Hispanics in the Defense of
the United States of America
A Salute to our Hispanic Fighter Pilots "Ace Pilots"
Colonel Manuel J. Fernandez Jr
Air Force Fighter Ace Korean Conflict
From September 1952 to May 1953, Captain Manuel J. Fernandez, Jr.
shot down 14 and 1/2 MIGs and flew 125 combat missions with
the 4th Fighter Inteceptor Wing in Korea.
Flying F-86 aircraft, his first MIG victory ocurred on 4 October 1952.
On 10 May 1953 he had his last Korean victory and shared 1/2 victory
over MIG aircraft the same day.
He is credited with 14 solo victories.
Colonel Fernandex was born in Key West, Florida on 19 April 1925.
In 1943 he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in Miami, Florida.