How two guys in a Buick became Pearl Harbor’s most unlikely heroes

Welch and Taylor’s Tuxedo-to-Cockpit Pearl Harbor Heroics

When Pearl Harbor was hit on December 7, 1941, two young pilots were still in tuxedo pants from a night of poker. George Welch and Kenneth Taylor heard the bombs fall and raced to action.

They called ahead to prep their P-40 fighters, then sped 16 miles to Haleiwa airstrip in Taylor’s Buick while dodging Japanese gunfire.

Once airborne, they faced off against hundreds of enemy planes despite having limited ammo. Between sorties, they landed to rearm, with Taylor fighting on despite his wounds.

The pair shot down six Japanese aircraft that morning.

The historic Halona Beach Cove area now holds their story at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, where you can see the actual P-40 Warhawks they flew into battle.

Tuxedos and Poker Set the Stage for Heroism

Lieutenants George Welch and Kenneth Taylor spent December 6, 1941, at a fancy dance at Wheeler Field officers club.

The young Army Air Corps pilots from the 47th Pursuit Squadron played poker all night, not knowing what tomorrow would bring.

Four days earlier, the military moved their P-40B fighters to Haleiwa Fighter Strip for gun practice. This small, dirt airfield sat 16 miles from Wheeler Field on Oahu’s North Shore.

Japanese Bombs Interrupted Their Sleep

Explosions woke Welch and Taylor at 7:51 a.m. on December 7, 1941. Japanese planes filled the sky, attacking Wheeler Field.

Still wearing tuxedo pants from the night before, the pilots quickly understood what was happening. Taylor called Haleiwa, telling ground crews to get their P-40 Tomahawks ready for takeoff.

Welch ran to get Taylor’s new Buick so they could rush to their planes before it was too late.

Their Road Trip Turned Into a Death-Defying Race

The pilots drove 100 mph along the 16-mile route to Haleiwa Fighter Strip.

Japanese fighters shot at the road as they drove, forcing them to dodge attacks while keeping up their speed. They passed scenes of chaos while people ran for cover.

Most folks hid during the attack, but Welch and Taylor drove straight toward the danger, knowing their fighter planes gave America a chance to fight back.

Two Pilots Skipped the Rulebook to Get Airborne

At the grass airstrip, Welch and Taylor found their P-40s fueled but only partly armed with . 30-caliber wing guns.

Ground crews hadn’t loaded all their ammo, but there was no time to wait.

The pilots jumped in their cockpits, skipped their normal safety checks, and took off down the runway.

They became the first American pilots in the air during the Pearl Harbor attack, while most U.S. planes sat destroyed on the ground.

Facing Impossible Odds in the Hawaiian Sky

Welch and Taylor quickly faced huge numbers, with 200-300 enemy planes controlling the skies over Oahu. They spotted Japanese dive bombers near Ewa Marine Base and dove to attack despite being outnumbered.

Welch went after one group of enemy planes, while Taylor attacked others in planned moves.

Their P-40s, though older than Japan’s Zero fighters, had enough firepower to damage the Japanese bombers as they flew through enemy groups.

Wheeler Field Became a Dangerous Pit Stop

After getting their first kills, the pilots quickly ran low on bullets and needed to reload. They took the risk to land at Wheeler Field, which still faced enemy attacks.

As they came in to land, they saw the base on fire with wrecked planes across the airfield.

Ground crews worked frantically during ongoing air raids to reload their P-40s with .50-caliber ammo, giving the pilots more stopping power for their next flight.

A Bullet Couldn’t Keep Taylor Grounded

During reloading at Wheeler, enemy fire hit Taylor in his arm and leg. Blood soaked through his fancy pants as medics gave him quick first aid.

Despite his painful wounds, Taylor refused to stay on the ground and talked officers into letting him return to combat.

He climbed back into his cockpit with bandaged limbs, joining Welch for another takeoff into the ongoing battle.

Multiple Missions Multiplied Their Impact

Through the morning of December 7, Welch and Taylor flew several combat trips against the Japanese attackers. They went after enemy planes attacking both military bases and civilian areas across Oahu.

Welch shot down more planes during these follow-up missions, bringing his total to four confirmed kills. Their aggressive moves forced some Japanese groups to stop their planned attacks.

A Small Airstrip Became America’s Unexpected Defense

The location of Haleiwa Fighter Strip turned out to be very valuable during the attack. Japanese forces focused their plans on major bases like Wheeler and Hickam, completely missing the small side field.

In total, five pilots from Haleiwa fought enemy planes that morning.

The recent move of aircraft to Haleiwa for gun practice turned out to be lucky timing that saved these planes from being blown up on the ground at Wheeler Field.

Their Scorecard Showed American Resilience

By the end of the attack, the pilots from Haleiwa had shot down nine Japanese planes total. Welch got credit for four kills, making him an “ace in a day” by today’s standards.

Taylor confirmed two enemy planes destroyed despite his injuries. These victories made up a big chunk of all Japanese planes lost during the Pearl Harbor attack.

America Found Its First WWII Heroes in Two Young Pilots

The War Department awarded both pilots the Distinguished Service Cross on January 8, 1942.

They officially became the first American heroes of World War II, with their story spreading across newspapers nationwide.

Their quick thinking, courage, and flying skill provided a much-needed morale boost during America’s darkest hour.

When most U.S. forces found themselves caught by surprise, these two young lieutenants showed the fighting spirit that would eventually lead America to victory in World War II.

Visiting Halona Beach Cove in Honolulu

You can learn about Lieutenants George Welch and Kenneth Taylor’s heroic defense at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites complex on Ford Island.

The Pacific Aviation Museum has exhibits about these pilots who raced to engage Japanese aircraft on December 7, 1941. The USS Arizona Memorial gives you context about the attack.

Pearl Harbor Warbirds and Admiral’s Warbird Adventure offer flight experiences that follow the same air routes these first American World War II heroes flew.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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