Bob Hurlbert (left), a docent at Palm Springs Air Museum, checks a photo he just took of Fritz Payne (seated) of Rancho Mirage, the oldest living World War II fighter ace, with five solo kills in combat. Payne turned 99 last week. / Wade Byars The Desert Sun
Frederick ‘Fritz' Payne
Born: July 31, 1911, in Elmira, N.Y.
Service: U.S. Marine Corps, 1935-58
Awards:
Navy Cross
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal with six clusters
Source: Palm Springs Air Museum
Honoring WWII veterans
Read more about Payne's military service and find profiles of other World War II veterans from the Coachella Valley at mydesert.com/wwii.
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Roughly one person for every year of Fritz Payne's life gathered Wednesday to celebrate the oldest living ace fighter pilot's recent 99th birthday.
“I think it's wonderful,” Payne said after the hourlong birthday party at the Palm Springs Air Museum. “I'm overwhelmed.”
Payne, whose birthday was July 31, was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and also served in the Korean War. Flying from the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific, Payne shot down five Japanese planes and assisted with another takedown, earning him the designation of ace pilot.
Staff and volunteers at the air museum recounted Payne's biography, presented a slideshow of planes he flew and showed an video interview he gave to the museum Wednesday for the crowd of about 100.
“We thought that this could be a little cake at his place, but wait a minute — we want to share this with the people,” said Bob Andrade, historian at the air museum and a longtime friend.
After the event, attendees ate cake in Payne's honor and stopped by to shake his hand, reminisce and pose for pictures.
“You know, I'm going to get a sunburn from flash bulbs,” Payne joked, as a television cameraman also switched on his light.
Fred Noble, chairman of the air museum's board of directors, told Payne that it was an honor to meet him — especially after his recent visit to Guadalcanal with other board members.
“Here's a guy who's an ace. He did it all,” Noble said. “What you'll find with men like him, they're profoundly modest. Their heroism is phenomenal, and you've got to pay your respects.”
Payne, who has lived in Rancho Mirage since 1974, said he counts becoming an ace as one of his biggest accomplishments. But he added that he doesn't like to boast about the title since it came at the expense of others' lives.
Although Payne didn't formally volunteer at the Palm Springs Air Museum, he often came to events in the museum's earlier years to talk about his experiences at Guadalcanal, said Dick Clark, president of the air museum.
“It's rare that we get somebody of this stature, and I'm not talking about his rank. I'm talking about his accomplishments,” Clark said. “There's not many of these guys left.”
