Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

CAPT. DON S. GENTILE

4TH FG * (20.83)

Captain Don S. Gentile was one those Americans who couldn’t wait. He left his home in Piqua, Ohio, to train with the RCAF in September 1940. He won his wings there and was sent to England early 1942 where he was assigned as an instructor. He got rid of this assignment by buzzing a dog-track and found himself assigned to No. 133 Squadron. Here he got in his first combat missions and was credited with downing a Focke Wulf 190 while covering the commando raid at Dieppe on August 19,1942. Gentile’s scoring went slowly until early 1944. He had transferred to the USAAF and become a part of the 4th Fighter Group in September 1942 still flying Spitfires and then in March 1943 they had received P-47’s which the RCAF pilots were never happy in. Then came the P-51 Mustangs in March 1944 and Gentile went to town. Between the 3rd of March and April 8th he knocked down 15.5 enemy aircraft. Teamed with Lt. Johnny Godfrey, he got 2 and 3 enemy aircraft every time he was in action. Gentile was withdrawn from combat in June 1944 and returned to the U.S. to sell war bonds and wound up a test pilot at Wright-Patterson, Field, Ohio.

Tally: 20.83 aerial victories and 7 destroyed on the ground.

Decorations: Distinguished Service Cross, D.F.C. w/3 OLC, Air Medals.

Captain Don Gentile was killed in the crash of a T-33 near Andrews AFB in 1950.