Service Photo |
Service Details |
|
|
|
|
Last Photo |
Personal Details
|
|
|
|
|
|
Last Known Activity
Jim as he preffered, was know as "Van", or "Rumboogie", (a nickname given him in the Air Force, because he didn't drink, and would always give his "shots" to the other guy's.) Jim joined the Minnesota Air National Guard in 1939 and was in the 109th Obsevation Squadron at Fort Snelling Minnesota. He had acquired his private pilots licence prior to enlisting in the Army Air Force in April 1942, and trained at Fort Warren, Wyoming with the Quartermaster Company, Service Group (Aviation), and was sent to the B-26 Over Seas Training Base at Mac Dill Field Tampa, Florida as a pilot trainee. Then on to Walla Walla Army Air Base for combat aircraft maintenace and repair training. Then to, Galena Field Washington, Great Falls Air Base Montana, and Camp Stoneman, Pittsburg, California.
Originally headed for Europe with the 8th Air Force, Jim was redirected to the Pacifc and flew a B-26 Marauder with a group of medium and heavy bombers sent to join the 5th Air Force in Australia. A short stay at Townsville, then on to the Air Base at Iron Range. While at Iron Range, Jim helped Col Arthur Rogers install the first opperational nose turret in a B-24 Liberator, "Connell's Special", and flew the first test hops with it. He found out that it was actually a little faster with the turret. When Col Rogers returned from one of the first missions with it, his nose gunner held up three fingers as they taxied by... 3 Kills.
Moving throughout New Guinea and the Philippines Jim volunteered, and was called on to fly often, and flew transport, photo, training, escort, and combat missions. At one time he was currant in 14 differant aircraft, and was amoung the first to fly the Douglas A-26 Invader in the Pacific. After WWII, Jim remained in the Minnesota Air National Guard with the 109th Fighter Squadron until 1947, when he moved to Califonia. He became a 2nd Lt. in Squadron 21 Civil Air Patol, El Monte Wing . He was also a "Weekend Warrior" and trained with the 452nd Bomb Wing at Long Beach, Calif. in the Douglas B-26 Invader.
In 1950 His Air Force Reserve Unit became the first to be activated as a complete Air Force Unit. They were sent to, Itazuke, Japan. Then Miho, and flew bombing and close ground support missions in Korea. They moved to K-9 Air Base Pusan, Korea in May 1951, and he flew 58 misions with the 728th "Cannibals" Squadron in the A-26 "My Baby" 44-34686. He also flew the F- 86 Saber with the 5th Fighter Interseptor Squadron before coming home in 52'.
|
|
Other Comments:
"I remember coming back from a mission, off the China Coast, in a P-38, when I heard, "Mayday, Mayday." I looked all around, then spotted a TBM smoking and going down. I radioed back, "I got you." Then I saw him hit the water with a terrific splash. I flew cover for him until Air Sea Rescue arrived."
(This pilot went on to become the 41st President of the United States, George H W Bush.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
1939-1947, Minnesota Air National Guard
|
|
1943-1944, 90th Bombardment Group, Heavy
|
|
1943-1944, 1962nd Communications Group
|
|
1943-1944, 5th Air Force
|
|
1943-1945, 400th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy
|
|
1943-1945, 319th Bombardment Group, Medium
|
|
1944-1945, 90th Bombardment Group, Heavy
|
|
1944-1945, 8th Bombardment Squadron
|
|
1944-1945, 39th Fighter Squadron - Cobra In The Clouds
|
|
1947-1950, AAF MOS 770, Civil Air Patrol - United States Air Force (CAP-USAF/CAPRAP)
|
|
1947-1953, AAF MOS 1051, 5th Air Force
|
|
1950-1951, AAF MOS 750, 452nd Bombardment Wing, Light
|
|
1950-1953, AAF MOS 750, 728th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy
|
|
1951-1952, AAF MOS 1051, 5th Air Force
|
|
1951-1952, AAF MOS 750, 452nd Bombardment Wing, Light
|
|
1952-1952, AAF MOS 1055, 5th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
1940-1941, B-18 Bolo
|
|
1940-1954, C-47 Skytrain/Dakota
|
|
1941-1945, A-20 Havoc
|
|
1941-1945, L-3 Grasshopper
|
|
1942-1943, A-25 Shrike
|
|
1942-1944, B-26 Marauder
|
|
1942-1945, B-24 Liberator
|
|
1942-1945, P-38 Lightning (Forked Tail Devil) 7
|
|
1943-1943, P-40 Warhawk/Kittyhawk
|
|
1943-1944, P-39 Airacobra
|
|
1943-1945, B-25 Mitchell
|
|
1943-1953, B-17 Flying Fortress
|
|
1944-1953, A-26 (B-26) Invader 1
|
|
1944-1954, P-51/F-51 Mustang
|
|
1945-1952, C-54 Skymaster
|
|
1945-1953, B-29 Superfortress
|
|
1948-1950, B-47 Stratojet
|
|
1949-1953, F-80/P-80 Shooting Star
|
|
1950-1952, F-86 Sabre
|
 |
|
|
|
|