The P-38 Pilot Who Shot Down Five German Planes in Just Five Minutes

Meet “Scrappy” Blumer, an extraordinary World War II fighter pilot known for his incredible feats in the air. His real-life achievements need no embellishments, making his story as thrilling as any Hollywood script. Laurence Elroy Blumer, born on May 31, 1917, in Walcott, North Dakota, was destined for greatness. His early years in the rural Midwest, where he learned to hunt and fish, helped him develop sharp hand-eye coordination that later served him well in aerial combat.

From Training Grounds to the European Front

After excelling in sports at Kindred High School, Blumer worked in carpentry before enrolling at Concordia College. With America’s entry into World War II, the Blumers moved to Washington, and Larry enlisted in the Army Air Corps in March 1942. He learned to fly at Mira Loma in California and earned his wings at Luke Field in Arizona.

Assigned to the 393rd Squadron of the 367th Fighter Group, his path to the European Theater was set. But before heading to Europe, Blumer got his nickname “Scrappy” after a fight with Marines at a party. Rather than reprimanding him, his commanding officer praised him for holding his own in the brawl.

The 367th Fighter Group trained in P-39D Airacobras in California and Tonopah, Nevada. During training, Blumer once got so into target practice that he shot up a town’s water tower and had to repaint his plane to cover his tracks. As the war demanded more pilots, the group shipped out for Europe in March 1944 on the SS Duchess of Bedford, landing in England during preparations for D-Day.

Into the Heat of Battle

Expecting to fly P-51 Mustangs, the pilots were instead greeted with P-38 Lightnings, requiring additional training. The P-38 was a formidable aircraft, fast and armed with powerful machine guns and cannons, making it effective in various roles including fighting, bombing, and reconnaissance.

The 367th entered combat on May 9, 1944, performing fighter sweeps over France and serving as bomber escorts on D-Day. The unit faced heavy losses, but their resilience earned them the nickname “Dynamite Gang.”

Blumer named his planes Scrapiron and endured intense missions, including a harrowing incident where he had to bail out of his burning aircraft but survived after hours behind enemy lines. He was recognized with several medals for his bravery.

A Defining Moment in Combat

As the summer of 1944 wore on, Blumer faced his defining moment. On August 25, he led a dive-bombing mission on German airfields. On his return, his squadron leader Major Grover Gardner reported an attack by 40 German Focke Wulf Fw-190s. Blumer, with his wingman Lieutenant William Awtrey, rushed to help, diving into the enemy formation. Within 15 minutes, Blumer shot down five enemy planes, all while employing a strategy of climbing and diving, which made him an ace in a single mission.

Awtrey witnessed the fierce battle, describing the scene as chaotic with aircraft dropping from the sky. Blumer’s fearless actions during this dogfight solidified his place in history and earned him the Distinguished Service Cross.