Mihiel Gilormini 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 Forces 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 a co - founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard . Early years . Gilormini ( birth name : Mihiel Gilormini Pacheco ) was born to Domingo Gilormini and Petronila Pacheco de Gilormini in the town of Yauco , Puerto Rico . The town of Yauco , where he was raised and where he received his primary education , is located in the southwestern region of the island . Gilormini , graduated from the Escuela Superior de Yauco ( Yauco High School ) and in the early 1940s , 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 . World War II . Upon the outbreak of World War II , Gilormini offered his services to the Royal Air Force and served with them . As a member of the RAF , he flew in a squadron of P - 39s from England to North Africa and participated in the Allied invasion of Oran . He served with the RAF until November 30 , 1942 , when he joined the United States Army Air Forces 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 . On one occasion Gilormini led a squadron in an attack against Nazi positions in Conneto , Italy . During the attack his P - 47 was struck by enemy anti - aircraft fire . Gilormini made a nose dive which put out the flames consuming his aircraft and rejoined his squadron . His squadron destroyed a strategic railroad and vehicles which were transporting military equipment . During the war he was promoted to captain and flew a total of 200 combat mission s 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 . 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 . " In 1945 , Gilormini was awarded the Silver Star , G . O . ( General Order ) # 27 , for " Conspicuous Gallantry in Action " for his actions during the Conneto , Italy mission , while assigned to HQ , 12th Air Force . 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 also the recipient of 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 . Also , in 1945 , Puerto Rican poet Francisco Rojas Tollinchi paid homage to Gilormini in his poem " Recuerdo yaucano " ( Remembrance of a Yaucano ) . 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 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 Colonel Mihiel Gilormini , Colonel Alberto A . Nido and Lieutenant Colonel José Antonio Muñiz . 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 Awards and decorations . Among Gilormini ' s awards and decorations were the following : Awards : Badges :