World War II; unlike in Europe, you flew until it was time to go home. So it was for James "Jug" Curran. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, James "Jug" Curran volunteered to try flying in the blue yonder, and trained as an Army fighter pilot. It is a tale of perseverance, as Curran flew over 200 combat missions, and with the men of the 348th Fighter Group proved the Thunderbolt's great capability as they battled their way against a stubborn and deadly foe. This work increases the body of knowledge on the critical role of aviation in the Pacific War, as U.S. fighter pilots took the lead in our counter-offensive against the short-lived island Empire. AUTHOR: Terrence G. Popravak, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, and served in the US Air Force for nearly 24 years at Stateside bases and overseas, retiring in 2010. He is a volunteer historian with the Oregon Air National Guard's 142nd Fighter Wing and frequently writes on the unit's history, in addition to writing several aviation/military history web logs.