Albert John 'Ajax' Baumler, was born April 17th 1914 in Bayonne, New Jersey . He Died August 2nd 1973 in Waco Texas. Baumler is credited as the highest scoring American of the Spanish Civil War. In 1935-36 Baumler did primary pilot training at Randolph Field and was commissioned into the US Army Air Corp. Baumler resigned his commission and offered his services to the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. He was contracted from December 27th 1936, at a salary of $1500 a month plus $1000 for every enemy aircraft shot down. Initially assigned to the Russian controlled Escuadrilla 'Kosakov', flying a Polikarpov I-15 biplane. His first victory was a shared Fiat C.R.32 on March 16th. On March 20th came his first individual kill, another C.R.32, on April 17th he claimed a Heinkel He51 of the Legion Condor with another probable. In late May 1937, Baumler was re-assigned to the Escuadrilla de Moscas, flying the I-16 Rata. On June 2nd he claimed another C.R.32 and one probable. Due to the $1000 per kill bounty, confirmation was strict and Baumler returned to America with an official tally of 4.5 kills, but is still regarded as the highest scoring American of the Spanish Civil War. Re-joining the USAAF, Baumler tried to join the AVG 'Flying Tigers', but was refused travel to Burma due to his Spanish service. He was then attached to the US Military Mission in China, as a liaison to the AVG. Baumler boarded a Pan Am Clipper loaded with tyres and spares for the AVG and headed East. However on the morning of December 7th 1941, off Wake Island the aircraft was strafed by Japanese aircraft. Dumping their cargo they returned to America. Baumler served with the 23rd FG as a pilot and adjutant under Major 'Tex' Hill. During the Korean War Baumler was a Ground Controlled Approach operator and directed the landing of Dwight D Eisenhowers famous flight to Korea.. As a radar operator he was able to identify some Mig pilots by their manoeuvring, as they were from his old squadron in Spain. He would confuse American pilots when he vectored them to intercept some of 'My Boys'. (info from Wikki.) Nothing new yet so a couple of these until something crops up. Taking the Grandkids to a Transport Rally tomorrow, don't know what will be there but a few photo ops perhaps. Thanks for dropping bye and any comments much appreciated....have a good weekend.