American flying ace in the 506th Fighter Group during World War II

He was credited with the destruction of 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, and another 3 destroyed on the ground, while strafing Japanese airfields!

Aust later flew 324 combat missions over Vietnam!

(1921-2020) Born in in Scooba, Mississippi, he enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Force on June 23, 1942. He was sent to Santa Ana Army Air Base in California, and completed flight training and earned his wings. Aust joined the 457th Fighter Squadron of the 506th Fighter Group as an American P-51 Mustang pilot. He was assigned with his unit to Tinian in the Mariana Islands in February 1945. During this time, the squadron flew missions against the island of Chichi Jima. In March 1945, the squadron arrived at North Field in Iwo Jima, and Aust flew long-range missions over Japan. He experienced his first enemy aircraft encounter on July 16, 1945, over Nagoya. During the aerial combat while leading two flights of P-51s, Aust engaged six Nakajima Ki-84 "Franks" and managed to shoot down three of them. His second and last encounter with enemy aircraft happened on August 10, 1945, during a VLR mission escorting B-29 Super Fortresses to the northeast of Tokyo. Aust shot down a Mitsubishi A6M Zero at 25,000 feet. He quickly spotted another Zero and made two passes, damaging it both times. After the second pass, the Zero dove into the clouds and disappeared. Aust was able to spot a third Zero, got behind it, and shot it down over an airfield for his second victory of the day, and his fifth aerial victory of the war. At the end of the mission, Aust claimed two A6M Zeros shot down. This was his last combat mission of World War II. On August 14, 1945, the 457th Fighter Squadron escorted B-29s on their last mission against Japan. The following day, on August 15th, Emperor Hirohito announced the surrender of Japan. During World War II, Aust flew a total of 14 Very Long Range (VLR) missions from Iwo Jima. He was credited with the destruction of 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, and another 3 destroyed on the ground, while strafing enemy airfields. On several other missions, he was credited with destroying several locomotives, at least three large fishing boats, and damaged a destroyer. He is the only flying ace of the 506th Fighter Group! Aust remained in the United States Air Force after the war, and served in a variety of command and staff positions over the next 27 years. During the Vietnam War, Aust served as an F-4 Phantom II pilot, and vice commander of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing at Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam, from January to May 1968, and then as a North American F-100 Super Sabre pilot, and commander of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, from May 1968 to February 1969. Aust flew 324 combat missions over Vietnam flying the F-4s in primarily radar bombing, and close air support bombing and strafing missions while flying the F-100 Super Sabre. After his tour in Vietnam, he was sent to South Korea, where he served as vice commander of the 314th Air Division at Osan Air Base, from September 1970 to March 1971, and then commanded the 475th Air Base Wing at Misawa Air Base, Japan in 1971. He later served as commander of 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. After returning to U.S in December 1971, he served as special assistant to the commander of the 31st Combat Support Group at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, from December 1971, until his retirement from the Air Force on July 1, 1972. He received the "Congressional Gold Medal," in recognition of "heroic military service and defense of the country's freedom throughout the history of aviation warfare." Colonel Abner M. Aust, Jr., died on June 16, 2020, at Lakeland, Florida, after a brief illness, at the age of 98. He was buried with full military honors at Sarasota National Cemetery, Florida.

Signature With Rank And Sentiment: 4 3/4 x 2 1/4, card signed in ink, "Abner M. Aust, Jr., Colonel U.S.A.F. Retired. Thank you all for thinking of me." Bold and neatly written. Excellent.