5. The first American to become a World War II ace did so before America entered the war
As in World War I, when American volunteers served in the French air forces before the United States entered the war, Americans fought against the Germans before December 7, 1941. Most of them volunteered for service with Britain’s Royal Air Force. William Dunn, an honorably discharged veteran of the US Army, joined the Canadian Army in 1939, and later the RAF in 1940. Assigned to one of three Eagle Squadrons, which were all comprised of American volunteers, Dunn arrived in Britain in time to take part in air operations over France and the Channel. Dunn shot down five German aircraft in 1941, the last of which made him the first American to become an ace over Europe in World War II.
After his fifth victory, Dunn was attacked by several bf-109s, and suffered wounds to both legs, a bullet or shell fragment grazing his skull, and a badly damaged aircraft. Nonetheless, he managed to shake off his attackers and nurse his Spitfire Mark II back to his airfield in England. Dunn recovered from his injuries, served as a pilot instructor for the Royal Canadian Air Force, and eventually transferred to the US Army Air Force. William Dunn remained in the Air Force following World War II, eventually serving in the Vietnam War at Tan Son Nhut Air Base. Dunn achieved a total of six confirmed kills during World War II, five of which occurred before the United States entered the war.