i know a lot of you guys dig this stuff, and it's the reason i read the obit's.

Col. Ernest Banky Jr. aug.28/1920- june 2009. he's known for the radio call... "i've got 40 messerschmitt conered" (a miss quote).

it seems Mr. Banky was out flying his p-51 on dec. 27th 1944 looking for targets, he saw a "gaggle" of fw 190's, he slipped behind 25 of them, not knowing there was another "gaggle" of me 109's behind him. as the front pack looked back, they didn't realize he was alone, but thought the remainder of thier pack was more american fighters, all hell broke loose and he was attributed with 5 kills in one mission, a record, in a heavily patched together plane. "this is sunkist two, i've got 50 jerries conered over bonn. will share same with any p-51's in vicinity. see me at smokestack level. over and out". he then shared another kill in the ensuing melee, for a total of 5 1/2, giving him the title tiger of the bonn. as of dec. 1 1946 reports credit him with 10 1/2 air destroyed, one probable, five ground destroyed, and five ground damaged, and 44 destroyed locomotives.

retired 1968, married 66 years till death to "his jinny", two sons, two daughters, eight grand kids, seven great grand kids.......

all i can say is, thank you Mr. Bankey.....