I think you’re correct....it was Yeager. For some reason, I had Blese in mind, but I believe he grew up a service brat and didn’t spend much time in the country.
No, Yeager grew up in rural West Virginia. He entered the military first during WWII.
I got to meet Gen. Robert Lee Scott, author of “God Is My C0-Pilot”. He also wrote a bunch of other books which were not as well known.
I do remember his mentioning that the Japanese ground troops tended to not lead their target enough. He wondered if it was because they had never duck hunted.
Yes, it was Yeager. He said country boys understood equipment and machinery of all kinds so the mechanicals of an airplane were easier for them to understand. As well, they all knew the previously mentioned hunting skills, stalking, leading a shot, etc.
I have also read that they seemed to adapt and understand the 3 dimensional battle that airplanes require vs a land battle that takes place in two dimensions.