The Cowboy Ace
Lt. Bert Dewayne "Wayne" Morris
This photo was taken soon after his seventh air victory. With war clouds hanging over much of Europe and Asia, Morris became one of the first Hollywood actors to enter the service, joining the Naval Reserves and receiving a commission.
Following flight training and a year as an instructor, he joined in the Pacific air war, flying an F6F Hellcat off the carrier, the USS Essex. He would go on to fly 57 missions, shooting down seven Japanese aircraft. Of the 57 missions he flew, three of his Hellcats were so full of holes when he returned to his carrier, they were rendered "unfit for duty" and dumped overboard.
The Actor:
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