Edward F. Rector

American World War II flying ace

Edward Franklin Rector (September 28, 1916 – April 26, 2001) was a colonel in the United States Air Force, a fighter ace of World War II, and a member of the Flying Tigers.

Rector, a native of Marshall, North Carolina, graduated from Catawba College in 1938 and began his military career as a naval aviator. He was a carrier pilot on the Ranger, based in Norfolk, when he was recruited for the American Volunteer Group, the official name of the Flying Tigers. The unit was formed with the financial backing of the Chinese government to help defend the Burma Road and Chinese cities from Japanese attack before the United States entered World War II.

On December 10, 1941 Rector was part of a three plane photo reconnaissance mission from Rangoon to Bangkok. On December 20 when the Flying Tigers engaged in combat for the first time during a raid by Hanoi based Japanese aircraft on the Chinese city of Kunming, Rector provided the American Volunteer Group with its first aerial victory and would later record the last in a long list of 23rd Fighter Group air to air kills. In May 1942, he played a critical role in locating and attacking Japanese military columns attempting a push into China at the Salween River Gorge. This allowed the Chinese time to blow up a key bridge across the river, and the Japanese subsequently retreated into Burma. Rector was credited with having destroyed 10.5 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat during the war.

Rector retired from the United States Air Force in 1962 as a colonel and had a second career in the aviation industry as a consultant in India, North Africa, and Europe. He died April 26, 2001, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after suffering a heart attack and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

U. S. Air Force Command Pilot BadgeSilver StarLegion of MeritDistinguished Flying Crosswith bronze oak leaf clusterPurple HeartAir Medalwith bronze oak leaf clusterAir Force Commendation MedalAir Force Presidential Unit CitationAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic Pacific Campaign Medalwith two bronze campaign starsWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service Medalwith service starAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith four bronze oak leaf clusters Distinguished Flying Cross(United Kingdom)Order of Yung Hui(5th class)(Republic of China)Order of the Cloud and Banner(1st class)(Republic of China)Army, Navy & Air Force Medal(Republic of China)China War Memorial Medal(Republic of China)