Stafford, Merle Edwin, Lt Col

From Carlyn Shaffer 11 Oct 09: ACM (P) EAMECM w/3BSS (P) WWIIVM (P) AFRESM (P) NDSM w/1BSS (P) AFOUA (P) AFLSA w/(4)OLC (P) GCM (P) Also, under schools he has listed: AAF Fly Tng Sch-Prim & Bsc PltTng 9 mos Oct 43 Intcp Con Sch 3 mos Mar 52 USAF Tech Tng Sch, Intcp Direction 6 wks Jun 58 Sq Officer School (ECI) Jun 61 Under Foreign Service: 2 Feb 44 - 4 Jun 45 EAME 12 Sept 52 - 11 Sept 53 Iceland 28 Jun 59 - 7 Dec 61 Newfoundland 4 Feb 65 - 2 Feb 66 Canada His combat report: 78th Combat Spt Gp (CBPO) Air Offense Europe (BSS) WDG024,47 Naples - Foggia (BSS Rome-Arno (BSS) WDG024,47/24 Aerial Missions 95 Combat hours F-47 (is this supposed to be P-47? because that's what he flew) Feb 44 - Jun 45 Previous Service Number AF13060808/Officer qualified under Human Reliability Program IAW 35-99, in normal position. Brief Description of duty: 21 Oct 42 to Sept 43 Enl, A/C Prin duty A/C (EAD)/1 Oct 43 to 20 Sep 46, Comm 1st Lt, Prin duty, Single Engine Pilot (EAD)/21 Sept 46 to 31 Aug 51, Comm 1st Lt (RES) 1-15 days AD Tour/ 1 Sept 51 - 23 Jan 57, Comm Captain, Prin duty, Intcp Controller (EAD)/ Continuous service from 1 Sept 51 24 Jan 57 1644 Intcp Controller, 4750th Air Defense Sq (weapons), Vincent AFB, Ariz (ADC) 11 Aug 57 1644 MSQ Controller, 4750th Drone Sq, Vincent AFB 30 April 58 1644 Stu Off, Intcp Dir Crse (SAGE), 4750th Drone Sq, Waltham, Mass (ADC) 5 Jun 59 1744 Dir Con, 4750th Drone Sq, Vincent AFB AZ 15 Jun 59 1744B Weapons Controller, 640th ACWRON, APO 864, New York, NY (ADC) 22 Jan 62 1744A Asst Operations Off, 741 ACW Sq, Lackland AFB TX (ADC) 11 Sept 63 1716 Wpns Dir Staff Off, 747th ACW Sq, Ellington AFB TX (ADC) 4 Feb 65 Commander 922nd ACW Sq Cartwright AS, Canada (ADC) 25 Feb 66 1716 Ch, Controller, Hq 4th Air Force Hamilton AFB, Calif (ADC) 25 Feb 66 1716 Ch, Controller, 4661st Spt Sq, Hamilton AFB 19 Oct 66 1716 Weapons Director Staff Off, 4661st Spt Sq, Hamilton AFB 1 May 67 1716 Chief Controller 4661st Spt Sq Hamilton AFB 1 Oct 69 1716 Asst Plans Off 78th Ftr Wg Hamilton AFB Dad retired Dec 69 -------

Rec'd from Caryln Shaffer on 25 Apr 2010:

Help with Dad's profile  Posted - 3 minutes ago

Dear Sir,
I've received more info re: my father thru the Nat'l
Personnel Records Ctr. Would you please help me enter it correctly? He was in the 86th Fighter Squadron, 79th Fighter Group, 12th Air Force (1944)
Battles and Campaigns: Air Offensive Europe Rome ARNO
Decorations and Citations: American Campaign Medal
WWII Victory Medal, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal W/3 BSS, NDSW w/1 BSS, AFOUA, AFLSA w/4 Br OLC, GCM AFM 900-3.
Service Schools: Flying School Class 43-1, Intcp Con Sch, compl 1952. USAF Tech Tng Sch, Intcp Direction, compl 1958. Squadron Officer School, compl 1960. AAF Fly Tng Sch-Primary/Basic & Advanced, compl 1943.
Upon retirement 11/30/69 SDN 76Q AFM 35-7, 78th Fighter WG (ADC)
WWII Telegrams: 5/24/44 2nd Lt since 5/7 MIA over Italy,
6/8/44 POW of German Gov't Stalag Luft 3 (ETO)
Statement of disappearance: Dive Bombing Mission #519 from Pomigliano, Italy 5/7/44, 2nd Lt M.E. Stafford
flying a P-47 at Pinpoint A-2526 (Perugia 1:250,000)
struck by anti-aircraft fire was seen bailing out at 2000ft So of Tuscania, Italy. Landed safely. Plane crashed in flames SE of town. Believed a POW.
James, my brother and I never knew about my Dad's 2 previous wives. These telegrams were sent to his first wife Marian D. Stafford. After you help me with Dad's
military profile, do you know how I can get info on her in case I've got a sibling I don't know about?

Thanks, Carlyn Lee Stafford (Shaffer)