Donald McPherson, a Nebraska World War II veteran and the last surviving American "ace" pilot of the conflict, has died at age 103.

McPherson served as a Navy fighter pilot in the Pacific theater aboard the USS Essex and was credited with shooting down five Japanese aircraft — the threshold to be considered an "ace."

The American Fighter Aces Association and the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum confirmed he was the last living U.S. pilot with that distinction.

Who was Donald McPherson?

The backstory:

McPherson enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and trained as a pilot before flying the F6F Hellcat in combat. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and three Distinguished Flying Crosses for his service.

He once described how, during a mission, he shot down two enemy planes in quick succession

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