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
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.
The 55th Fighter Group started life as the 55th Pursuit Group but was renamed as the 55th Fighter Group in May 1942, as the USAAF began to update the names of its units.
By August 1943 ,the personnel had finished with their stateside training and began the preparations for the trans-Atlantic deployment to England. Three operational squadrons made the move to England: the 38th, 338th, and the 343rd.
On 4 September, the group embarked on the HMS Orion. This ship could normally carry 1,500 persons across the ocean. For this trip, 300 officers and 3,200 enlisted men made the voyage. The Group arrived in England and were posted to Nuthampstead.
The 55th was assigned to the Eighth Air Force's 66th Fighter Wing and received its first P-38 fighters on 21 September 1943. Although it wasn't the first P-38 group to arrive in England, the 55th was the first to go fully operational when, on 15 October, the 55th flew a fighter sweep over Holland.
In early 1944, the Allies had established long-range fighter escort capability. The 55th Group provided protection for the heavy bombers during the famous maximum effort, known as "Big Week" 20-25 February 1944.
Soon thereafter, on 3 March 1944; the Eighth Air Force planners scheduled a large-scale daylight raid on Berlin. Unfortunately, the weather was very poor and most of the planes were recalled. The 55th Fighter Group did not receive a recall order and arrived over Berlin to rendezvous with the bombers which did not materialize. Lieutenant Colonel Jack S. Jenkins was leading the 55th that day and the Group made history by becoming the first American fighter unit to penetrate the Berlin skies during the war.
The 55th introduced a new form of P-38 on 10 April 1944. A specially modified Lightning, with a plexi-glass nose and room for a bombardier in lieu of the fighter's normal nose armament, became known as the "droop snoot". The target for this first mission was to be the airfield 'at St. Dizier, France; but, as the planes approached, it became obvious that the airfield was obscured by a ground haze, Again leading the Group on a historic mission, Colonel Jenkins opted for a secondary target at Coulomiers. After the bombs were released, Colonel Jenkins led the fighters "down on the deck" to strafe the field. On his second pass, Jenkins' P-38 was hit several times by enemy gunners forcing him to crash land and be taken prisoner.
Six days later (16 April 1944), the remainder of the Group moved to Wormingford, near Colchester, in Essex, England.
LtCol. John D. Landers
25 April 1944 - Captain John D. Landers assigned and joined 38th Squadron
05 May 1944 - Appointed Squadron Operations Officer
09 June 1944 - Promoted from Captain to Major
18 September 1944 - Promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel
September 1944 - Oak Leaf Cluster to Silver Star
Went to the Headquarters of the 357th FG on 10 October 1944 and then went on to become CO of the 78th FG on 22 February 1945
Station:
Nuthampstead 16 September 1943 to 16 April 1944
Wormingford 16 April 1944 to 21 July 1945
Station Callsign:
Rockcreek (Nuthampstead)
Fusspot (Wormingford)
Group Callsign:
Smallboy to 22 April '44 then:
Windsor (A Group)
Graphic (B Group)
Kodak (C Group)
Lt. Warren E Lewis. 343rd Fighter Squadron. P-51D 44-14442 CY-N. Lt Lewis was going to name this a/c "Miss Evelyn" but he became a POW on the 6th October 1944 whilst flying this a/c and before the name was applied.
Lt Col Frank B. James: 15 May 1943 - 3 Feb. 1944.
Col Jack S. Jenkins: 6 Feb. 1944 - 10 Apr. 1944, POW.
Col George T. Crowell: 10 Apr. 1944 - 22 Feb. 1945.
Lt Col Elwyn C. Righetti: 22 Feb. 1945 - 17 Apr. 1945, MIA.
Col Ben Rimerman: 22 Apr. 1945 - 20 May 1945. KAS
Lt Col Jack W. Hayes Jr 21 May 1945 - Unkn
First Mission: 15 October 1943
Last Mission: 21 April 1945.
Enemy Aircraft Claims: 316 1/2 air; 268 1/2 ground.
Aircraft MIA: 181
Major Awards:
Two Distinguished UnitCitations: 3 - 13 Sep. 1944, destruction of 106 enemy
19 Feb. 1945, ground strafing achievements.
Unit Claims to Fame
First P-38 group in combat with 8AF.
First 8AF aircraft over Berlin - 3 Man 1944.
Destroyed more Locomotive by strafing than any other Group
Lt Col Righetti was 'king' of 8AF strafers.
Early History:
Activated 15 Jan. 1941 at Hamilton Field, CA. Equipped with P-43s and moved Portland Field, Ore, 21 May 1941, and operated from there until Feb. 1942. Moved Paine Field, Wash, 10 Feb. 1942 and re-equipped with P-38s before moving McChord Field, Wash, 22 July 1942 where it remained for over a year. Originally activated with 37, 38 and 54FS but 54FS transferred to Pacific theatre on the 11 Sep. 1942, and replaced by the 338FS, and 37FS transferred to 14FG in North Africa on the 15 March 1943. Group left McChord for Camp Kilmer, NJ, 23 Aug. 1943 and sailed on Orion 5 Sep. 1943,