Donald Melvin McPherson was born on 25 May 1922 in Adams, Nebraska, where he grew up working on his family farm. In February 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy, receiving his pilot’s wings as an ensign after 18 months of training on 12 August 1944.
In February 1945, McPherson was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Essex in fighter squadron VF-83, which flew Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats. He undertook his first combat mission on 19 March 1945, a 300-mile strike against the Nittigahara airfield during the Battle of Okinawa.
During the battle in April, he achieved his first two aerial victories. Supporting ground operations, McPherson spotted two Japanese fighters flying low over the ocean, dived, shot one down, and after a chase, destroyed the second.
He earned ace status a month later. On 5 May 1945, he encountered three Kawanishi E7K biplanes heading towards US forces in a kamikaze attack, and in his Hellcat shot down all three.
For his wartime achievements, McPherson was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. After leaving the military, he worked as a rural postman and remained active as a scout.
On 28 September 2024, he flew once more in a restored Hellcat during a commemorative flight. His death at 103 marks the passing of the last of America’s Second World War fighter aces.
