This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Lt Col John Bonner
to remember
Bonner, John, Jr., 1st Lt.
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.
Contact Info
Home Town Corsicana
Last Address San Angelo, TX
Date of Passing Jan 29, 2004
Location of Interment Lawn Haven Cemetery - San Angelo, Texas
He was known as "Johnny." At seventeen, he turned professional with the first professional rodeo cowboys association. A junior at Texas A&M on December 7, 1941, then during the Christmas break, he volunteered for, and was accepted into Army Air Corps Cadet Training in January, 1942. At age nineteen, he received his wings and commission. To his chagrin, he was "plowed back" as an Instructor Pilot at Goodfellow Field, San Angelo, Texas, in the BT-13. Eighteen months and 1000 hours later, he was transferred to England and the 355th Fighter Group, the "Steeple Morden Straffers." Before he was twenty-three, he was a combat element leader in the P-51, striking targets deep into Germany. Gen Tooey Spaatz personally awarded him his first Air Medal. At war's end, he returned to San Angelo and its ranching industry. To know him was to know one who personified Tom Brokaw's "Greatest Generation."
1944-1945, P-51/F-51 Mustang
From Year 1944
To Year 1945
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
P-51/F-51 Mustang Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 * Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) * Wingspan: 37 ft 0 in (11.28 m) * Height: 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) * Wing area: 235 ft� (21.83 m�) * Empty weight: 7,635 lb (3,465 kg) * Loaded weight: 9,200 lb (4,175 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 12,100 lb (5,490 kg) * Powerplant: 1� Packard Merlin V-1650-7 liquid-cooled supercharged V-12, 1,695 hp (1,265 kW) * Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0163 * Drag area: 3.80 ft� (0.35 m�) * Aspect ratio: 5.83
Performance
* Maximum speed: 437 mph (703 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m) * Cruise speed: 362 mph (580 km/h) * Stall speed: 100 mph (160 km/h) * Range: 1,650 mi (2,755 km) with external tanks * Service ceiling 41,900 ft (12,770 m) * Rate of climb: 3,200 ft/min (16.3 m/s) * Wing loading: 39 lb/ft� (192 kg/m�) * Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (300 W/kg) * Lift-to-drag ratio: 14.6 * Recommended Mach limit 0.8
Armament
* 6 � 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns; 400 rounds per gun for the two inboard guns; 270 per outboard gun * 2 hardpoints for up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) * 10 � 5 in (127 mm) rockets
Specifications
* A-36A Apache - Dive bomber (US Army) * F-6 - US Army offshoots model * F-6A - US Army offshoots model * F-6C - Reconnaissance variant * P-51A - More powerful powerplant; 4 x machine guns. * P-51B - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51C - 4 x machine guns; Original and bubble canopy. * P-51D - Classic variant; most produced. * P-51H - Lighter airframe version * P-51K - Featuring an Aeroproducts propeller. * F-51 - Redesignated to "Fighter" in the new jet fighter age. * F-6K - Reconnaissance version of P-51K
