Changes

'''George Welch''' was a fighter pilot and ace with the US Army Air Corps in [[World War II]].  He’s most well known for his heroic actions during the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], and for being one of the first men (some say the first) to break the speed of sound.

'''George Welch''' was a fighter pilot and [[Flying ace|ace]] with the US Army Air Corps in [[World War II]].  He’s most well known for his heroic actions during the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]], and for being one of the first men (some say the first) to break the speed of sound.

George Welch was born on May 18, 1918, the son of a research chemist.  His father’s name was Schwartz, but due to anti-German prejudice of the time, it was decided to change George’s last name to Welch, his mother’s maiden name.  Welch attended [[Purdue University]] and studied mechanical engineering, but had fallen in love with aviation.  He applied to the US Army for flight training, and was eventually accepted in late 1939.  He received his commission in January 1941, and got a plum assignment to the 47th Fighter Squadron, based at [[Wheeler Army Airfield|Wheeler Field]] on [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii]].  The squadron flew antiquated [[P-26 Peashooter]]s, but was soon re-equipped with modern [[P-40 Warhawk]]s.

George Welch was born on May 18, 1918, the son of a research chemist.  His father’s name was Schwartz, but due to anti-German prejudice of the time, it was decided to change George’s last name to Welch, his mother’s maiden name.  Welch attended [[Purdue University]] and studied mechanical engineering, but had fallen in love with aviation.  He applied to the US Army for flight training, and was eventually accepted in late 1939.  He received his commission in January 1941, and got a plum assignment to the 47th Fighter Squadron, based at [[Wheeler Army Airfield|Wheeler Field]] on [[Oahu]], [[Hawaii]].  The squadron flew antiquated [[P-26 Peashooter]]s, but was soon re-equipped with modern [[P-40 Warhawk]]s.