The Last Ace of World War II: Donald McPherson

Donald McPherson: The Last Ace of World War II

The passing of Donald Melvin McPherson in August 2025 closed a chapter of history. At 103 years old, McPherson was the last surviving American “ace” fighter pilot of World War II, a distinction given to aviators who downed five or more enemy aircraft in combat. His life, however, was not only defined by the dramatic dogfights of the Pacific theater but also by the quiet decades of service, humility, and community leadership that followed.

Born on May 25, 1922, in the small town of Adams, Nebraska, McPherson grew up far from the battlefields where he would one day make his mark. Like many of his generation, his life was transformed by the Second World War. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Navy through the V-5 Aviation Cadet Program, a path usually reserved for men with college experience. The Navy, in need of pilots, waived that requirement, giving McPherson his chance. After rigorous training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, he earned his wings and was commissioned as an ensign in 1944.

Assigned to Fighter Squadron VF-83 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Essex, McPherson flew the Grumman F6F Hellcat, the workhorse of the Navy’s Pacific campaign. In the skies over Okinawa and other contested islands, he proved his skill and courage. He achieved ace status by downing five Japanese aircraft, a feat that placed him among the elite ranks of combat aviators. For his service, McPherson received three Distinguished Flying Crosses, multiple Air Medals, and, many years later, the Congressional Gold Medal awarded collectively to surviving World War II aces.

But McPherson’s story did not end with military glory. After the war, he returned home to Adams, where he married his sweetheart, Thelma Johnston, and raised three children. He chose a quiet, steady life: farming the land, carrying the rural mail, coaching youth sports, and serving as a Scoutmaster. He was deeply involved in his church, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In recognition of the McPherson family’s devotion to their community, the local ball field was named “McPherson Field” in their honor. To those who knew him best, his faith, kindness, and service mattered far more than his wartime accolades.

Even in his later years, McPherson remained connected to his past. In 2024, at the age of 102, he once again sat in the cockpit of a restored Hellcat, reliving the experience that had defined his youth. Less than a year later, on August 14, 2025, he passed away peacefully in his hometown. His death marked the end of an era: the last living link to America’s World War II fighter aces was gone.

Donald McPherson’s legacy is twofold. In the skies, he embodied the bravery and skill that helped secure victory in the Pacific. On the ground, he lived a life of humility and service, showing that true heroism extends beyond the battlefield. His story reminds us that while history often remembers men for their wartime achievements, their deepest impact may be found in the lives they touch long after the fighting ends.