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Lt. Welch was later transferred to the 36th Fighter Squadron, based in [[New Guinea]] and flying the [[P-39 Airacobra]].  Although happy to get back into action, Welch disliked the P-39, which suffered from short range and poor performance.  Because of its limitations, it was tasked mainly in ground attack missions, although, in the hands of a good pilot, it could hold its own against the Zero.  On December 7, 1942, the anniversary of George Welch’s fight over Pearl, he was among fifteen Airacobra pilots sent up against a force of Val bombers escorted by Zeros.  Welch attacked a Zero from behind as it attempted to strafe Allied positions at [[Buna, New Guinea|Buna]], shooting it down in flames for his fifth victory of the war.  He then proceeded to down two of the Vals.<ref>''P-39 Airacobra Aces of World War 2'', by George Mellinger and John Stanaway, Osprey Publishing, 2001</ref>  In spite of this success, Welch never warmed to the Airacobra, and finally wangled a transfer to the 80th Fighter Squadron, which flew the [[P-38 Lightning]], the top fighter plane in American service at the time.

Lt. Welch was later transferred to the 36th Fighter Squadron, based in [[New Guinea]] and flying the [[P-39 Airacobra]].  Although happy to get back into action, Welch disliked the P-39, which suffered from short range and poor performance.  Because of its limitations, it was tasked mainly in ground attack missions, although, in the hands of a good pilot, it could hold its own against the Zero.  On December 7, 1942, the anniversary of George Welch’s fight over Pearl, he was among fifteen Airacobra pilots sent up against a force of Val bombers escorted by Zeros.  Welch attacked a Zero from behind as it attempted to strafe Allied positions at [[Buna, New Guinea|Buna]], shooting it down in flames for his fifth victory of the war.  He then proceeded to down two of the Vals.<ref>''P-39 Airacobra Aces of World War 2'', by George Mellinger and John Stanaway, Osprey Publishing, 2001</ref>  In spite of this success, Welch never warmed to the Airacobra, and finally wangled a transfer to the 80th Fighter Squadron, which flew the [[P-38 Lightning]], the top fighter plane in American service at the time.

George Welch more than doubled his score with the 80th FS, shooting down eight Japanese fighters and a [[Mitsubishi Ki-46|“Dinah” bomber]] in three separate engagements in June, August, and September of 1943.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/jaywelch70/My_Dad.html Major George Schwartz "Wheaties" Welch USAAF]</ref>  A short time after his last victories, a bad case of [[malaria]] forced Welch to return home for good, having scored sixteen kills in five battles.  He spent the rest of the war in the U.S., developing fighter tactics and attending more war bond rallies.

George Welch more than doubled his score with the 80th FS, shooting down eight Japanese fighters and a [[Mitsubishi Ki-46|“Dinah” bomber]] in three separate engagements in June, August, and September 1943.<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/jaywelch70/My_Dad.html Major George Schwartz "Wheaties" Welch USAAF]</ref>  A short time after his last victories, a bad case of [[malaria]] forced Welch to return home for good, having scored sixteen kills in five battles.  He spent the rest of the war in the U.S., developing fighter tactics and attending more war bond rallies.

After the war, Welch became the chief test pilot for [[North American Aviation]] and flew the first prototypes of the F-86 Sabre.  On one of these flights, Welch actually broke the sound barrier (before Yeager’s famous flight) while in a dive.  He later test-flew the [[F-100 Super Sabre]].  George Welch was killed during a demonstration flight in 1954 when his Super Sabre crashed due to a design flaw.<ref>[http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0113.shtml First Supersonic Jet]</ref>

After the war, Welch became the chief test pilot for [[North American Aviation]] and flew the first prototypes of the F-86 Sabre.  On one of these flights, Welch actually broke the sound barrier (before Yeager’s famous flight) while in a dive.  He later test-flew the [[F-100 Super Sabre]].  George Welch was killed during a demonstration flight in 1954 when his Super Sabre crashed due to a design flaw.<ref>[http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/history/q0113.shtml First Supersonic Jet]</ref>