Robert Hawthorne Neale (May 3, 1914[1] – 1994) was the top flying ace with the American Volunteer Group (AVG), amassing 13 victories.
[1] He became an aviator, receiving his wings in 1939, and was a dive-bomber pilot on the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), flying the Curtiss SBC Helldiver and Douglas SBD Dauntless.
[1] Ensign Neale resigned his commission to join the AVG of the Chinese Air Force in June 1941.
[1] Neale took over the AVG's 1st Squadron (the "Adam & Eves") after its commander, Robert Sandy Sandell, was killed, and was decorated by the British government with the Distinguished Service Order for his exploits in the defense of Burma.
After returning to the United States, Neale served as a civilian transport or ferry pilot for Pan American World Airways.