Mihiel Gilormini

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Mihiel Gilormini
August 3, 1918 – January 29, 1988
Brigadier General Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini
Nickname	"Mike"
Place of birth	Yauco, Puerto Rico
Place of death	San Juan, Puerto Rico
Allegiance	United States (also British Commonwealth)
Service/branch	Royal Canadian Air Force(1941), Royal Air Force(1941 - 1942) United States Army Air Force(1942 - 1947), United States Air Force(1947 - 1975)
Years of service	1941 - 1975
Rank	Brigadier General
Commands held	198th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Puerto Rico Air National Guard
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross(5 times) Purple Heart Air Medal with four clusters

Brigadier General Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini (August 3, 1918 – January 29, 1988), was a United States Air Force officer who served in the Royal Air Force and in the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He was the recipient of the Silver Star, the Air Medal with four clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross 5 times. He was also the founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.

1 Early years
2 World War II
3 Post World War II
4 Awards and decorations
5 References
6 See also
7 Further reading

[edit] Early years

Gilormini (born Mihiel Gilormini Pacheco), was born and raised in Yauco, Puerto Rico, a town which is located in the southwestern region of the island. In the early 1940s, he moved to San Diego, California where he took private flying lessons earning his pilot's license in 1941. On November 23, 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force with the rank of sergeant /Pilot.^[1]

[edit] World War II

P-47 Thunderbolt
Type of aircraft flown by Gilormini

Upon the outbreak of World War II, Gilormini offered his services to the Royal Air Force and served with them until November 30, 1942, when he joined the United States Army Air Force with the rank of second lieutenant. In October 1942, he was assigned to the 346th Fighter Squadron and flew the P-39 interceptor. In March 1943, he was transferred to the 345th Fighter Squadron of the 350th Fighter Group in North Africa and Italy, to replace pilot losses. He stayed with the 345th "Devil Hawks" and flew a P-47 Thunderbolt until February 1945. During the war he was promoted to captain and flew a total of 200 combat missions over England, North Africa, Corsica and Italy. On May 19, 1943, Gilormini was involved in an aircraft accident when his P-39 went down over Maison Blanche, Algiers.^[2]^[3]

In an interview, Colonel Earl Miller, a former buddy and roommate of Gilormini, recalled the following:

"Gilormini was the commander of 'A' Flight while I was commander of 'C' Flight. We sometimes flew together. In fact, our last combat mission was attacking the airfield at Milano. I led the attack. The flak was real heavy. The 88 shells were bursting all around and also hitting a high bank (we were flying real low) to my right. Mike said, 'Dutch, you better bail out, you are on fire!' Followed immediately with, 'Don't bail out, it's another guy.' Unfortunately, my wingman crashed and was killed."^[4]

In 1945, Gilormini was awarded the Silver Star, G.O. (General Order) #27, for "Conspicuous Gallantry in Action" while assigned to HQ, 12th Air Force.^[5] Gilormini and Miller flew their last flight in Italy together giving air cover for General George C. Marshall's visit to their group at Pisa. They both returned to the United States on the same ship. Gilormini was awarded a Silver Star Medal and five Distinguished Flying Crosses. The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in combat in support of operations by "heroism" or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.^[6]

[edit] Post World War II

After the war he continued to serve in the Army Air Force. In 1947, he was reassigned to the newly formed United States Air Force and named base commander to the 198th Tactical Fighter Squadron in Puerto Rico. On November 23, 1947, the Puerto Rico Air National Guard came into existence as a result of the efforts led by Lieutenant Colonel Jose Muñiz, Colonel Alberto Nido and Colonel Mihiel Gilormini. Gilormini was promoted to brigadier general and served as commander until his retirement in 1975.

On January 29, 1988, Brigadier General Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini died in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was buried with full military honors in Puerto Rico National Cemetery located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico^[7]