Ira Wolfert

Civilian
media-23647.jpeg UPL 23647 Captain Don Gentile (center) of the 4th Fighter Group after a mission. War Correspondent Ira Wolfert, who spent almost a month getting Gentile's story, is at the far left of the picture.

"On-Man Air Force" by Don Gentile

Object Number - UPL 23647 - Captain Don Gentile (center) of the 4th Fighter Group after a mission. War Correspondent Ira Wolfert, who spent almost a month getting Gentile's...

Ira Wolfert grew up in New York City and at age 20 married poet Helen Herschdorfer in 1928. Two years later he he graduated from the Columbia University School of Journalism. From there he worked for North American Newspaper Alliance and in 1942, his series of articles about the Battle of Guadalcanal won him the Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting.

He wrote several war books including "Battle for the Solomons", "One-Man Air Force", and "American Guerrilla in the Philippines". Although "One-Man Air Force" was really an autobiography by Capt. Don Gentile, Wolfert spent almost a month with Gentile and was his roommate at Debden Air Base until he received all of Gentile's story and published it.

Wolfert went on to co-author a few films and write more books.

At age 89 Wolfert died and was survived by his daughter and son and four grandchildren.

Connections

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People

A pilot, Domenic "Don" Gentile, of the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group - Debden with his P-51 Mustang, nicknamed "Shangri-La"
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 336th Fighter Squadron No 133 'Eagle' Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-885109
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New York, NY, USA 1 November 1908

Died

Margaretville, NY, USA 24 November 1997

Revisions

Date
ContributorWD-C Mustang
Changes
Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Wolfert
"1000 Destroyed" by Grover Hall

Ira Wolfert: Gallery (1 items)