Patrick Dawson Fleming (January 17, 1918 – February 16, 1956) was a high-scoring World War II US Navy fighter ace, and later an accomplished US Air Force test pilot. Fleming racked up 19 aerial victories in the Pacific Theatre, putting him in a three-way tie with Cornelius Nooy and Alexander Vraciu for fourth-highest-scoring Navy ace. At war's end he resigned his Navy commission and transferred to the Air Force, where he participated in early jet testing—including a flight in the Bell X-1 Chuck Yeager used to break the sound barrier. Fleming was later personally recruited by General Curtis LeMay to take part in Strategic Air Command (SAC) missions. With SAC Fleming participated in a classified "overflight" mission penetrating Soviet territory. Later he was promoted to deputy wing commander