Last surviving ace pilot from World War II passes away at 103

World War II Veteran Donald Macpherson Passes Away at 103

A World War II veteran from Nebraska, Donald Macpherson, who was recognized as the last “Ace” pilot in America for downing five enemy aircraft, has died at the age of 103.

Macpherson served as a naval fighter pilot on the USS Essex in the Pacific Theatre, specifically engaging in combat against the Japanese forces during the war’s final year.

He was awarded the parliamentary gold medal and earned three notable flight commendations for his service.

His daughter, Beth Delabar, shared that his family believes that Macpherson would prefer to be remembered for his faith, love for family, and community contributions rather than just his military achievements. She reflected, “When it’s all done and Dad lists things he wants to remember… his first thing is that he’s a man of faith.” The local newspaper, Beatrice Daily Sun, reported his passing on August 14th.

“He didn’t receive a lot of honors until his later years,” Delabar mentioned.

According to the American Fighter Ace Association and the Fagen Fighter World War II Museum, Macpherson was recognized as the last living U.S. ace from the war.

Just last weekend, he participated in a ceremony at the museum in Minnesota. To achieve “ace” status, a pilot must shoot down at least five enemy planes.

Macpherson joined the Navy at 18 in 1942. Following his training, he married his wife Thelma at the end of an 18-month flight program in 1944.

As part of the Fighter Squadron VF-83, he flew an F6F Hellcat against Japanese forces. He reminisced about one particular mission where he shot down two Japanese planes, recalling how he spotted them flying low over the water.

In his recounting, he described pushing the plane’s nose down to target the first aircraft, successfully sending the pilot into the sea.

Afterward, he executed a wingover maneuver to check the fate of the second plane. “With full throttle, my Hellcat responded well, squeezed the trigger and exploded,” he recounted.

After the thrill of the engagement, he maneuvered violently to avoid enemy fire and later discovered a bullet hole in his plane, just a foot behind where he was seated.

His daughter, Donna Mulder, shared that experiences from the war made her father feel at times that “probably God was not with me.”

Upon returning to his family farm in Adams, Nebraska, he invested his efforts into community by starting a baseball and softball league for local children. He also became deeply involved in leadership activities with the Adams United Methodist Church, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving as a scout master.