Adams, Donald E., Maj

Deceased
 
 Service Photo   Service Details
92 kb
View Shadow Box View Printable Shadow Box View Time Line
Final Rank
Major
Last AFSC
AAF MOS 1055-Pilot, Single-Engine Fighter
Last AFSC Group
Pilot (Officer)
Primary Unit
1952-1952, AAF MOS 1055, 1st Fighter Wing
Service Years
1942 - 1952
Major

 Last Photo   Personal Details 



Home State
New York
New York
Year of Birth
1921
 
This Military Service Page was created/owned by SSgt Harry McCown (Mac) to remember Adams, Donald E., 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.
 
Contact Info
Home Town
Caton
Last Address
Detroit, MI
Date of Passing
Aug 30, 1952
 
Location of Interment
Clinton Grove Cemetery - Mt Clemens, Michigan

 Official Badges 




 Unofficial Badges 

Air Ace


 Military Associations and Other Affiliations
Air Force Memorial (AFM)In the Line of Duty
  2015, Air Force Memorial (AFM) - Assoc. Page
  2017, In the Line of Duty


 Additional Information
Last Known Activity:

Don Adams was born on February 23, 1921, in Caton, New York. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Western Michigan College in 1942, he entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on October 24, 1942, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on August 30, 1943.

Lt Adams then served as an instructor pilot at Newport, Arkansas, from August 1943 to July 1944, followed by advanced fighter training in the P-51 Mustang.

He went to England and joined the 343rd Fighter Squadron of the 55th Fighter Group, 66th Fighter Wing, 3rd Bombardment Division, 8th Air Force in February 1945, where he was credited with destroying 2 enemy aircraft on the ground while strafing enemy airfields before the war ended. Adams transferred to the 307th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group on occupation duty in Germany in November 1946, and then returned to the U.S. in June 1947.

His next assignment was flying F-80 Shooting Stars and F-86 Sabres with the 62nd Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group at Selfridge AFB, Michigan, from July 1947 to October 1951.

Maj Adams then deployed to Korea, where he was credited with the destruction of 6.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 3.5 more damaged while flying with the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing at Suwon, South Korea from November 1951 to June 1952.

He joined the 27th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 1st Fighter Interceptor Wing at Griffiss AFB, New York, in July 1952, and was killed while flying an F-89 Scorpion near the Detroit Airport on August 30, 1952.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For gallantry in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations as a Pilot, 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Group, FIFTH Air Force, on 3 May 1952. Leading a squadron of six F-86 type aircraft, Major Adams attacked a flight of twenty MiG type aircraft. In the ensuing battle, from 30,000 feet down to 5,000, Major Adams aggressively pressed the attack despite mechanical difficulties which resulted in sever frosting of his windscreen and rendered his sighting system useless. With an extraordinary display of airmanship and gunnery skill, Major Adams succeeded in destroying the flight leader of the enemy element. In succeeding maneuvers he observed a second aircraft and, unaware of the first destruction because of excessively reduced visibility, he attacked, believing this aircraft to be his first target escaping. Continuing his aggressive attack, he destroyed the second aircraft as well. The destruction of the two aircraft effectively broke up the enemy force. By his high personal courage, resourcefulness, and extraordinary flying skill, Major Adams reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Forces, and the United States Air Force.

   
Other Comments:

Notes/Links:

http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.asp?ID=648
http://www.militaryfactory.com/korea/korean_war_aces.asp


"Korean War Aces" by Robert F. Dorr, Jon Lake, Warren Thompson (pg. 42) Shot down 2 MiG-15s

"F-86 Sabre Aces of the 51st Fighter Wing" by Warren Thompson (photo on pg. 40)

   

 Ribbon Bar


Aviator (Basic)
Aviator (Senior)


 
 Unit Assignments
343rd Fighter Squadron55th Fighter Group8th Air Force307th Fighter Squadron  - Stingers
31st Fighter Group62nd Fighter Squadron  - Spikes56th Fighter Group16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron1st Fighter Wing
  1945-1946, AAF MOS 1055, 343rd Fighter Squadron
  1945-1946, 55th Fighter Group
  1945-1947, 8th Air Force
  1946-1947, 307th Fighter Squadron - Stingers
  1946-1947, 31st Fighter Group
  1947-1951, AAF MOS 1055, 62nd Fighter Squadron - Spikes
  1947-1951, 56th Fighter Group
  1951-1952, AAF MOS 1055, 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  1951-1952, AAF MOS 1055, 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
  1952-1952, AAF MOS 1055, 27th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
  1952-1952, AAF MOS 1055, 1st Fighter Wing
 Combat and Non-Combat Operations
  1945-1945 WWII - European Theater of Operations/Central Europe Campaign (1945)
  1951-1952 Korean War
 Colleges Attended 
Western Michigan University
  1938-1942, Western Michigan University
 My Aircraft/Missiles
P-51/F-51 Mustang  F-80/P-80 Shooting Star  F-86 Sabre  F-89 Scorpion  
  1945-1946, P-51/F-51 Mustang
  1947-1951, F-80/P-80 Shooting Star
  1947-1952, F-86 Sabre
  1952-1952, F-89 Scorpion
Copyright Togetherweserved.com Inc 2003-2025