Brigadier General Paul B. Wurtsmith
commanded the V Fighter Command from its arrival in the SWPA in November, 1942, until relieved to become Commanding General, Thirteenth Air Force in January, 1945.

This report is presented by V Fighter Command combat pilots for the purpose of making available helpful hints for combat replacement pilots who are assigned to duty in the Southwest Pacific Theater. This pamphlet is not intended to be a text devoted to air tactics and the reader must bear that in mind.

The report is written by the combat pilots as they see air combat against the Nip. These pilots include men who have logged an average of 500 combat hours or more, and list among their numbers Bong, Johnson, MacDonald, McGuire, Kearby, Lynch and many others of the team. Their record - over 2500 confirmed victories.

Credit for their success is shared in a large part by the men working on the line and in the various departments who are a major part of any flying team. It has been found by experience in this theater that three rules must be followed by all fighter pilots who wish to be successful:

1. Never be surprised.

2. Always fight aggressively in pairs.

3. Never circle combat.

PAUL B. WURTSMITH,
Brigadier General, USA.

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