Dominic Salvatore "Don" Gentile
Major, U.S. Air Force

Dominic Salvatore Gentile was born on 6 December 1920 in Piqua, OH, the only son of Italian immigrants. Sickened by carbon monoxide gas while a baby, he was given no chance of recovery by doctors. His frantic parents took him to the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, OH, hoping for a spiritual cure. Don Gentile recovered and while growing up accompanied his parents on annual visits to the shrine, a vow they made if he recovered.

Gentile's fascination with flying as a child made him a licensed pilot at seventeen. His father provided him with his own plane, an Aerosport Biplane, and he managed to log over 300 hours flying time by July 1941, when he attempted to join the U.S. Army Air Forces. The U.S. military required two years of college for its pilots, which he did not have, so Gentile enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was posted to the United Kingdom in 1941. Gentile flew the Supermarine Spitfire Mark V with No. 133 Squadron, one of the famed "Eagle Squadrons" during 1942. His first kills were on 19 August 1942.

The RCAF Eagle squadrons were transferred to the U.S. Army Air Forces in September 1942 and became the 4th Fighter Group; the 133 Squadron became the 336th Fighter Squadron. In September 1943 Gentile, now flying the P-47 Thunderbolt, became a flight commander. Used to flying the Spitfire, Gentile and the other pilots of the 4th Fighter Group were unhappy when they had to transition to the heavy P-47. By late 1943, 4th Group Commander Colonel Don Blakeslee pushed for the lighter, more maneuverable P-51 Mustang for his Group. On 16 December 1943 Gentile claimed a third-share of a destroyed Ju-88, and a Fw-190 on 5 January 1944. He claimed 2 Fw-190s on 14 January and one more on 25 February.

At the end of February 1944, the conversion to the P-51B helped him begin adding to his aerial victories. His 1st victory with the P-51 was on 3 March, when he claimed a Dornier 217 German bomber in the Wittemburg area.

On 8 March 1944, in the European Theater of Operations, Captain Gentile, was leading a section of fighter aircraft on a bomber escort mission to targets in the vicinity of Berlin, Germany, when he saw a flight of bombers being attacked by about 50 German fighters. With only his wing man as support and ignoring the overwhelming odds against him, CPT Gentile attacked the enemy formation and by courageous flying and skillful gunnery, destroyed 3 enemy planes and broke up the threat against the bombers. Continuing with his wing man, they destroyed 3 more German fighters. By this time the wing man had expended his ammunition and CPT Gentile's supply was very low. Despite this fact, they picked up a straggling bomber and escorted it to friendly territory. CPT Gentile's extraordinary heroism that day earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower personally presented the award for that DSC mission remarking, "You seem to be a one-man air force." In 1944, Gentile co-wrote, with well-known war correspondent Ira Wolfert, 'One Man Air Force,' an autobiography and account of his combat missions.

On 8 April 1944, CPT Gentile was in aerial combat against enemy forces when he again destroyed 3 German fighters and assisted in the destruction of a 4th fighter in a single engagement. CPT Gentile's valor in combat that day earned him a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross.

During the period 3 March to 8 April 1944, Gentile built his total of aircraft destroyed in aerial combat to 15.5. On 13 April a group of press reporters and movie cameras were assembled at the 4th Group's airfield at Debden, England, because Gentile was now the top scoring ace in the 8th Air Force. Then, while performing 'stunts' over the airfield, he crashed his personal P-51 "Shangri La" [see photo] and COL Blakeslee grounded him immediately. CPT Gentile was sent back to the United States for a tour selling War Bonds.

At the end of World War II, Gentile's total credits was 19.83 aerial victories; 3 damaged; and 6 destroyed on the ground. He flew 350 combat hours. He also claimed 2 victories while with the Royal Air Force.

After the War

Gentile remained in the USAAF, and then the newly-formed Air Force, as a test pilot at Wright Field, OH, as a Training Officer in the Fighter Gunnery Program, and as a student officer at the Air Tactical School. In June 1949, Gentile enrolled as an undergraduate studying Military Science at the University of Maryland.

On 28 January 1951, Major Gentile was killed when he crashed in a T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star trainer, at Forestville, MD.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross with Silver and 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (1st of 2 Awards)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Dominic "Don" Salvatore Gentile (ASN: 0-885109), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 8 March 1944, in the European Theater of Operations. On this date Captain Gentile, while leading a section of Fighter Aircraft on a bomber escort mission to targets in the vicinity of Berlin, Germany, saw a flight of bombers being attacked by approximately fifty enemy fighters. With only his wing man as support and without regard to the overwhelming odds against him, Captain Gentile immediately attacked the enemy formation and by extremely courageous flying and skillful gunnery destroyed three enemy planes and broke up the threat against the bombers. Continuing with his wing man, they destroyed three more enemy fighters. By this time the wing man had expended his ammunition and Captain Gentile's supply was very low. Despite this fact, they picked up a straggling bomber and escorted it to friendly territory. Captain Gentile's outstanding courage and determination to destroy the enemy on this occasion set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the Armed Forces of the United States.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 36 (June 12, 1944)

Distinguished Service Cross Citation Synopsis (2nd of 2 Awards)

Captain (Air Corps) Dominic "Don" Salvatore Gentile (ASN: 0-885109), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on April 8, 1944. On this date Captain Gentile destroyed three enemy fighters and assisted in destruction of a fourth in a single engagement. Captain Gentile's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 8th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Forces in Europe, General Orders No. 23 (1944)

Honors

● Winston Churchill called Gentile and his wingman, Captain John T. Godfrey, Damon and Pythias, after the legendary characters from Greek mythology.
● In 1962, Gentile Air Force Station in Kettering, OH, was named in his honor. The installation closed in 1996.
● Major Gentile was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1995.

Congressional Gold Medal

The Congressional Gold Medal, created by the U.S. Mint, is the highest civilian honor Congress can give on behalf of the American people. On 20 May 2015, leaders from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate presented the Congressional Gold Medal [see photo] to the American Fighter Aces Association at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center Emancipation Hall.

More than 60,000 American fighter pilots engaged in aerial combat during World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Of those pilots, only 1,447 earned the title of fighter “Ace” by downing at least five enemy aircraft. Major Dominic Salvatore Gentile was one of them, having been credited with 19.83 aircraft shot down in aerial combat, qualifying him as a "Quadruple Ace." He was also credited with 3 damaged in the air and 6 destroyed on the ground. At the time of the presentation of the Medal, only 75 of those Aces remained alive.

Death and Burial

Major Dominic Salvatore Gentile died on 28 January 1951 in Forestville, MD. He is buried at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, Franklin County, OH, in Section 18 (St. Agatha), Lot 434.