The term "Flying Ace"—traditionally a pilot credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft—is a title largely associated with the world wars, and the era of the "Ace" is often considered to have ended with the advent of long-range missile combat. However, the title of the "last surviving American WWII ace" belonged to Donald McPherson, who passed away on August 14, 2025, at the age of 103. McPherson earned his status as an ace while flying an F6F Hellcat from the USS Essex during the final battles of World War II. In a more modern context, the last time American pilots achieved "Ace" status in a single conflict was during the Vietnam War, with notable figures like Randy "Duke" Cunningham and Steve Ritchie. While modern "air-to-air" kills still occur, the rarity of dogfighting in the 21st century means that most modern fighter pilots may never see an enemy aircraft in their sights, making those historical figures the final representatives of a now-bygone era of close-quarters aerial combat.