Donald H. Bochkay

Donald Harlow Bochkay (September 19, 1916 – January 9, 1981) was an American fighter ace in the United States Army Air Forces. During World War II, he was credited in destroying 13 enemy airplanes in aerial combat, including two jet-powered Messerschmitt Me 262s.

Early life
Donald Harlow Bochkay was born on September 19, 1916, in Ashtabula, Ohio and was of Hungarian descent. At the age of nine, he moved with his family to the San Fernando Valley in California, and in 1935, he graduated from Hollywood High School in Los Angeles.

Military career
In 1940, Bochkay entered the United States military and was assigned as a private with the 7th Infantry Division in Fort Ord, California. In 1941, he was transferred to the Aviation Cadet Program of the United States Army Air Corps. In April 1943, he was commissioned as second lieutenant and earned his pilot wings.

World War II
Following the completion of his flight training, Bochkay was assigned as a Bell P-39 Airacobra pilot with the 363d Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group in Tonopah, Nevada, in May 1943. In November 1943, the 357th Fighter Group was assigned to the European Theater of Operations and was stationed at RAF Leiston in England, where the unit was equipped with the propeller-driven North American P-51 Mustangs.

On March 5, 1944, over Bordeaux, France, Bochkay and two other pilots jointly shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190. On March 6, during a bomber escort over Berlin, Germany, he shot down two twin-engined Messerschmitt Bf 110s, his first two solo aerial victories. In April, he shot down two more enemy aircraft. On June 29, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Schöningen, Germany, his fifth aerial victory, earning the title of flying ace.

On July 5, during a fighter mission over Rouen, France, he shot down a Bf 109 and Fw 190. Before the end of July, he shot down two more enemy airplanes. In August, he returned to the United States on leave. In October, he returned to the 357th FG and, on December 5, he shot down two Fw 190s northwest of Berlin, bringing his total aerial victories to 11.

In February 1945, Bochkay was appointed as commander of the 363d Fighter Squadron and on February 9. During a fighter escort of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 3rd Air Division over Fulda, Germany, a formation of four jet-powered Messerschmitt Me 262s was spotted 4,000 ft below the fighter escort. Bochkay dropped his P-51's external tanks and chased the Me 262s with his wing mate, Capt. James W. Browning. The Me 262s broke into pairs with Bochkay and Browning chasing each pair. Bochkay was chasing the Me 262s over 28,000 ft; as they leveled out, the jets made a steep climbing turn to the right. He continued to dive on them and overshot before turning right and positioning himself towards one of the Me 262s. At 300 yards, he shot at a Me 262 as it accelerated to go out of range. The jet turned left, allowing Bochkay to fire at it again, resulting in a gunfire strike to the cockpit of the Me 262, and the consequent death of the pilot. The Me 262 crashed, crediting Bochkay with his first aerial victory over a jet. Bochkay attempted to go after another Me 262 that pounced on a group of P-51s before his aircraft's ammunition was exhausted. He had to rejoin with another P-51 to head back to base after Browning was killed during the combat.

On April 18, 1945, Bochkay shot down another Me 262 that was taking off from Ruzyně Airport in Prague, Czechoslovakia, his thirteenth and final aerial victory of the war.

During World War II, Bochkay flew a total of 123 combat missions and was credited with the destruction of 13.83 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 2 shared, as well as 1 destroyed on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. While serving with the 357th FG, he flew P-51s bearing the names "Alice in Wonderland," "Speedball Alice," and "Winged Ace of Clubs."

Post war
Following the end of World War II, Bochkay left active duty. In 1956, he re-entered active duty with the United States Air Force and retired in 1970, at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Later life
Following his retirement from military service in 1970, Bochkay visited his former WWII base at RAF Leiston. Noting in a letter his World War II memories at the base and how derelict it had become 25 years after the end of the war, Bochkay concluded the letter with the comment, "Have a good trip if you go to Leiston, and don't be ashamed to cry."

Bochkay died on January 9, 1981, at the age of 64. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in the San Francisco Bay.

Aerial victory credits

 * SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II