Fred Ernst Gutt (October 10, 1919 – June 30, 2012) was a United States Marine Corps fighter pilot who became an ace in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.
Early life
Fred E. Gutt was from Madison, Wisconsin, although he was born in Kronstadt, Romania. He was a 1941 graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
World War II
Gutt was assigned to Marine fighter squadron VMF-223. Initially flying Grumman F4F Wildcats, 2d Lt. Gutt arrived with VMF-223 on Guadalcanal on 20 August 1942, to operate as part of the Cactus Air Force. He was evacuated with the unit on 12 October. Reequipped with Vought F4U-1 Corsairs, VMF-223 returned to action in the Solomon Islands in 1943.
On 28 December 1943, Gutt shot down three Japanese fighter planes in less than five minutes during a fighter sweep over Rabaul, bringing his score to seven. He finished his combat duty with eight kills. Four kills were each scored in the F4F and the F4U. He shot down four Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, two Rufes, a float biplane, and a bomber.
Gutt was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross twice.
References
American World War II flying aces
United States Marine Corps officers
United States Marine Corps pilots of World War II
United States Naval Aviators
Recipients of the Air Medal
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) Aviators from Wisconsin Military personnel from Madison, Wisconsin University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni 1919 births 2012 deaths Romanian emigrants to the United States People from Brașov