LOS ANGELES — Frederick R. “Fritz” Payne, a World War II fighter ace who left his mark on aviation and wartime history by shooting down six Japanese warplanes during the Battle of Guadalcanal, a bloody, months-long confrontation that helped change the course of the war, has died at age 104.

The retired Marine Corps brigadier general, who was believed to be the oldest surviving U.S. fighter ace, died on Aug. 6 at his home in Rancho Mirage.

Hundreds had turned out to honor him last Memorial Day at the Palm Springs Air Museum, which on Tuesday confirmed his death.

“He was an extraordinary guy, and we can only hope that we can live up to his and others’ example and carry on in their footsteps and remember what they did,” said the museum’s director, Fred Bell.

What Payne did between September and October 1942 was take to the skies in an F4F Wildcat and shoot down four Japanese bombers and two fighter planes during a crucial, months-long battle for control of the Pacific that Allied forces had launched with no clear indication they could win.

“Fritz came along at a time when we were essentially losing the war,” said Bell, adding Payne and others who “stood their ground at Guadalcanal” kept the Japanese from gaining control of the Pacific Ocean.

Payne, meanwhile, would be honored with the Navy Cross, silver star, Distinguished Flying Cross and other medals during a long military career.

When Congress decided this year to honor all of the fighter aces with a Gold Medal, its highest civilian honor, he was too frail to attend the ceremony in Washington, D.C., but received the medal at the Air Museum.

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