First on the scene

It was the night of 6th December 1941 when pilots Kenneth Taylor and George Welch were out celebrating at the officers club at Wheeler Field, Hawaii. After the event, they would join an all night Poker game and only ended up going to bed at 06h00 am (7th December 1941).

Not even two hours later, the two were awakened by an air raid siren. At first they thought it was just some drill, until they say pillars of smoke coming from Pearl Harbour and low flying Japanese aircraft; they were under attack. Taylor immediately call Wheeler Field, but there was no reply. Then he tried Haleiwa Auxiliary Air Field. Someone picked up and Taylor ordered them to prepare two planes. Taylor and Welch rushed to their car, still in their tuxedo bottoms, and set off. Explosion racked the ground and a low flying Mitsubishi A6M Zero fired on them, missing, before pulling off. The two arrived at Haleiwa where two Curtiss P-40 Warhawks were waiting. Without hesitation they prepared to take off. Some called for them to leave the planes but Welch responded with: "To hell with that.", before the two men took off.

As they flew, they spotted 12 Aichi D3A Val Dive Bombers. The two flew up, undetected and opened fire, two bombers falling from the sky. The Japanese split and the men gave chase. Low on ammunition they soon landed at the half destroyed Wheeler Field, hangers and planes burning. Ground crews came to meet them and re-armed and refuelled the Warhawks. Just then, a group of officers arrived, telling the men to stand down. No orders to engage had been given. But before the men could object, another wave of Val Dive Bombers approach, causing the officers and ground crew to scatter. Taylor and Welch took off to meet the enemy head on.

They gave chase into the clouds where Taylor would down one of the Dive Bombers. As he did, another came on his tail and opened fire. A bullet hit the cockpit, just missing his head. Glass was sent into his shoulder and leg but he ignored it. Taylor would state it was no cause for concern and only startled him. He tried to shake the Val but could not. Seeing his friend in danger, Welch flew in at breakneck speed and opened fire. The Val burst into flames and the two continued. Welch chased a Zero whilst Taylor took on another Val, damaging it. Before he could finish it, he spotted a squadron of Zeros heading for Haleiwa. Welch was still chasing his enemy and had not noticed. Fearing they would take him by surprise, Taylor broke off and prepared to engage. However, the squadron would turn back and head for home. Welch would down his enemy before the two men landed. Welch had scored 4 confirmed aerial victories whilst Taylor had 2 confirmed and 2 probable.

The two would then head back to their barracks when they would see their commanding officer running towards Haleiwa. He stopped them and told them to turn around and get ready to defend the base. The two explained that the base was fine and explained all that had happened.

Both men where awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their actions and Taylor was awarded a Purple Heart for his injuries. Both were recommended for the Medal of Honour, but were denied for taking off without orders. In a 2003 interview, Taylor would say of the event: "I wasn't in the least bit terrified, and let me tell you why: I was too young and too stupid to realize that I was in a lot of danger." After the war, interviews with Japanese pilots who partook in the attack revealed that it was because of the two men they failed to destroy Haleiwa Air Field.

Taylor and Welch survived the war and would go their separate ways. Welch would serve in the Korean War, taking down multiple MiG-15 jets (all whilst disobeying orders). He died on 12 October 1954 when his jet disintegrated during a 7-G pullout at a speed of March 1.55.

Taylor would serve in the military until 1971. He would pass away in 2006.

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