Air Force hero, ace passes away

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ryan DeCamp
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Aces stand as American heroes and military legends. The Air Force recently lost one such legend with the passing of an ace from America's "greatest generation" and a member of the famed 56th Fighter Group from World War II.

Col. Walker "Bud" Mahurin (ret.) passed away May 11 peacefully at his home in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 91.

"Bud Mahurin was a legendary fighter pilot, inspirational leader, and an exemplar of Luke Air Force Base," said Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, 56th Fighter Wing commander. "Bud embodied the highest American ideals and exemplified our Air Force's martial virtues of devotion to duty, valor and sacrifice."

Colonel Mahurin's career as a fighter pilot included credit for 26 aerial victories, making him an "ace" five times over. Twenty two of his kills came during World War II in a P-47 Thunderbolt. His other aerial wins came during the Korean War.

His time on active duty included 16 months as a prisoner of war during the Korean War. He was awarded the distinguished service cross, silver star and purple heart, along with other medals.

He earned the majority of his kills - and ace status - while assigned to the 63rd Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group (now the 56th Fighter Wing). Colonel Mahurin's 26 aerial victories made him the third highest-scoring ace among the 56th Fighter Group's 39 aces.

"Bud was a shining example of an Air Warrior," said General Neubauer. "Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family."

In recent years, the colonel came back to Luke to speak at base warrior calls and pilot graduations.

Colonel Mahurin is survived by his wife Joan, to whom he was married 40-years, three children and seven grandchildren. Arrangements are being made for burial at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.