83 years ago today, American forces were attacked at Pearl Harbor. Some do not realize the Purdue connection on "the day which will live in infamy."
During the 1st wave of Japanese attacks, two Army Air Corps pilots managed to take off from nearby airfields to engage the enemy. One of the pilots, George Welch, completed three years of a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University, before joining the Army Air Corps in 1939. While attending Purdue, he was initiated as a brother of Delta Upsilon.
On December 7, Welch shot down 4 Japanese aircraft including 3 Aichi D3A Val dive bombers and one Mitsubishi Zero fighter.
The other Purdue connection was the plane that Welch and Taylor (the other AAC pilot) flew. The iconic Curtis P-40B Tomahawk was designed by a Purdue man, Don Berlin (BSME, 1921).
Below is an artist's rendition of Welch taking off under enemy fire, 83 years ago today, a day which will live in infamy.
During the 1st wave of Japanese attacks, two Army Air Corps pilots managed to take off from nearby airfields to engage the enemy. One of the pilots, George Welch, completed three years of a mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University, before joining the Army Air Corps in 1939. While attending Purdue, he was initiated as a brother of Delta Upsilon.
On December 7, Welch shot down 4 Japanese aircraft including 3 Aichi D3A Val dive bombers and one Mitsubishi Zero fighter.
The other Purdue connection was the plane that Welch and Taylor (the other AAC pilot) flew. The iconic Curtis P-40B Tomahawk was designed by a Purdue man, Don Berlin (BSME, 1921).
Below is an artist's rendition of Welch taking off under enemy fire, 83 years ago today, a day which will live in infamy.
