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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by Sgt Stephen Willcox - Deceased
Contact Info
Home Town Terrell
Last Address Bryan, Brazos County, Texas
Date of Passing Jun 19, 2007
Location of Interment Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (VA) - San Antonio, Texas
The website http://www.ejection-history.org indicates that Lt. Col. James R. Witt, USAF, was flying an F-84E Thunderjet (51-552) on October 12, 1951 with the 182nd Fighter Bomber Squadron, 136th Fighter Bomber Wing, when his aircraft was hit by AAA; there were reported flames; he ejected, and was alive on the ground. The KORWALD Loss Incident Summary database (http://www.dtic.mil) also reflects that Lt. Col. Witt was hit by AAA; reported flames, successful bail out and alive on the ground.
Lt. Colonel was a Prisoner of War at Pyok-Dong for approximately two years. (Source: Korean War Prisoners of War, 1950-1954, Ancestry.com). Records reflect that he was involved in the infamous 1952 POW Olympics (Source: http:www.kmike.com) He was repatriated August 31, 1953 (Source: Korean War Prisoners of War, 1950-1954, Ancestry.com).
Colonel Witt passed away June 19, 2007 at St. Joseph Manor in Bryan, Texas at the age of 89 years.
He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Bexar County, Texas along with his wife of 59 years, Plot: Section CR Site 34 (http://www.findagrave.com)
Other Comments:
James R. Witt entered the Army air Corps as a pilot in 1941. He served in the southwest Pacific Theater during World War II where he flew 150 combat missions in both bomber and fighter aircraft. After discharge from the AAF he was a part owner of a flying school in San Antonio, Texas and active in the Air National Guard when in May of 1950 his guard unit was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict. After he was repatriated in 1953 in remained in the Air Force until he retired in 1974. Although it's unkown at this time the units he served with during these years, his service time was spent at U.S. Air Force bases in Montgomery, Alabama, Ramstein, Germany, Laredo, Texas, Ankara, Turkey, Klamath Falls, Oregon, Denver, Colorado, and he was Chief of Staff, Iceland Defense Force in Kefavik, Iceland.
"Name: James R. Witt
Birth Year: 1918
Nativity State or Country: Texas
State of Residence: Texas
County or City: Dallas
Enlistment Date: 2 Nov 1941
Enlistment State: Texas
Enlistment City: Dallas
Branch: Air Corps
Branch Code: Air Corps
Grade: Aviation Cadet
Grade Code: Aviation Cadet
Component: Regular Army
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of college
Civil Occupation: Actors and actresses
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 71
Weight: 171" Source: U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, Ancestry.com
Korean War/Korean Summer (1953)
From Month/Year
May / 1953
To Month/Year
June / 1953
Description Although Communist leaders showed a desire to negotiate an armistice, they would not do so before trying to improve their
military positions. During May 1953 Fifth Air Force reconnaissance revealed that the Chinese and North Koreans were regrouping their front-line forces. On the last day of the month, Lt. Gen. Samuel E. Anderson took command of the Fifth Air Force.
Communist forces directed a major assault on June 10 against the Republic of Korea's II Corps near Kumsong, a small town in central Korea, 110 miles southeast of Pyongyang. With American aid, the South Koreans stopped the Communist drive by June 19 with little loss of territory. During the enemy offensive, UN pilots broke previous records in flying close air support sorties, with Far East Air Forces flying 7,032, the Marines, 1,348, and other UN air forces, 537. Also during June FEAF devoted about 1/2 of its combat sorties to close air support.
Communist troops attacked again in central Korea on July 13, forcing the ROK II Corps to retreat once more. But by the 20th Allied ground forces had stopped the foe's advance only a few miles south of previous battle lines. Once again, during July, FEAF devoted more than 40 percent of its 12,000 combat sorties to close air support missions. During the Communist offensives, the 315th Air Division responded to demands of the Eighth Army and between June 21 and 23 airlifted an Army regiment (3,252 soldiers and 1,770 tons of cargo) from Japan to Korea. From June 28 through July 2, the airlifters flew almost 4,000 more troops and over 1,200 tons of cargo from Misawa and Tachikawa Air Bases in Japan to Pusan and Taegu airfields in Korea.
These proved to be the last major airlift operations of the Korean conflict. In aerial combat, meanwhile, Fifth Air Force interceptors set new records. Sabrejet pilots fought most aerial battles in May, June, and July 1953 at 20,000-40,000 feet in altitude, where the F-86F was most lethal, and during these 3 months, claimed 165 aerial victories against only 3 losses-the best quarterly victory-loss ratio of the war.
Fifth Air Force and FEAF Bomber Command also continued to punish the enemy through air interdiction, making attacks on the Sui-ho power complex and other industrial and military targets along the Yalu River. In addition, the Fifth Air Force in May attacked irrigation dams that had previously been excluded from the list of approved targets. On May 13 U.S. fighter-bombers broke the Toksan Dam about 20 miles north of Pyongyang, and on the 16th they bombed the Chasan Dam, a few miles to the east of Toksan Dam. The resulting floods extensively damaged rice fields, buildings, bridges, and roads. Most importantly, 2 main rail lines were disabled for several days. Between July 20 and 27 the UN Command bombed North Korean airfields to prevent extensive aerial reinforcement before the armistice ending the Korean conflict became effective on July 27, 1953.
