Maj. John C. Herbst, CO of the 74th FS/23rd FG, with his P-51 Mustang. "Pappy" Herbst was trained by the British RAF and briefly served in Germany before joining the 74th Squadron in East Asian theater. Pappy was a natural leader, skilled pilot, and men trusted his judgement.
During his seven months command, the 74th "Guerrilla" Squadron under "Pappy" John Herbst never lost a single pilot in aerial combat, shot down 64 enemy planes in the air, destroyed 162 on the ground, probably destroyed another 19 and damaged 49 on the ground, and probably shot down 15 more and damaged 41 in the air.
Herbst\'s biography is courtesy of the 23d Flying Tiger Association
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