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Service Details |
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Last Rank
Major
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Last Primary AFSC/MOS
AAF MOS 1055-Pilot, Single-Engine Fighter
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Last AFSC Group
Pilot (Officer)
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Primary Unit
1951-1951, 35th Fighter Group
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Service Years
1942 - 1951
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Personal Details
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Home State
Indiana | |
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Year of Birth
1919 |
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This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Stephen Willcox-Deceased
to remember
Davis, Murrit Herman, Maj.
If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
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Casualty Info
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Home Town
Dayton, Ohio |
Last Address
Chinhae AB, South Korea
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Casualty Date
Aug 14, 1951 |
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Cause
Hostile, Died |
Reason
Air Loss, Crash - Land |
Location
Korea, North |
Conflict
Korean War |
Location of Interment
Not Specified |
Wall/Plot Coordinates
Not Specified |
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Last Known Activity
"Major Davis was the pilot of a F-51D Mustang night fighter with the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18th Fighter Bomber Group. On August 14, 1951, while on a search and rescue mission, his aircraft struck a hill about 19.5 miles south of Pyongyang, North Korea and burned. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial..." Source: American Battle Monuments Commission, The Korean War Honor Roll, http://www.abmc.gov
Aircraft # 44-74035 Source: Korwald Loss Incident Summary, http://www.dtic.mil
"On 14 August Davis was flying his 35th combat mission - flight leader in a twelve-ship flight of Mustangs that was making 'a devastating low level napalm run against supply warehouses' in the heavily defended capital city of Pyongyang. It was his second mission over the 'flak trap' city. Earlier that day he had led napalm attacks over the city's industrial center. One of the most famous photographs taken during the Korean War shows Davis in 'Sexy Sally' and his wingman releasing their napalm tanks while flying between tall smoke stacks. During that mission, Davis' plane hit a cable and suffered heavy damage. After returning to base for another Mustang and a fresh flight, soon he was back over Pyongyang. 'Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire that had critically damaged his aircraft,' Davis circled the target several times. He was attempting to locate two other pilot who had been shot down by enemy fire....Disregarding the fact that his aircraft was critically damaged, Davis continued searching for the missing pilots....After an exhaustive search, Davis reassembed his squadron at the rendezvous point and headed towards home. A scant ten minutes after leaving the target area, his engine quit. Although he jettisoned his canopy, Major Davis was not able to successfully exit his aircraft, which spiraled to the left and crashed into the ground." Source: The combat Diary of the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing in the Korean War, http://www.truckbustersfromdogpatch.com
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Comments/Citation
Murrit Herman Davis was born in Indiana. He worked production lines welding aircraft engines prior to enlisting as a Private in the Air Corps on March 3, 1942. He flew 147 missions in P-39s and P-40s with the 347th Fighter Group in the South Pacific (it is then, likely some of the air medals were earned prior to Korea). Sources: http://www.18thfwa.org and U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, Ancestry.com
SILVER STAR
"The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Major Murrit H. Davis, United States Air Force, for gallantry in action against an enemy as Squadron Commander, 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 18th Fighter-Bomber Group, FIFTH Air Force, on 14 August 1951. On that date, Major Davis led a flight of 12 F-51 type aircraft on a mission over Korea. Major Davis displayed outstanding airmenship and exceptional heroism by leading his squadron over the heavily defended city of Pyongyang, capital of North Korea, where a devastating low level napalm attack was made against supply warehouses in that city. Two of his pilots were shot down by enemy fire and his own aircraft was heavily damaged. Despite the intensity of enemy opposition, Major Davis pulled away from his Squadron and circled the target area repeatedly attempting to locate the downed pilots. After an exhaustive search, he reassembeld his squadron over the designated rendezvous point and led them toward home base. Approximately ten minutes after leaving the target area, his aircraft engine failed. Major Davis jettisoned his canopy. His aircraft was then seen to enter a spiral to the left, crash into the ground and explode. Major Davis' inspiring leadership, personal courage and devotion to duty, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service and reflected great credit to himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force." Source: http://militarytimes.com
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