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Youngest WWII Pilot: 48 Missions, Never Shot Down [VIDEO]
Martin Ritchey Sidener, better known as Marty, was obsessed with flying from the age of 9, and joined the Army Air Corp at the young age of 17. By the time he was 18, Lt. Sidener became the youngest pilot in the Army Air Corp and flew 28 missions by the time he was 20. Check out the video below.
From World War Wings:
What’s even more interesting is the fact that over the course of his service Lt. Martin was never shot down, although he recalled a few close calls. He attributed his luck to flying the B-26 which he said was one tough bird. By the end of his service, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters. He never gloated about being the youngest pilot nor anything of the sort, always stating that he was serving alongside millions of others for his country.
How old were you when you enlisted? What did you think of this story? Let us know in the comments section and on our social media pages!
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