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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
1951-1951, F-84 Thunderjet
From Year 1951
To Year 1951
Personal Memories
Not Specified
Image
F-84 Thunderjet Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Republic F-84F Thunderjet Length 37.43 ft | 11.41 m Width 36.42 ft | 11.10 m Height 14.99 ft | 4.57 m Engine(s) 1 x Wright J65-W-3 turbojet engine generating 7,220lbs of thrust. Empty Weight 13,830 lbs | 6,273 kg MTOW 28,001 lbs | 12,701 kg Max Speed 695 mph | 1,118 km/h | 604 kts Max Range 860 miles | 1,384 km Ceiling 45,997 ft | 14,020 m | 8.7 miles Climb Rate 7,400 ft/min (2,257 m/min) Hardpoints 2 Armament 6 x 12.7mm machine guns 24 x 5in rockets
Up to 6,000lbs of external ordnance. Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* XP-84 Thunderjet - First prototype model (1946); General Electric J35-GE-7 turbojet engine. * XP-8A Thunderjet - Prototype (25 total); Allison J35-A-15 * P-84B Thunderjet - XP-8A porduction model. * P-84C Thunderjet - Revised electrical system; J35-A-13C engine; Later redesignated as the F-84C. * F-84 Thunderjet * YF-84A Thunderjet - First swept-wing variant * F-84D Thunderjet - J35-A-17D engine; Re-engineered landing gear system; thicker wing systems. * F-84E Thunderjet - Post-Korean War model featuring improved system components; Enlarged cockpit; Lengthened fuselage. * F-84G Thunderjet - J35-A-29 engine * F-84F Thunderstreak - Swept wing; Wright J65-W-1 turbojet engine (later models with Wright J65-W-3 engines). * RF-84F Thunderflash - Final development model of F-84 series; Reconnaissance variant with J65-W-7 engine.
