US Army Air Forces / Air Force Lt Col Louis Curdes: The Ace Who Shot Down an American Plane – Lt Col Louis Curdes

06/10/2025 15 min
US Army Air Forces / Air Force Lt Col Louis Curdes: The Ace Who Shot Down an American Plane – Lt Col Louis Curdes

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Episode Synopsis

In this week’s episode of Duty & Valor, we share the remarkable story of Air Force Lt Col Louis Curdes, a WWII ace unlike any other. Curdes was one of only a handful of American pilots to shoot down aircraft from all three major Axis powers. Germany, Italy, and Japan. But his most astonishing feat came when he made a split-second decision to shoot down an American transport plane to save its crew from capture.From his early days in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to daring escapes as a POW, and finally to his legendary “Bad Angel” Mustang, Curdes’ story is one of courage, resilience, and duty above all else.Join us as we explore the life of a pilot whose unmatched record and quick thinking made him one of WWII’s most extraordinary aviators.Please visit our YouTube channel to learn more about other American Heroes @youtube.com/@DutyandValorSources:historicmysteries.com warhistoryonline.com thecollector.comwikipedia.orgfindagrave.comDuty & Valor Challenge CoinHonor our heroes. Every coin helps wounded warriors rebuild their lives. Thank you!Thank you for listening to Duty & Valor!Music by Amelie Leclerc. Artist's other music can be found here.Please follow us on your favorite social media site.Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

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