https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39625914/leo-arnold-bird

Athlete and U.S. Navy World War II flying ace. Outstanding football, basketball and baseball player, graduate of 1938 class of Byrd High School in Shreveport and 1942 at LSU, where he set records in football and basketball and was chosen the school's best punter in 100 years. He was considered one of the best punters and passers in the Southeast Conference. Joining the Navy in World War II, he flew Hellcat fighters with VF-51 off the USS San Jacinto and according to contemporary and end-of-war reports downed 5-1/2 Japanese planes. He also took part in the sinking of a Japanese destroyer with other Hellcat fliers, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for that feat. He also earned the Air Medal. He was one of the pilots who flew with future President George HW Bush and flew cover over Bush after Bush was shot down in the Pacific and had to be rescued by a submarine. After the war Bird was in the oil and energy supply and service business and iron works in Northwest Louisiana.

However, the American Fighter Aces Association only credits Bird with 1/2 credit for a July 25, 1944, downing of a Jake (float plane), shared with Lt. Bayard Franklin Griffin; an Oct. 10, 1944, Judy, full credit; an Oct. 15, 1944, Oscar, shared with Griffin, Lt. Howard Isherwood, Jr and Ens. Nathaniel James Adams, for 1/4 credit; an Oct. 15, 1944, Frances (shared with Griffin, Isherwood, Adams, Lt (jg) Daniel Glenn Stewart and Ens. William Clay Hartung, for 0.166 credits); an Oct. 24, 1944, Jake, shared with Griffin for 1/2 credit; and a Nov. 11, 1944, Jill, shared with Griffin, for 1/2 credit. The total there is 2.916 credits. The discrepancy between published accounts presumably based on Navy releases and records remains unresolved. However, the legacy of a brave and accomplished flier remains, and so will he here.

Leo Bird (1918)