flew combat missions in the
325:Fleming racked up 19 aerial victories in the
8:
2667:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
1892:"The High Intensity Life of Patrick Fleming"
610:Fleming received the following decorations:
586:. He returned to the U.S. in December 1953.
1939:
1925:
1917:
1568:"ACA Reps CAG-80 16 Februaryâ1 March 1944"
1360:
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29:
18:
2692:United States Navy pilots of World War II
1733:Bourke-White, Margaret (27 August 1951).
1560:
1558:
999:
555:up in a B-47 for an article on the SAC.
514:. Immediately afterwards he was sent to
439:
2594:
2572:List of United States World War II aces
1317:
318:fighter ace, and later an accomplished
2717:Military personnel from New York City
1803:. Air University Press. p. 141.
1466:"ACA Reps CAG-80 14â16 December 1944"
1023:Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
274:Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
7:
2642:20th-century American naval officers
1499:"ACA Reps CAG-80 3â21 January 1944"
1400:"ACA Reps CAG-80 5â6 November 1944"
2712:United States Naval Academy alumni
1433:"ACA Reps CAG-80 25 November 1944"
14:
2652:American World War II flying aces
1294:Date Of Action: February 16, 1945
1288:Lieutenant Patrick Dawson Fleming
1239:Air Force Longevity Service Award
2697:United States Air Force colonels
2609:
2597:
1948:
1718:
1681:
1619:
1347:
990:
983:
976:
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516:Naval Air Station Patuxent River
297:
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259:
171:
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134:
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16:American World War II flying ace
1890:Boyne, Walter J. (March 2011).
2657:Aviators from New York (state)
1203:National Defense Service Medal
1172:AsiaticâPacific Campaign Medal
1124:American Defense Service Medal
79:San Joaquin County, California
1:
2672:Recipients of the Silver Star
2577:List of top World War II aces
1741:. Time Inc. pp. 92, 93.
1604:. October 24, 1949. p. 1
1332:. October 15, 1943. p. 3
1265:Philippine Independence Medal
582:during the last month of the
2687:United States Naval Aviators
1735:""I'll Monitor Your Breath""
1270:United Nations Service Medal
541:North American B-45 Tornados
2682:Recipients of the Air Medal
1954:United States World War II
1767:Boyne, Walter (June 2001).
1703:. 10 August 1951. p. 6
1246:Philippine Liberation Medal
1242:w/ bronze oak leaf cluster
1068:with three 5â16" Gold Stars
524:Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
2733:
2647:American Korean War pilots
1191:World War II Victory Medal
1059:Distinguished Flying Cross
1050:Distinguished Flying Cross
519:the Flight Test Division.
350:Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
293:Distinguished Flying Cross
2567:
2137:Dominic Salvatore Gentile
1958:with 15+ aerial victories
1869:. Naval Institute Press.
1666:. May 19, 1950. p. 1
1009:
1002:
624:
615:
28:
1634:Richard Hallion (1984).
1275:Korean War Service Medal
1196:Army of Occupation Medal
572:Fairchild Air Force Base
528:Republic F-84 Thunderjet
208:Bombing Fighter Squadron
2404:William T. Whisner Jr.
1901:. Air Force Association
1794:Farquhar, John (2003).
1775:. Air Force Association
1769:"The Early Overflights"
1147:American Campaign Medal
1087:Army Commendation Medal
1053:w/ two 5â16" Gold Stars
1004:USAF Senior Pilot Badge
537:Kirtland Air Force Base
483:Fast Carrier Task Force
130:United States Air Force
92:Jamestown, Rhode Island
2316:John C. "Pappy" Herbst
1602:Macon Chronicle-Herald
1302:
1114:Combat Readiness Medal
1092:Navy Unit Commendation
545:Boeing B-47 Stratojets
445:
312:Patrick Dawson Fleming
23:Patrick Dawson Fleming
1701:Greeley Daily Tribune
1297:
591:Castle Air Force Base
564:Offutt Air Force Base
553:Margaret Bourke-White
443:
346:Strategic Air Command
148:Years of service
2508:Edward "Porky" Cragg
2484:David Lee "Tex" Hill
2380:James S. Varnell Jr.
2364:John F. Thornell Jr.
2030:Charles H. MacDonald
1839:"Patrick D. Fleming"
1532:"VBF-80 War History"
1365:Fleming, Patrick D.
1222:Korean Service Medal
408:Mogami-class cruiser
391:Battle of Leyte Gulf
236:Fighting Squadron 80
196:Fighting Squadron 80
2516:Kenneth H. Dahlberg
2468:Richard A. Peterson
2436:Charles R. Stimpson
2201:Robert B. Westbrook
2145:Fred J. Christensen
1664:Albuquerque Journal
1368:"VF-80 War History"
1283:Navy Cross citation
1119:China Service Medal
1011:Naval Aviator Badge
395:Mitsubishi A6M Zero
367:Albert O. Vorse Jr.
362:British West Indies
2284:Glenn T. Eagleston
2228:Patrick D. Fleming
2105:David C. Schilling
2089:Eugene A. Valencia
1899:Air Force Magazine
1773:Air Force Magazine
1306:David C. Schilling
580:B-29 Superfortress
446:
142:United States Navy
2585:
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2536:
2528:
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2452:William D. Dunham
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2372:Gerald W. Johnson
2368:
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2344:
2336:
2328:
2320:
2312:
2304:
2300:Walter C. Beckham
2296:
2288:
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2276:Leonard K. Carson
2272:
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2256:
2248:
2244:John Lucian Smith
2240:
2236:Cornelius N. Nooy
2232:
2224:
2205:
2197:
2189:
2185:Donald N. Aldrich
2181:
2173:
2165:
2157:
2153:Ray Shuey Wetmore
2149:
2141:
2133:
2125:
2117:
2113:Gerald R. Johnson
2109:
2101:
2093:
2085:
2077:
2058:
2050:
2042:
2034:
2026:
2022:Robert S. Johnson
2018:
2014:Gregory Boyington
2010:
1991:
1983:
1975:
1876:978-1-61251-548-9
1280:
1279:
1199:w/ 'Japan' clasp
998:
997:
502:Air Force Service
309:
308:
72:February 16, 1956
2724:
2614:
2613:
2612:
2602:
2601:
2600:
2593:
2558:
2556:Harold L. Spears
2550:
2542:
2534:
2526:
2524:James A. Goodson
2518:
2510:
2502:
2494:
2486:
2478:
2470:
2462:
2460:Don M. Beerbower
2454:
2446:
2438:
2430:
2422:
2414:
2406:
2398:
2390:
2382:
2374:
2366:
2358:
2350:
2348:Donald Blakeslee
2342:
2334:
2326:
2318:
2310:
2302:
2294:
2292:Wilbur J. Thomas
2286:
2278:
2270:
2262:
2254:
2252:Alexander Vraciu
2246:
2238:
2230:
2222:
2203:
2195:
2187:
2179:
2171:
2169:Kenneth A. Walsh
2163:
2155:
2147:
2139:
2131:
2123:
2115:
2107:
2099:
2091:
2083:
2075:
2056:
2054:Robert M. Hanson
2048:
2040:
2032:
2024:
2016:
2008:
1989:
1987:David McCampbell
1981:
1973:
1953:
1952:
1941:
1934:
1927:
1918:
1911:
1910:
1908:
1906:
1896:
1887:
1881:
1880:
1860:
1854:
1853:
1851:
1849:
1843:Veteran Tributes
1835:
1829:
1828:
1826:
1825:
1819:
1813:. Archived from
1802:
1791:
1785:
1784:
1782:
1780:
1764:
1758:
1757:
1755:
1753:
1730:
1724:
1723:
1722:
1716:
1710:
1708:
1693:
1687:
1686:
1685:
1679:
1673:
1671:
1656:
1650:
1649:
1647:
1645:
1631:
1625:
1624:
1623:
1617:
1611:
1609:
1594:
1588:
1587:
1585:
1583:
1570:
1562:
1553:
1552:
1550:
1548:
1534:
1526:
1520:
1519:
1517:
1515:
1501:
1493:
1487:
1486:
1484:
1482:
1468:
1460:
1454:
1453:
1451:
1449:
1435:
1427:
1421:
1420:
1418:
1416:
1402:
1394:
1388:
1387:
1385:
1383:
1370:
1362:
1353:
1352:
1351:
1345:
1339:
1337:
1322:
1258:
1257:
1253:
1234:
1233:
1229:
1215:
1214:
1210:
1184:
1183:
1179:
1164:
1163:
1159:
1140:
1139:
1135:
1104:
1103:
1099:
1081:oak leaf cluster
1040:
1039:
1035:
1000:
994:
987:
980:
969:
963:
956:
944:
938:
926:
920:
906:
900:
890:
883:
872:
866:
859:
852:
845:
833:
827:
817:
806:
800:
790:
783:
772:
766:
756:
747:
741:
727:
721:
714:
707:
697:
688:
682:
675:
661:
655:
645:
638:
629:
620:
613:
612:
344:to take part in
331:Alexander Vraciu
301:
291:
281:
272:
263:
175:
165:
153:1947â1956 (USAF)
140:
138:
137:
128:
126:
125:
117:
110:
108:
107:
90:Cedar Cemetery,
75:
59:January 17, 1918
58:
56:
33:
19:
2732:
2731:
2727:
2726:
2725:
2723:
2722:
2721:
2622:
2621:
2620:
2610:
2608:
2598:
2596:
2588:
2586:
2581:
2563:
2500:Samuel J. Brown
2492:Jack T. Bradley
2444:George S. Welch
2388:John T. Godfrey
2340:John B. England
2260:Arthur J. Benko
2220:Glenn E. Duncan
2208:
2193:Thomas J. Lynch
2081:Cecil E. Harris
2061:
1994:
1959:
1947:
1945:
1915:
1914:
1904:
1902:
1894:
1889:
1888:
1884:
1877:
1862:
1861:
1857:
1847:
1845:
1837:
1836:
1832:
1823:
1821:
1817:
1811:
1800:
1793:
1792:
1788:
1778:
1776:
1766:
1765:
1761:
1751:
1749:
1732:
1731:
1727:
1717:
1706:
1704:
1695:
1694:
1690:
1680:
1669:
1667:
1658:
1657:
1653:
1643:
1641:
1633:
1632:
1628:
1618:
1607:
1605:
1596:
1595:
1591:
1581:
1579:
1564:
1563:
1556:
1546:
1544:
1528:
1527:
1523:
1513:
1511:
1495:
1494:
1490:
1480:
1478:
1462:
1461:
1457:
1447:
1445:
1429:
1428:
1424:
1414:
1412:
1396:
1395:
1391:
1381:
1379:
1364:
1363:
1356:
1346:
1335:
1333:
1330:Newport Mercury
1324:
1323:
1319:
1314:
1285:
1259:" bronze stars
1255:
1251:
1250:
1248:
1241:
1231:
1227:
1226:
1224:
1212:
1208:
1207:
1205:
1198:
1185:" bronze stars
1181:
1177:
1176:
1174:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1141:" Bronze Star)
1137:
1133:
1132:
1126:
1101:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1078:
1069:
1061:
1054:
1052:
1037:
1033:
1032:
1030:
971:
970:
964:
957:
946:
945:
939:
928:
927:
921:
908:
907:
901:
874:
873:
867:
860:
853:
846:
835:
834:
828:
808:
807:
801:
774:
773:
767:
749:
748:
742:
729:
728:
722:
715:
708:
690:
689:
683:
676:
663:
662:
656:
608:
599:
576:Yokota Air Base
504:
479:
438:
421:
387:
382:
358:
327:Pacific Theatre
296:
286:
276:
267:
248:
227:
223:
221:306th Bomb Wing
219:
211:
206:
198:
194:
170:
152:
151:1941â1947 (USN)
135:
133:
132:
123:
121:
105:
103:
95:
77:
73:
60:
54:
52:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2730:
2728:
2720:
2719:
2714:
2709:
2704:
2699:
2694:
2689:
2684:
2679:
2674:
2669:
2664:
2659:
2654:
2649:
2644:
2639:
2634:
2624:
2623:
2619:
2618:
2606:
2583:
2582:
2580:
2579:
2574:
2568:
2565:
2564:
2562:
2561:
2553:
2548:Cyril F. Homer
2545:
2540:Ralph K. Hofer
2537:
2529:
2521:
2513:
2505:
2497:
2489:
2481:
2476:James E. Swett
2473:
2465:
2457:
2449:
2441:
2433:
2428:Ira C. Kepford
2425:
2417:
2409:
2401:
2393:
2385:
2377:
2369:
2361:
2353:
2345:
2337:
2329:
2321:
2313:
2308:Herschel Green
2305:
2297:
2289:
2281:
2273:
2268:Marion E. Carl
2265:
2257:
2249:
2241:
2233:
2225:
2216:
2214:
2210:
2209:
2207:
2206:
2198:
2190:
2182:
2177:Walker Mahurin
2174:
2166:
2158:
2150:
2142:
2134:
2129:Jay T. Robbins
2126:
2121:Neel E. Kearby
2118:
2110:
2102:
2094:
2086:
2078:
2069:
2067:
2063:
2062:
2060:
2059:
2051:
2043:
2035:
2027:
2019:
2011:
2006:Gabby Gabreski
2002:
2000:
1996:
1995:
1993:
1992:
1984:
1979:Thomas McGuire
1976:
1967:
1965:
1961:
1960:
1946:
1944:
1943:
1936:
1929:
1921:
1913:
1912:
1882:
1875:
1855:
1830:
1809:
1786:
1759:
1725:
1713:Newspapers.com
1688:
1676:Newspapers.com
1651:
1626:
1614:Newspapers.com
1589:
1554:
1521:
1488:
1455:
1422:
1389:
1354:
1342:Newspapers.com
1316:
1315:
1313:
1310:
1296:
1295:
1292:
1289:
1284:
1281:
1278:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1261:
1260:
1243:
1236:
1235:" bronze star
1218:
1217:
1216:" bronze star
1200:
1193:
1187:
1186:
1169:
1149:
1143:
1142:
1121:
1116:
1110:
1109:
1089:
1084:
1072:
1071:
1063:
1056:
1046:
1045:
1025:
1020:
1014:
1013:
1007:
1006:
996:
995:
988:
981:
973:
972:
958:
951:
950:
949:
947:
933:
932:
931:
929:
915:
914:
913:
910:
909:
895:
894:
893:
891:
884:
876:
875:
861:
854:
847:
840:
839:
838:
836:
822:
821:
820:
818:
810:
809:
795:
794:
793:
791:
784:
776:
775:
761:
760:
759:
757:
750:
736:
735:
734:
731:
730:
716:
709:
702:
701:
700:
698:
691:
677:
670:
669:
668:
665:
664:
650:
649:
648:
646:
639:
631:
630:
622:
621:
607:
604:
598:
595:
574:. Deployed to
568:98th Bomb Wing
503:
500:
496:Nakajima Ki-27
478:
475:
451:Nakajima Ki-44
437:
434:
426:Nakajima Ki-43
420:
417:
386:
383:
381:
378:
357:
354:
307:
306:
257:
253:
252:
243:
239:
238:
233:
229:
228:
225:98th Bomb Wing
185:
181:
180:
159:
155:
154:
149:
145:
144:
119:
113:
112:
101:
97:
96:
89:
87:
83:
82:
76:(aged 38)
70:
66:
65:
50:
46:
45:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2729:
2718:
2715:
2713:
2710:
2708:
2705:
2703:
2700:
2698:
2695:
2693:
2690:
2688:
2685:
2683:
2680:
2678:
2675:
2673:
2670:
2668:
2665:
2663:
2660:
2658:
2655:
2653:
2650:
2648:
2645:
2643:
2640:
2638:
2635:
2633:
2630:
2629:
2627:
2617:
2607:
2605:
2595:
2591:
2578:
2575:
2573:
2570:
2569:
2566:
2557:
2554:
2549:
2546:
2541:
2538:
2533:
2532:Robert W. Foy
2530:
2525:
2522:
2517:
2514:
2509:
2506:
2501:
2498:
2493:
2490:
2485:
2482:
2477:
2474:
2469:
2466:
2461:
2458:
2453:
2450:
2445:
2442:
2437:
2434:
2429:
2426:
2421:
2418:
2413:
2412:Douglas Baker
2410:
2405:
2402:
2397:
2394:
2389:
2386:
2381:
2378:
2373:
2370:
2365:
2362:
2357:
2354:
2349:
2346:
2341:
2338:
2333:
2330:
2325:
2324:Charles Older
2322:
2317:
2314:
2309:
2306:
2301:
2298:
2293:
2290:
2285:
2282:
2277:
2274:
2269:
2266:
2261:
2258:
2253:
2250:
2245:
2242:
2237:
2234:
2229:
2226:
2221:
2218:
2217:
2215:
2211:
2202:
2199:
2194:
2191:
2186:
2183:
2178:
2175:
2170:
2167:
2162:
2159:
2154:
2151:
2146:
2143:
2138:
2135:
2130:
2127:
2122:
2119:
2114:
2111:
2106:
2103:
2098:
2097:Lance C. Wade
2095:
2090:
2087:
2082:
2079:
2074:
2073:John C. Meyer
2071:
2070:
2068:
2064:
2055:
2052:
2047:
2044:
2039:
2038:George Preddy
2036:
2031:
2028:
2023:
2020:
2015:
2012:
2007:
2004:
2003:
2001:
1997:
1988:
1985:
1980:
1977:
1972:
1969:
1968:
1966:
1962:
1957:
1951:
1942:
1937:
1935:
1930:
1928:
1923:
1922:
1919:
1900:
1893:
1886:
1883:
1878:
1872:
1868:
1867:
1859:
1856:
1844:
1840:
1834:
1831:
1820:on 2016-11-10
1816:
1812:
1806:
1799:
1798:
1790:
1787:
1774:
1770:
1763:
1760:
1748:
1744:
1740:
1736:
1729:
1726:
1721:
1714:
1702:
1698:
1692:
1689:
1684:
1677:
1665:
1661:
1655:
1652:
1639:
1638:
1630:
1627:
1622:
1615:
1603:
1599:
1593:
1590:
1578:
1574:
1569:
1561:
1559:
1555:
1542:
1538:
1533:
1525:
1522:
1509:
1505:
1500:
1492:
1489:
1476:
1472:
1467:
1459:
1456:
1443:
1439:
1434:
1426:
1423:
1410:
1406:
1401:
1393:
1390:
1378:
1374:
1369:
1361:
1359:
1355:
1350:
1343:
1331:
1327:
1321:
1318:
1311:
1309:
1307:
1301:
1293:
1290:
1287:
1286:
1282:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1262:
1247:
1244:
1240:
1237:
1223:
1220:
1219:
1204:
1201:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1188:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1153:
1150:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1130:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1111:
1108:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1082:
1077:
1074:
1073:
1067:
1064:
1060:
1057:
1051:
1048:
1047:
1044:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1019:
1016:
1015:
1012:
1008:
1005:
1001:
993:
989:
986:
982:
979:
975:
974:
968:
962:
955:
948:
943:
937:
930:
925:
919:
912:
911:
905:
899:
892:
889:
885:
882:
878:
877:
871:
865:
858:
851:
844:
837:
832:
826:
819:
816:
812:
811:
805:
799:
792:
789:
785:
782:
778:
777:
771:
765:
758:
755:
751:
746:
740:
733:
732:
726:
720:
713:
706:
699:
696:
692:
687:
681:
674:
667:
666:
660:
654:
647:
644:
640:
637:
633:
632:
628:
623:
619:
614:
611:
605:
603:
596:
594:
592:
587:
585:
581:
577:
573:
569:
565:
560:
556:
554:
551:photographer
550:
546:
542:
538:
532:
529:
525:
520:
517:
513:
512: (CV-21)
511:
501:
499:
497:
491:
487:
484:
476:
474:
472:
471:
464:
459:
455:
452:
442:
435:
433:
429:
427:
418:
416:
414:
409:
404:
401:
396:
392:
384:
379:
377:
375:
374:
368:
363:
355:
353:
351:
347:
343:
339:
336:
332:
328:
323:
321:
317:
313:
304:
300:
294:
290:
284:
280:
275:
271:
266:
262:
258:
254:
251:
247:
244:
240:
237:
234:
230:
226:
222:
218:
217: (CV-19)
216:
209:
205:
204: (CV-14)
203:
197:
193:
191:
186:
182:
178:
174:
168:
164:
160:
156:
150:
146:
143:
131:
120:
114:
111:United States
102:
98:
93:
88:
84:
80:
71:
67:
63:
62:New York City
51:
47:
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
2396:Bud Anderson
2356:Duane Beeson
2332:Hubert Zemke
2227:
2161:John J. Voll
1971:Richard Bong
1903:. Retrieved
1898:
1885:
1865:
1858:
1848:February 26,
1846:. Retrieved
1842:
1833:
1822:. Retrieved
1815:the original
1796:
1789:
1777:. Retrieved
1772:
1762:
1750:. Retrieved
1738:
1728:
1711:– via
1705:. Retrieved
1700:
1691:
1674:– via
1668:. Retrieved
1663:
1654:
1642:. Retrieved
1636:
1629:
1612:– via
1606:. Retrieved
1601:
1592:
1580:. Retrieved
1577:Ancestry.com
1572:
1565:Vorse, A.O.
1545:. Retrieved
1541:Ancestry.com
1536:
1524:
1512:. Retrieved
1510:. p. 17
1508:Ancestry.com
1503:
1496:Vorse, A.O.
1491:
1479:. Retrieved
1477:. p. 29
1475:Ancestry.com
1470:
1463:Vorse, A.O.
1458:
1446:. Retrieved
1444:. p. 23
1442:Ancestry.com
1437:
1430:Vorse, A.O.
1425:
1413:. Retrieved
1411:. p. 19
1409:Ancestry.com
1404:
1397:Vorse, A.O.
1392:
1380:. Retrieved
1377:Ancestry.com
1372:
1340:– via
1334:. Retrieved
1329:
1320:
1303:
1298:
1079:w/ 1 bronze
609:
600:
588:
561:
557:
533:
521:
509:
505:
492:
488:
480:
469:
460:
456:
447:
430:
422:
413:Yokosuka P1Y
405:
388:
372:
359:
356:World War II
342:Curtis LeMay
338:Chuck Yeager
324:
322:test pilot.
320:US Air Force
311:
310:
246:World War II
242:Battles/wars
214:
201:
192: (CL-6)
189:
74:(1956-02-16)
2637:1956 deaths
2632:1918 births
2420:Bill Harris
1956:flying aces
1543:. p. 7
1529:Holt, C.H.
1167:bronze star
1129:Fleet Clasp
1107:bronze star
1028:Silver Star
373:Ticonderoga
283:Silver Star
202:Ticonderoga
41:Nickname(s)
2626:Categories
1824:2016-08-12
1810:1585661244
1312:References
1043:Gold Stars
1018:Navy Cross
584:Korean War
265:Navy Cross
250:Korean War
190:Cincinnati
100:Allegiance
55:1918-01-17
2616:Biography
1779:12 August
1752:12 August
1747:0024-3019
1707:12 August
1670:14 August
1644:19 August
1608:14 August
1547:17 August
1336:19 August
1291:U.S. Navy
1076:Air Medal
1066:Air Medal
508:USS
468:USS
371:USS
303:Air Medal
213:USS
200:USS
188:USS
177:Commander
2604:Aviation
2046:Joe Foss
1175:w/ four
477:February
463:Kamikaze
419:December
385:November
335:Bell X-1
232:Commands
116:Service/
2590:Portals
2487:(15.25)
2479:(15.25)
2471:(15.25)
2463:(15.25)
2399:(16.25)
2391:(16.33)
2367:(17.25)
2359:(17.33)
2335:(17.75)
2180:(20.75)
2156:(21.25)
2140:(21.83)
2041:(26.83)
1582:29 July
1514:29 July
1481:29 July
1448:29 July
1415:29 July
1382:28 July
1254:⁄
1249:w/ two
1230:⁄
1225:w/ one
1211:⁄
1206:w/ one
1180:⁄
1160:⁄
1155:w/ one
1136:⁄
1100:⁄
1095:w/ one
1083:(USAF)
1062:(USAF)
1036:⁄
1031:w/ one
539:flying
470:Hancock
436:January
400:Hellcat
316:US Navy
215:Hancock
167:Colonel
2407:(16.4)
2351:(17.5)
2343:(17.5)
2295:(18.5)
2287:(18.5)
2279:(18.5)
2271:(18.5)
2263:(18.5)
2148:(21.5)
2108:(22.5)
1905:13 May
1873:
1807:
1745:
1070:(USN)
1055:(USN)
606:Awards
256:Awards
169:(USAF)
139:
127:
118:branch
109:
94:, U.S.
86:Buried
81:, U.S.
64:, U.S.
2213:15â19
2066:20â24
1999:25â29
1895:(PDF)
1818:(PDF)
1801:(PDF)
1573:Fold3
1537:Fold3
1504:Fold3
1471:Fold3
1438:Fold3
1405:Fold3
1373:Fold3
597:Death
510:Boxer
411:of 5
380:VF-80
179:(USN)
2559:(15)
2551:(15)
2543:(15)
2535:(15)
2527:(15)
2519:(15)
2511:(15)
2503:(15)
2495:(15)
2455:(16)
2447:(16)
2439:(16)
2431:(16)
2423:(16)
2415:(16)
2383:(17)
2375:(17)
2327:(18)
2319:(18)
2311:(18)
2303:(18)
2255:(19)
2247:(19)
2239:(19)
2231:(19)
2223:(19)
2204:(20)
2196:(20)
2188:(20)
2172:(21)
2164:(21)
2132:(22)
2124:(22)
2116:(22)
2100:(23)
2092:(23)
2084:(24)
2076:(24)
2057:(25)
2049:(26)
2033:(27)
2025:(27)
2017:(28)
2009:(28)
1990:(34)
1982:(38)
1974:(40)
1907:2016
1871:ISBN
1850:2022
1805:ISBN
1781:2016
1754:2016
1743:ISSN
1739:Life
1709:2016
1672:2016
1646:2016
1610:2016
1584:2016
1549:2016
1516:2016
1483:2016
1450:2016
1417:2016
1384:2016
1338:2016
549:Life
543:and
526:and
184:Unit
158:Rank
69:Died
49:Born
1964:30+
1127:w/
570:at
305:(6)
295:(4)
285:(2)
44:Pat
2628::
1897:.
1841:.
1771:.
1737:.
1699:.
1662:.
1600:.
1575:.
1571:.
1557:^
1539:.
1535:.
1506:.
1502:.
1473:.
1469:.
1440:.
1436:.
1407:.
1403:.
1375:.
1371:.
1357:^
1328:.
1256:16
1232:16
1213:16
1182:16
1165:"
1162:16
1138:16
1105:"
1102:16
1041:"
1038:16
473:.
210:80
2592::
1940:e
1933:t
1926:v
1909:.
1879:.
1852:.
1827:.
1783:.
1756:.
1715:.
1678:.
1648:.
1616:.
1586:.
1551:.
1518:.
1485:.
1452:.
1419:.
1386:.
1344:.
1252:3
1228:3
1209:3
1178:3
1158:3
1134:3
1131:(
1098:3
1034:5
57:)
53:(
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