"Vraciu Hellcat" women's hoodie

Alexander Vraciu was a famous American fighter pilot during the Second World War, considered one of the greatest naval aviation aces in the United States.

Vraciu served in the Pacific aboard aircraft carriers such as the USS Intrepid and USS Lexington, flying Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters. He was the wingman of the famous ace Edward ‘Butch’ O'Hare, who taught him crucial air combat tactics. On 19 June 1944, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, known as the ‘Great Marianas Turkey Shoot’, Vraciu shot down six Japanese bombers in just eight minutes, using only 360 rounds of ammunition.

In total, he was credited with 19 aerial victories and the destruction of 21 enemy aircraft on the ground, making him the fourth-highest-scoring ace in the US Navy during the war. In December 1944, after being shot down over the Philippines, he survived by joining Filipino resistance fighters for several weeks before rejoining American forces.