This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Harry McCown (Mac)
to remember
Loisel, John Simon, Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Coeur d'Alene
Last Address Plano, Texas Norfolk, Nebraska
Date of Passing Jan 20, 2010
Location of Interment Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery (VA) - Dallas, Texas
During the war in the Pacific Theater, Colonel Loisel flew 300 combat missions over the course of three consecutive years, longer than any U.S. pilot. Flying a P-38 "Lightning" in the 475th Fighter Group, Loisel downed 11 Japanese airplanes. Before war's end he reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in command of the group.
Loisel remained in the military and in 1950 returned to combat in the F-80 Shooting Star in Korea. He retired from the Air Force in 1970 with more than 5,500 flying hours.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications StatsCentral Model Lockheed P-38J Lightning Length 37.83 ft | 11.53 m Width 52.00 ft | 15.85 m Height 9.81 ft | 2.99 m Engine(s) 2 x Allison V-1710-111 water-cooled inline piston engines generating 1,425hp. Empty Weight 12,800 lbs | 5,806 kg MTOW 21,601 lbs | 9,798 kg Max Speed 414 mph | 666 km/h | 360 kts Max Range 2,237 miles | 3,600 km Ceiling 43,963 ft | 13,400 m | 8.3 miles Climb Rate 2,500 ft/min (762 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 1 x 20mm Cannon 4 x 12.7mm machine guns
10 x 5in high-explosive rockets (optional) 2 x Drop Tanks (optional) 2 x 500lb bombs (optional)
Up to 4,000lbs (908kg) of underwing ordnance. Accommodations 1