Peoria High School
World War Two Navy Fighter Ace
Ensign Paul E. Drury
Class of 1939
"The Longest Day in My Life!"
Paul E. Drury was a 1939 graduate of Peoria High School. When researching Peoria High Alumni for articles, I came across an article in the 1996 All-School Reunion Booklet. It is a treasure trove of stories of our past Alumni who have made history either at Peoria High or later in life. When I read Paul Drury's short article he mentioned something that grabbed my attention. He obviously reminds me of most Veterans who really don't open up about their war experiences unless maybe in the company of fellow veterans. When I looked into his past military service, I found out that Peoria High School had a fighter ace in its midst. A fighter ace is a rare breeed and I can tell you as a former fighter pilot myself...we all wanted to be fighter aces. It's in a class all by itself. Shooting down 6.5 enemy aircraft. Yes...he shared an aerial victory with a fellow Naval aviator...so they each get a half a plane! How about that! His story is incredible as he left Peoria after high school to attend the Pennsylvania Wharton School of Finance. But then...World War Two called. As I researched Lt(jg) Drury, I found an artist who had interviewed Paul Drury before he passed. He graciously granted me permission to share the story with our PHS Alumni. His prints of Lt(jg) Drury's plane may still be able to be purchased online from the artist
Reprinted with the permission Ernie Boyette, Artwork by Ernie Boyette
Paul E. Drury joined The Navy in November 1942 and completed flight training in August 1943 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Ensign Drury was then sent to Jacksonville, Florida where he received carrier qualifications flying the F4F wildcat.
The size of the American Fleet had grown over the last several years since the attack on Pearl Harbor. American shipyards were working twenty-four hours a day producing what would be the largest fleet ever in history. Airplane factories were working as hard in producing the fighters and bombers that the new carriers needed.
Paul Drury was flying one of the new Grumman Hellcats that was a product of this mass production along with sailing on one of the new aircraft carriers named the USS Princeton. Paul and his fellow pilots were assigned to VF-27 flying the Grumman F6F, Hellcat. Their squadron was the only Navy aircraft that were allowed to have artwork on their fighters. The artwork was the face of a Tiger Cat painted large and bold. The Captain of the Princeton did not care if his pilots adorned their aircraft with the artwork if they desired. Just no naked women.
USS Princeton underway 1944, US Navy Photo
Other carrier Captains were very strict hiding behind stupid naval discipline. They never allowed their pilots to paint their aircraft like the fighters and bombers in the Army Air Corp. A few got away with small squadron emblems and the names of their wives or girlfriends but nothing more.
VF-27 had participated in the first all carrier attack on the island of Manila. These attacks helped reduce the fighting capabilities of the Japanese in the Philippines giving the Americans the opportunity to take back the islands. The attacks on the island were an all airplane assault which was effective. This was the result the Japanese had planned for Midway before their efforts were forted by the American surprise attack.
On June 21, 1944, Paul took part in attacking a Japanese ship off the Philippines which led to its sinking. He received a citation for the sinking of the enemy vessel. The American Fleet then sailed North West towards other Japanese island strongholds.
On the evening of the 23rd of October, Paul and his squadron were assigned to fly Combat Air Patrol the next morning. Paul was one of eight pilots to fly CAP for four hours on the morning of the 24th. Paul described the CAP flights as “boring” because there was never anything going on except flying around the fleet as protective air cover.
However, during their briefing on the night of the 23rd the pilots were told that they may encounter enemy aircraft because several had already been spotted in the area. The Japanese had sent out scout planes to locate the approaching American Fleet.
At four in the morning Paul was prepared for takeoff. With the carrier group entering a combat zone there was much excitement on the flight deck. Enemy aircraft had already been detected on the radar so the group was encouraged to get airborne as soon as possible.
Paul did not get to fly his regular fighter which was number 10, named “Paoli Local.” He had to fly the fighter that was set up and available for him at the moment.
Artwork by Ernie Boyette
Aviation Artwork
They were launched off the deck of the Princeton in the dark hours of the twenty-fourth. The eight pilots were to fly in two groups of four called divisions.
Paul was to fly wingman for a fellow pilot named Carl Brown but ended up with “Red” Shirley who was the leading Ace for the Squadron at the time. This was not Paul’s normal flight division. He was to be flying with Carl Brown but they did not have the time to re-group because they were immediately vectored to the area of an incoming Japanese observation aircraft.
The pilots quickly found the Japanese intruder and shot it down. Carl Brown with another flight of VF-27 was vectored to another intruder. They too shot down the enemy spy. In quick succession Paul’s flight was vectored to yet another incoming enemy aircraft.
The sun was now rising when all eight aircraft were sent together at full speed to meet an oncoming flight of enemy aircraft. The rising sun over the ocean was always inspiring but this time it did not favor the Japanese.
The enemy aircraft first appeared as small black specks in the sky. The carrier had told them that they would be encountering “multiple bogies” but what Paul and his fellow fighter pilots saw was a mass of enemy aircraft. Far more than their eight fighters could handle alone.
“Red” called on the radio back to the Princeton “Tally-Ho! Eighty Japanese aircraft are spotted!” Paul joked and said it looked like a hundred and eighty Jap planes because he had never seen such a mass of aircraft at one time coming towards them.
The division led by “Red” Shirley’s and Paul flying his wing were in the led followed by the group of four led by Carl Brown. This is where one says to them self’s, “we’re not getting out of this one!” “Tally-Ho it was!” Head first they flew into the battle like the Calvary that always led their armies in battle in the past. They were brave and strong but also the first to die.
Onward the Hellcat pilots flew right into the face of death. Slightly nervous but incredibly excited by the very thought of entering combat. This was the moment every fighter pilot trained for and looked forward to. Normal people just cannot understand such a Psychological profile of thinking. That is why our society requires such men to be braver than the rest and openly willing to fight and die for those who cannot and for those who are gutless who will not. These are our “Superman or our Batman,” our guardians and protectors.
Carl Brown radioed back to the Princeton to “send help!” The carrier called him back and told him that they would send out twelve more fighters right away and they would also contact the carrier USS Essex to send out fighters as well.
First to enter the enemy formation with their guns blazing was “Red” Shirley, Paul and the other three pilots of their division right behind them. It was a “No guts, no glory” type of attack. They were followed by the other division led by Carl Brown. Paul had never flown with “Red” before and as stated earlier “Red” was the leading Ace of VF-27. There was no plotting or planning. Paul said that “Red” had no hesitation in flying right into the enemy formation uncaring of the danger that surrounded them.
Paul followed, picked an oncoming target and let his bullets fly into the engine and cockpit of the Japanese aircraft disabling the plane and pilot with one barrage of fifty-caliber bullets. No less than a hundred large caliber steel missiles ripped through the enemy sending it into the ocean below forever with its crew. Paul commented that he was far more concerned in accidentally ramming head first into and oncoming aircraft than actually being shot at. Paul said that the sky before them was full of the enemy but he and the others were all able to find holes in the enemy group to emerge from safely. Or by chance.
Together the Hellcat pilots tore back into the fast moving Japanese. Each Hellcat pilot shot down one airplane each on their first pass. In one sweep ten percent of the enemy had been eliminated. Only one Hellcat and its pilot followed the Japanese down to their watery graves. Oddly enough the airplane that was lost was Paul’s personal fighter Number 10, named the “Paoli Local.”
Drury left the service after the war credited with six and one half confirmed aerial victories. He was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Gold Star, and the Air Metal with one Gold Star.
Following the Battle
Return to the ship
Being low on fuel he returned to the USS Princeton and while being refueled the Princeton received a direct hit which reached below decks and exploded aircraft being refueled and fitted with torpedoes. Orders to abandon ship soon came and Lt Drury and others swam to the USS Birmingham and USS Irwin. The Birmingham was ordered alongside the Princeton to fight the fires but a massive explosion on the Princeton killed over 200 crew fighting the fires and injured over 400 others of the combined crews Drury was prepared to again swim if required but with the sinking of the Princeton by torpedoes from the Irwin they returned to Pearl on the USS Birmingham. Lt Drury saw the end of the war flying cover over Tokyo Bay as commander of VF-27 (USS Independence) as surrender was being signed below him. DFC( 1 gold star), Air Medal (with 1 Gold Star)
USS Birmingham (CL-62) comes alongside the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23) to assist with fire fighting, 24 October 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
_burning_on_24_October_1944_(80-G-287970).jpg)
The U.S. Navy light aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) burning soon after she was hit by a Japanese bomb while operating off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. This view, taken from the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57) at about 1001 hrs., shows the large smoke column aft following a heavy explosion in the carrier's hangar bay.
U.S. Navy photo 80-G-287970
Lt (jg) Paul E. Drury USNR VICTORIES: 6 1/2 Joined Navy Nov 1942, flying F4Fs with VF-27 joined the USS Princeton (CVL-23) sailed to the Pacific theatre May 1944. First victory 21 Sept with a Zero, 2 Tonys and a shared Hamp over Manila Bay. In The Battle of Leyte Gulf Oct 24) he and 2 fighter divisions engaged 80 Japanese ac east of Luzon he became ana ace with 2 Zeros and a Tojo.
Lt(jg) Paul Drury was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross with a Gold Star
1996 All-School Reunion Article on Paul Drury
