Edward O’Hare achieved quite an honor on this day in 1942. He became the first American fighter pilot to be awarded the title Ace. It happened just minutes after taking off from the Lexington, an aircraft carrier in the Coral Sea.
WWII was in action and the United States was involved. Radar had detected Japanese bombers heading toward the Lexington and fighters were scrambled to intercept. “O’Hare and his team went into action, piloting F4F Wildcats. In a mere four minutes, O’Hare shot down five Japanese G4M1 Betty bombers–bringing a swift end to the Japanese attack.”1 Not only was O’Hare awarded the title of ace but he was also awarded the Medal of Honor and seven years later, his name became recognizable to all due to the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, named in Edward’s honor.
The definition of an ace pilot is simple. A fighter pilot must have five confirmed aerial victories. To me, that doesn’t seem like a lot so there must be thousands of ace pilots, right? Evidently, it’s not as simple as it sounds.
“As of 2022, the American Fighter Aces Association has recognized 1,442 fighter pilots as aces.”2 That’s for ALL the years that we have had fighter pilots. To give this some perspective, according to military.com, the Air Force needs 21,000 pilots per year.3 The military as a whole has 43,300 pilots and the Air Force 19,100 of them.4
Doing the math, if the 1,442 ace pilots received that designation this year, that’s only
3% of the pilots getting that honor. However, this is 1,442 pilots since we’ve had fighter planes. Over the decades, only 1,442 have earned this title. THAT is an impressive statistic and makes the honor even greater.
Do you suppose the other fighter pilots are jealous of the aces? Do they figure that since they can’t achieve the same designation they might as well just quit? Are the other pilots angry, pouting, or offended that the military has recognized the aces with great fanfare, but the rest don’t receive the same applause?
We would say, “Of course not! They are professionals. They serve in the United States military. They are proud of their service as well as the accomplishments of their brothers and sisters in arms. It’s ludicrous to think there would be jealousy over something like this.” I totally agree. However, one soldier from the past wasn’t as mature and enlightened in his thinking.
“And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick. (7) And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. (8) And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? (9) And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.” (1 Samuel 18:6-9)
One military leader is jealous over the accomplishments of another. We rightfully say that is ridiculous. But how many Christians are jealous over the accomplishments or abilities of another believer? The rubber just hit the road, didn’t it?
Consider these verses in 1 Corinthians 12:14-18. “For the body is not one member, but 
many. (15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? (18) But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
Christian, we are not in competition with each other. We’re not even in competition with ourselves. We are just supposed to give God our best every day, work with other believers who are doing the same, and give all the glory to the Lord.
Praise the Lord for the way He has blessed and used your brothers and sisters. While you’re at it, thank Him for how He has chosen to use you.
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pilot-ohare-becomes-first-american-wwii-flying-ace
2https://executiveflyers.com/what-is-an-ace-pilot/
3https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/09/20/air-force-still-short-pilots-and-hopes-tech-will-help-close-gap.html
4https://www.skytough.com/post/how-many-pilots-are-there
