Dean “Diz” Laird was born on February 7, 1921, in Loomis, Placer County, California.  As the only known Navy Ace to shoot down both German and Japanese planes during World War II, Dean “Diz” Laird is an American legend. Laird entered naval service in January 1942, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, remaining in service for 29 years. During that time, Laird flew virtually every type of fighter and attack plane in the Navy inventory, logging more than 8,200 hours, 3,662 in jets and 4,623 in propeller aircraft, with 520 carrier landings. Growing up in Placer Country, near Sacramento, Laird had planned to follow in the contrail of his older brother, and Army Air Corps pilot, but Laird, preferring to enter the Pacific effort, joined the Navy flight program. 

Instead of a Pacific assignment however, he was ordered aboard the carrier Ranger, supporting the British fleet in Scotland. On October 4, 1943, flying through rain squalls near the Orkney Islands, he scored two German aircraft kills. Two months later Laird was transferred to the Pacific. In November 1944, he shot down the first Japanese fighter – in January 1945 another, and on February 17, 1945, two more. 

Laird includes the Distinguished Flying Cross amongst his many awards and achievements. Called the “quintessential fighter pilot” by the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame, he was known for his self-confidence, Laird served as both a pilot and technical advisor for the movie Tora! Tora! Tora! Filmed in 1970. Laird passed away at the age of 101 on August 10, 2022.

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