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John V. Jordan
JOHN V. JORDAN, born August 26,1923, at Renssalaer, Indiana. Before he
could start a career, Pearl Harbor occurred.
He enlisted in 1942 and started pilot training
with class 43-J. Due to illness, he was dropped
back and graduated with class 44-A at Aloe
Field, Victoria, Texas. After completion of all
required training in the Thunderbolt, he was
assigned combat duties with the 86th Fighter
Group, 525th Squadron in Italy. The 86th
was equipped with the A-36, "Invader" (P-51A with dive flaps) in support of "Operation Strangle." After completion of nine
combat missions in the A-36, never learning
how to start or stop it, his unit was re-equipped with the Thunderbolt. He flew another 100 missions in the P-47 from fields
in Italy, Corsica, France, and Germany
before returning home. His efforts earned
him the DFC, Air Medal with 5 clusters,
Purple Heart, ETO Ribbon with 6 stars,
Presidential Citation, and membership in the
"Caterpillar Club."
Discharged in 1945, he entered Purdue
University, majoring in Agriculture. After
completing his studies, he was involved in
Agriculture until ordered back to active duty
and the cockpit for the Korean Conflict.
When separation time came, he elected to
remain with thee U.S. Air Force until retirement. During this portion of his career, he
flew nearly all of the fighters and several
transports in the Air Force inventory, including jets. His later years were spent with
Balistic Missiles, being launch certified on
the Thor, Atlas, Titan II, and Minuteman
Missiles. He retired from active duty in 1970
with the rank of Colonel and many fond
memories.
Since retirement from the Air Force he has
remained active in the agricultural field. He
is a life member of the Thunderbolt Pilots
Association. While attending Purdue University he met and married Margaret Welsh.
They are the proud parents of two daughters,
Cinda and Sally.
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Pilot Name
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Biography Summary
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Asa A. Adair
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He returned to the States in August of 1944 after participating in the invasion "D" Day. He flew P-63's, P-51's, F-80's, T-33's, F-84's, T-38's, P-47's in numerous assignments during the following twenty years in in, Japan, U.S.A. and Europe before retiring after twenty-six years of Active Duty.
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John C. Anderson
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After P-47 transition he was assigned to the 406th Fighter Group, 512th Fighter Squadron. (E.T
.0.) He flew 56 missions through January, 1945 destroying supply routes, bridges, and railroads; he also flew close support missions with the ground forces, with attacks on tanks, artillery and enemy positions.
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W.B. 'Tex' Badger
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Eight and Ninth Air Force in WWII. B-l7's, P-51's and P-47's. Fifth Air Force in Korea, F80's and F86's. WWII and Korea, Flew 156 missions. Tactical units served in with the USAAF and USAF were: 305th BG , 368th Fighter Group, 4th Fighter Group, 49th Fighter Group, 12th Fighter Wing, 506th Fighter Wing.
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Robert T. (Bob) Bagby
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He trained in P47's at Cross City and Dale Mabry Fields, Florida and then joined the 341st FS Black Jack Squadron), 348th FG of the 5th AF in Brisbane, Australia in June 1943. Bob flew 78 combat missions in New Guinea (Port Moresby, Finchafen, Sador, Wakde and Biak) primarily as wingman to squadron CO's John Campbell and John Moore. Also privileged to fly wing to Neil Kirby on several occasions.
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Frank Baker
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After brief stops at Stone and Atcham, England he joined the 313th Fighter Squadron of the 50th Fighter Group in France. He flew 90 missions through V.E. Day. Most of the missions were close support attacks on various ground targets with a few B-26 escort missions thrown in. All of the missions took place in eastern France and southern Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters.
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John M. Balason
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To relieve the boredom, Balason went down on the deck and blew up a locomotive
he had observed at altitude. A few seconds after making his strafing pass he received a hit in his left wing tank and a fire started immediately in the cockpit. The paralyzing effect of the intense heat made climbing out of the cockpit impossible.
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Albert W. Barlow, Jr.
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He flew 69 escort and ground support missions. Destroyed one E/A (ME-I09). Was shot down on Sept. 8, 1944, and evaded enemy ground forces for 8 days. Was picked up by an American Recon. Unit behind the German lines. Was hospitalized until Feb. 1948, when he was medically retired with the rank of Capt. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, and Purple Heart.
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William T. Beckler
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In July, 1944 Beckler exchanged his P-40 for a P-47N Thunderbolt. Missions in the Jug covered Northern Italy and Southern France. These included escorting medium bombers. The Bombers, based in Southern Italy, would be escorted to France by Thunderbolts based on Corsica. Shortly before target the Jugs would pull ahead of the bombers and bomb the enemy gun positions.
Beckler's activities while participation in three major campaigns earned him the DFC, two Air Medals and two Presidential citations.
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Herbert R. Benson
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After training in P-47 Thunderbolts at bases in North Carolina, Virginia, and Delaware, he was
assigned to the European Theatre of operations and joined the 48th Fighter Group
493rd Fighter Squadron at St. Trond, Belgium. After flying 44 combat missions, he was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf clusters.
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Marvin C. Bigelow
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Training in the Southeast Training Command with the class of 44C, he graduated and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant single engine pilot at Marianna, Florida with the class of
44D. After checking out in the P-40 at Marianna, he transitioned in the P-47 in the Northeast Defense Command and after gunnery at Dover, Delaware was shipped on the Queen Mary to England.
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