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 Clarksville, Arkansas
Last Address Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas
Date of Passing Jun 18, 1947
Location of Interment Forest Park Cemetery - Fort Smith, Arkansas
In WWII he was credited with 12 victories in aerial combat plus 9.68 destroyed on the ground.
He was shot down by flak Aug 28, 1944 in France and bailed out safely. With the help of the French resistance, he evaded and returned to his unit Sep 24, 1944. He was shot down again while attacking ground targets near Berlin Mar 8, 1945. His wingman, Lt. George Green, landed in a nearby field to pick him up. They disposed of their parachutes to make room, and he flew back to Debden sitting on Green's lap. During a mission on Apr 16, 1945, he was once again hit by flak and wounded. He and a student pilot were killed when their plane crashed near San Antonio, TX.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Specifications (Spitfire Mk Vb) Replica Mk VB on display in 2009
Data from The Great Book of Fighters[154] and Jane�??s Fighting Aircraft of World War II[155]
General characteristics
* Crew: one pilot * Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m) * Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m) * Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.86 m) * Wing area: 242.1 ft² (22.48 m²) * Airfoil: NACA 2209.4(tip) * Empty weight: 5,090 lb (2,309 kg) * Loaded weight: 6,622 lb (3,000 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 6,770 lb (3,071 kg) * Powerplant: 1�? Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 supercharged V12 engine, 1,470 hp at 9,250 ft (1,096 kW at 2,820 m)
Performance
* Maximum speed: 378 mph, (330 kn, 605 km/h) * Combat radius: 410 nmi (470 mi, 760 km) * Ferry range: 991 nmi (1,140 mi, 1,840 km) * Service ceiling: 35,000 ft (11,300 m) * Rate of climb: 2,665 ft/min (13.5 m/s) * Wing loading: 24.56 lb/ft² (119.91 kg/m²) * Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (0.36 kW/kg)
Armament
* Guns: Mk I, Mk II, Mk VA o (VA) 8 �? .303in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns, 350 rpg
* o (VB on) 2 �? 20 mm (0.787-in) Hispano Mk II cannon, 60 rpg (drum magazine); (VC) 120 rpg (belt loaded, box magazine) o 4 �? 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns, 350 rpg * Bombs: o 2 �? 250 lb (113 kg) bombs
