Colonel Perry J. "PJ" Dahl
P-38 Lightning Pilot and Ace

Background
Perry J. Dahl was born February 18, 1923 in Seattle. Nicknamed "PJ". He attended three years of high school before enlisting in the military.

Wartime History
On September 16, 1940 he enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard as a private with serial number 20940454. After basic training, he was assigned to the 41st Infantry Division (41st ID). After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he transfered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) for aviation cadet training and earned his wings and was commissioned in the as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-748923. Afterwards, transitioned to the P-38 Lightning and was assigned to the 55th Fighter Group (55th FG) at Tumwater, Washington State. Next, sent overseas as a replacement pilot to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

On October 27, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 432nd Fighter Squadron (432nd FS) "Clover" at North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15). Assigned P-38H "Skidoo" 42-66504 Nose 162 and began flying combat missions over New Guinea. Nicknamed "Pee Wee" for his youthful appearance and was one of the youngest pilots in the squadron.

On November 9, 1943 took off from North Borio Airfield on his first combat mission to escort B-25 Mitchells on a strike mission against Alexishafen Airfield and claimed a "Zeke" [sic Ki-43 Oscar] his first aerial victory.

On December 22, 1943 took off from North Borio Airfield on a mission over Wewak and claimed a "Zeke" [sic, Ki-43 Oscar] his second aerial victory.

On January 18, 1944 took off from North Borio Airfield as part of a formation of 432nd FS led by Col. Charles H. MacDonald plus 431st FS led by Captain Jett on a fighter sweep over Wewak. Over the target engaged in air combat with roughly forty Ki-61 Tonys and Ki-43 Oscars. Flying behind Col. Charles H. MacDonald shoot down a Hamp (sic Oscar) that rolled over and crashed and was his tenth aerial victory claim.

On January 23, 1944 took off from North Borio Airfield as wingman for John Loisel on a mission over Wewak. Over the target, stayed with Loisel as he engaged and shot down an Oscar east of Cape Moem. Afterwards, an Oscar zoomed past him in pursuit of Loisel. Dahl warned his flight leader over the radio and pulled up and fired wildly at the Oscar and chased it until he was able to shoot it down and saw it crash crash into trees as his third aerial victory claim. Leaving the target area, Dahl looked behind him and saw a Tony only 50 yards behind him until Loisel drove it away. Returning, the pair landed at Gusap Airfield to refuel then returned to North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15).

On February 7, 1944 departs with four other pilots from the squadron for a two week leave in Sydney. On February 20, 1944 returns to the squadron in New Guinea.

On February 29, 1944 took off from Nadzab on a patrol bound for Momote Airfield, While flying low in bad weather while flying low saw P-38 pilot Lt. Harold R. Howard accidentally crash into the sea. Returning, to land at Cape Glouchester Airfield touched down as a B-24 Liberator was taking off and had to turned to the right but the the bomber's left wing engines impacted causing it to spin around and land backward at the end of the runway. Amazingly, Dahl was unhurt in the landing but his plane was destroyed.

In early 1944 promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. By April 1944, promoted to the rank of Captain and became the squadron operations officer.

On April 3, 1944 took off on a mission over Hollandia and claimed his fourth and fifth aerial victory claims, became an ace. One of the planes he shot down it appeared to attempt a landing but crashed at the end of Sentani Drome.

On June 8, 1944 at 7:35am took off from Hollandia as element leader of "Clover Flight" with element wingman Lt. LeBarron and landed at Wakde Airfield an hour later then took off again escorting B-25 Mitchells on a mission against a Japanese convoy off Manokwari escorted by Japanese fighters. During the air combat, Dahl shot down an Oscar off Waigeo Island and saw it crash in flames, his sixth aerial victory claim. Returning, his landing gear failed to lower and had to lower them by hand but when he touched down the left landing gear collapsed and he swerved off the runway and hit a line of trees but was uninjured in the crash and earned a new nickname "Lucky".

On November 10, 1944 took off from San Pablo Airfield on Leyte piloting P-38L 44-23957 on a scramble mission to intercept Japanese fighters over Ormoc Bay. The weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). At 9:10am flying at 10,000' the formation was intercepted by twelve Ki-61 Tonys flying eastward in close formation. The P-38s made a first pass from the right rear and Dahl claimed a Tony, his seventh aerial victory. While turning for a second pass, this P-38 collided with P-38L 44-23935 piloted by 2nd Grady M. Laseter, Jr. over Ormoc Bay between Ponson Island and Apale Point on Leyte. Damaged, Dahl managed to ditched into Ormoc Bay and was observed to crash. Also damaged, P-38L 44-23935 was observed to crash and Laseter was reported as Missing In Action (MIA). Afterwards, Dahl was aided by Filipino Guerrillas who hid him until he returned to American lines thirty-one days later and by January 15, 1945 returned to duty.

On February 8, 1945 leading four P-38s armed with a drop tank and 500 pound bomb on a dive bombing mission against Mariveles on the Bataan Peninsula of Luzon. At 10:00am bombed successfully then dove down to strafe a barracks at Mariveles and jetty at Cochinos Point.

On March 5, 1945 took off leading a fighter sweep of eight planes over Formosa (Taiwan) with one aborting the mission. Over the target, they strafed sailboats. Dahl spotted a Sally headed inland and fired several bursts until the bomber went down in flames and crashed on the beach, his eighth aerial victory.

On March 28, 1945 took off leading a formation from 432nd FS with 431st FS and 433rd FS escorting B-25 Mitchells against Japanese shipping off Indochina (Vietnam) and engaged escorting fighters. Dahl pulled up until nearly stalling and opened fire on a Hamp with a deflection shot and claimed it as shot down, his ninth aerial victory and last of World War II.

On June 6, 1945 Dahl was serving as Operations Officer was transfered to Leyte and briefly assigned to the 62nd Replacement Company, 93rd Replacement Battalion then rotated back to the United States. In total, he flew 158 combat missions and was officially credited with nine aerial victories.

Assigned Aircraft
P-38H "Skidoo" 42-66504  scrapped or otherwise disappeared
P-38L 44-23957  ditched November 10, 1944

Aerial Victory Claims
Dahl was officially credited with nine aerial victories. His first was claimed on November 9, 1943 and his last on March 28, 1945.

Victory	Date	Location	Aircraft	Notes on claim
1	11/09/43	Alexishafen	Zeke (sic Oscar)	First aerial victory claim for a "Zeke" [sic, Ki-43 Oscar]
2	12/22/43	Wewak	Zeke (sic Oscar)	Second aerial victory claim for a "Zeke" [sic, Ki-43 Oscar]
3	01/23/44	Wewak	Oscar	Third aerial victory claim.
4	04/03/44	Hollandia	Oscar	Fourth aerial victory claim.
5	04/03/44	Hollandia	Oscar	Fifth aerial victory claim, became an "ace".
6	06/08/44	Waigeo	Oscar	Sixth aerial victory claim.
7	11/10/44	Ormoc Bay	Tony	Seventh aerial victory claim. Afterwards, collision damaged and ditched.
8	03/05/45	Formosa	Sally	Eighth aerial victory claim.
9	03/28/45	Indochina	Hamp	Ninth aerial victory claim.

Postwar
After the war, Dahl attended the University of Washington and Southern Colorado State University graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree. Afterwards, he worked at the Seattle Post Intelligencer newspaper. During February 1951 recalled to active duty in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) during the Korean War then worked as a test pilot, Air Force Depot and as the editor of Flying Safety Magazine. He attended Air Command and Staff College then became Commander, 734th Aircraft Warning and Control Squadron. Next, air staff at the Pentagon. He then served as Vice Commandant of Cadets, United States Air Force Academy. Followed by Deputy Chief of Staff, North American Air Defense Command and Commander, 56th Special Operations Wing and flew two combat tours in Southeast Asia. Dahl was promoted to the rank of Colonel and retired on June 30, 1978.

Awards
For his military service, Dahl earned the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to all living fighter aces of World War II by the White House, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Air Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Presidential Unit Citations with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with palm and numerous service ribbons.

Memorials
In 2006, P-38J Lightning 44-23314 at the Planes of Fame Museum is painted in the markings of this aircraft in tribute to Dahl.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Perry J. Dahl year of birth year listed as 1922
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Dahl, Perry J. pages 49 (PDF page 54) Chronological List: 11/10/44 page 478 (PDF page 483)
Missing Air Crew Report 10596 (MACR 10596) created November 14, 1944 for P-38L 44-23957
Missing Air Crew Report 10612 (MACR 10612) created November 14, 1944 for P-38L 44-23935 mentions this loss
475th Fighter Group Historical Foundation - Col. Perry J. "PJ" Dahl
P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1997) page 50 (profile 19, P-38H "Skidoo" 42-66504), 89 (P-38 aces, Dahl), 93 (Profile 19 description)
Lightning Strikes: The 475th Fighter Group in the Pacific War, 1943-1945 (1988) pages XXX
Possum, Clover & Hades 475th Fighter Group in World War II (2004) pages 96-98 (November 9, 1943), 107 (December 22, 1943), 114 (January 18, 1944), 115-117 (January 22, 1944), 118 (February 7, 1944 R&R Sydney), 121,123 (February 29, 1944), 133 (group photo), 133-134 (April 3, 1944), 157-159 (June 8, 1944), 217-223 (November 10, 1944), 246 (February 8, 1945), 248-249 (March 5, 1945), 253-254 (March 28, 1945), 271 (June 1945), 332 (index Dahl)
YouTube "Perry Dahl" March 25, 2012
YouTube "Webinar: A Conversation With P-38 Lightning Ace, PJ Dahl" May 27, 2021
YouTube "The P-38 Lightning Ace with Nine Lives: Surviving dogfights, bailouts, and two days in a life raft" February 25, 2022
Thanks to Perry J. Dahl for additional information