Miika Quidel

Miika Tumela Quidel (30 January, 1922 - February 9, 1966), known more commonly as Miika Quidel, was a Royal Koranelan Air Force fighter pilot who was the top Koranelan and ace of aces pilot in the Second World War. A native of Vindhus, Kipauland, Captain Quidel was accredited with shooting down 32 Ta'arohan aircraft (1 assist) while flying s. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions in aerial combat. Quidel was and still is the top-scoring Koranelan flying ace.

Early life
Quidel was born on 30 January, 1922 in the town in Vindhus, Kipauland. One of just 1,034 residents, Quidel was born to an Ozakaw father and a Myrish immigrant mother. With Koranel still being under direct Myrish rule at the time of his birth, Quidel possessed dual citizenship between the two states, and traveled to Gladomyr on several occasions throughout his upbringing. Quidel graduated from Vindhus Secondary School in 1938 and enlisted in the Koranelan Armed Forces immediately after.

Military service
Quidel entered the RCAF Aviation Cadet Program in 1938, two years prior to the start of the Summer War. Though Quidel had hoped to be recruited as a fighter pilot, Quidel was disappointed when he was instead sent to navigator training. He was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his navigator wings on September 18, 1939. He next completed Consolidated training and joined the 113th Bomber Group in Riyata in January 1940. This happened to coincide with the beginning of the Summer War and the Ta'arohan invasion of Riyata. Quidel would fly 60 missions in the Summer War as a navigator in the B-24 Liberator, but would return to Koranel in 1941 following the Fall of Riyata. Instead of continuing his role as navigator, Quidel instead enlisted in pilot training after the sovereignty of Koranel was threatened by Ta'aroha. Quidel's dreams of being a fighter pilot were finally reached when he received his RCAF wings on July 21, 1943. Quidel then served in guard squadrons for 2 months until Ta'aroha began its invasion of Koranel.

Second World War
The Ta'arohan invasion of Koranel would begin on September 22, 1943, when Ta'aroha commenced Operation Red Banquet and landed on the southern shores of Kipauland. Quidel, as well as the rest of the 44th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, were one of the many squadrons deployed for aerial combat against Ta'arohan forces. Quidel would achieve his first aerial combat victory just 2 days into the invasion of Koranel on September 24, 1943. By the beginning of October, however, the Ta'arohan forces continued their war in Kipauland and also continued to push further into the island. On October 13, Quidel found himself outnumbered in a dogfight near Remenes following a naval assault on the city. Shortly after Quidel's 2 squad-mates were shot down and subsequently KIA, Quidel himself would have his aircraft fatally damaged by an onslaught of enemy fire. Quidel quickly maneuvered the aircraft into a barrel role before shooting down the aircraft which itself shot down Quidel. Quidel then guided the deteriorating aircraft out of enemy territory before crash-landing in a crater-riddled field. Quidel would survive with only minor injuries, and would be rescued shortly after his emergency landing. Undeterred, Quidel would reenter service only 7 days after.

On October 30, 1943, Quidel became Koranel's 14th flying ace pilot after he shot down his 6th Ta'arohan aircraft. Quidel would continue to destroy aerial targets afterwards with more intensity than before. By December, Quidel had shot down 15 Ta'arohan fighters. Over the time of his Second World War service, Quidel would fly 3 different P-51 Mustangs. Quidel did not name his aircraft, though he himself earned the nickname of "Flying Star" due to his unrivaled ability to maneuver his aircraft in quick and efficient ways. In March of 1943, Ta'aroha completely took over Kipauland, including Quidel's hometown of Vindhus. Disheartened but undefeated, Quidel would be deployed to defend Bellard and Domidy by the air. Quidel would proceed to down 11 more aircraft between March and May. Quidel was then deployed again to Dronninger Island, where he was one of many allied airforces to conduct a full-scale invasion on Ta'arohan Riyata, and partook directly in the Liberation of Riyata. During this invasion, Quidel would shoot down 5 more aircraft leading to the grand total of 31 downed aircraft with 1 assist. Quidel would only be recognized as an ace of aces following the end of the war, and would become one of only 3 Koranelan ace of aces.

Following the conclusion of the Second World War, Quidel would continue to engage in combat missions alongside Riyatic air force personnel in the Kidal and other South Vidina regions. Though Quidel would not shoot down a single aircraft during this time, Quidal was still a highly respected member and Captain during these engagements. Quidel would complete his final combat mission on February 10, 1952 while flying the.

Post-war life
Quidel would attract fame both domestically and internationally for his aerial achievements, being guest stars on numerous radio and television shows. Even though Quidel still remained in active service with the RCAF, Quidel still found time to give speeches and eventually write his book, "Skies over Kipauland". Quidel would meet his wife Eija Hirvonen after one of aforementioned speeches, and the two would keep in close contact until their marriage 3 years after in 1957. Quidel would proceed to have two children as well.

Disappearance
On February 9, 1966, Quidel took off from Lehtola Maki Air Force Base in Langdal in his F-86 Sabre, intending to practice several maneuvers and to generally practice his patterns. Though he was scheduled to be out for 45 minutes, Quidel never returned. Several expeditions and rescue missions were sent out, though there was no sign of wreckage anywhere near his scheduled flight path. As rescue missions slowly turned into recovery missions, no sign of Quidel or his aircraft was ever found. In recent decades, more attempts to locate Quidel's aircraft have been attempted with recent seafloor-surveying technologies, though these too have been fruitless.

Theories
The most likely and widely accepted theory is that Quidel mistakenly navigated off his course before experiencing an aircraft malfunction and crashing into the Shazabi Ocean. Though this is the most likely scenario, some stated he managed to fly to and land safely in Agarad, where he proceeded to create a new identity and live out the rest of his life there. Other theories are that Quidel purposefully navigated off-course and crashed into the ocean, effectively committing suicide. No substantial evidence supports either theory. In 2011, a piece of metal debris found off the coast of Ny Karnes was confirmed to have come from a F-86 Sabre, though it is unknown whether it came from Quidel's plane.