75th fighter squadron obituary 75th fighter squadron obituary

The 14th Army Air Force was created March 10, 1943, and it absorbed the CATF. Sgt. [8] He was buried at nearby Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Major Hill's extraordinary heroism and zealous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 10th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces. I was holding my breath at that point," she said. In 2017, Michigan Air National Guard Maj. Brett DeVries landed a Warthog sans canopy or functioning landing gear at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center after his gun misfired during a strafing run. It doesnt matter the challenge that the 75th faces, Foltz said. The 75th Fighter Squadron's first assignment as an active unit was in the China-Burma-India theatre. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group, Air Combat Command and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.The squadron is equipped with the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II attack fighter. Its not the first time an A-10 pilot has encountered such a harrowing experience. As the Commander, Col Kelly is responsible for the integration of 250 Maintenance, Operations, Logistics and Medical personnel within the 23d Wing . There the squadron began flying the A-7D Corsair II ground attack aircraft. There the squadron began flying the A-7D Corsair II ground attack aircraft. The Japanese had 100 bombers and 100 fighters at Shinchiku Airfield, and the bombers were landing as Hill's force arrived. The 75th Fighter Squadron's first assignment as an active unit was in the China-Burma-India theatre. These depict the 75th Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Fighter Group (succeeding the AVG Flying Tigers), based in China during WW2 Flying shark-mouthed P-40s and P-51s, under Claire Chennault and Col. Robert Scott, they mounted a monumental effort against the Japanese. Hill activated Guard units throughout the Gulf Coast and became the youngest brigadier general in the history of the Air National Guard. The C-17 is attached to the Reserve 89th Airlift Squadron assigned to the 445th Airlift Wing out of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. It is believed that he was the first to down a Zero with a P-51. Serving with the 75th Fighter Squadron, Bye was able to land the stricken attack aircraft with immense skill, showing her abilities as a US Air Force pilot. A World War II ace, Alison was hand-picked to demonstrate the P-40's abilities to Chennault and Chinese officials. Lineage. So, just sitting (in the aircraft) at zero knots is the best time to make decisions, because going 300 miles per hour is not the time where I want to make a decision without having thought about it. Lineage, including assignments, stations and aircraft in Robertson, AFHRA Factsheet, Learn how and when to remove this template message, 23d Tactical Fighter (later, 23d Fighter) Wing, "History: The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force", "How the A-10 Warthog Keeps Getting Better and Better", "Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons", "75th Fighter Squadron and its A-10s return to Moody after six-month deployment", House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Aerospace Defense Command Fighter Squadrons, Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=75th_Fighter_Squadron&oldid=1130929175, Fighter squadrons of the United States Air Force, Military units and formations in Georgia (U.S. state), Fighter squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces, Articles needing additional references from December 2012, All articles needing additional references, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 19421946; 1946-1949; 1951-1968; 19681969; 19721991; 1992-present, Discontinued and inactivated, on 30 June 1968, 23d Fighter Group, 10 October 1946 24 September 1949, 23d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 12 January 1951, 23d Operations (later, 23 Fighter) Group, 1 June 1992 present, Luliang Airfield, China, 12 September 1944, Hangchow Airfield, China, 10 October 1945 10 December 1945, Presque Isle Air Force Base, Maine, 18 August 1955, This page was last edited on 1 January 2023, at 18:04. The two-seat trainer version was equipped with dual controls, but carried the same armament as the F-101B and were fully combat-capable. During World War II, the 75th Fighter Squadron was one of the three original squadrons (74th, 75th, 76th) of the 23rd Fighter Group. By the time the AVG was disbanded in the summer of 1942, Hill was a double ace, credited with 12+14 victories. Flew the A-7D until 1981 when conversion to the A-10 Thunderbolt II was completed. [1][2] This group of men, under the leadership of General Claire Lee Chennault, engaged in aerial combat against the Japanese very soon after 7 December 1941.[3]. [1] He shot down two more on January 23, and became an ace the next day when he shot down a fighter and a bomber over Rangoon. Her courage and cool in crisis earned her the Air Combat Commands Airmanship Award in a May 5 ceremony at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, where she serves as a 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and its chief of standardization and evaluation. "The ACC Airmanship award and Distinguished Flying Cross are not mutually exclusive, and receiving one does not prevent a member from being able to receive the other," she said in an email. [8][9] These planes returned to Dow after the crisis. The salute personifies the trust and connectedness of maintainers and pilots throughout the Air Force. The squadron flew the F-101B Voodoo, a supersonic fighter that could carry nuclear-tipped. Colonel Alison, who would go on to qualify as an ace by taking down seven enemy planes, was the pilot who demonstrated the capability of the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk to the Nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek, when he came to the United States in 1940 to buy planes for the fabled American volunteer group the Flying Tigers. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group, Air Combat Command and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia . It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The squadron is equipped with the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft. Jamie Sansom, 75th AMU production superintendent, were the maintainers who oversaw the reconstruction of tail-995. Without hesitation, he turned his aircraft on its back for a high-speed dive and placed his aircraft between enemy fighters and the B-24 bombers. Redesignated as 75 Fighter Squadron, Jet, on 3 May 1949. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers), U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. If nothing else, I will know that this is not going to keep me from flying and continuing to pursue my passion.. Taylor Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation, pose for a photo during a ceremony at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, May 5, 2021. Find 75th fighter squadron images dated from 2014 to 2020. D Troop 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron (UH-60) 93d FS "Makos" (F-16C) 75th FS "Tiger Sharks" (A-10CII) 307th FS "Stingers" (F-15E) (Flying F-16C until Razbam launches) . And there to be recognized was actually one of the founding members, retired Air Force Col. Dale Hendry. Redesignated as 75 Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, on 28 Feb 1944. It wasn't the first time an A-10 has had to crash-land because of a gun malfunction. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the mid-morning attack. The squadron is equipped with the Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II attack fighter. Some members of the famous American Volunteer Group known as the "Flying Tigers" joined the 75th Fighter Squadron after the AVG was disbanded. Altogether, Hill was credited with destroying 18.25 enemy aircraft. Lt. Col. William Broman, Commander. The 75th Fighter Squadron (75 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. 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Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron chief of standardization and evaluation, safely landed A-10C Thunderbolt II tail-995 after that in-flight emergency. While two situations may appear similar, leaders' perspective at different locations of what type of award an act of bravery merits can differ.". "Where's the ground, where's the ground," Bye recalled thinking, adding, "I was holding my breath at that point. With exceptional flying ability, Major Hill forced enemy aircraft to turn from the attack and dive away. Though such occurrences are rare, they do happen. Served in China. Bye recalled in an Air Force statement that when things started going wrong, she pulled away from the ground and checked her engines, which were both working. The .25 kills comes from an assist; he and 3 other pilots worked together to shoot down a Japanese Nate fighter. At the time of DeVries' mishap, the service said it was "believed to be the first time in the roughly 40-year history of the A-10 that a pilot had to land with no canopy and with the landing gear up.". That landing took place in 2017 when DeVries, then a captain, was flying with other A-10 pilots over the Grayling Air Gunnery Range in the northern part of the state. Operating from numerous airfields within China, the 75th Fighter Squadron compiled an impressive record during World War II and received the Presidential Unit Citation. Major Hill's leadership, spirit, and extraordinary heroism in action against enemy forces in carrying the attack to the enemy without thought of the odds against himself were an inspiration to all fighter pilots. During a surface attack ride, a key maneuver for swooping down to shoot at enemies on the ground, Bye tried to fire the A-10s gun but suffered severe failures, according to a May 7 Air Force release. For the health and well-being of all friends and family, there will be a memorial service in June. They eventually settled in San Antonio, Texas, where his father was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church. There's no Thunderbirds or Blue Angels this year, but a new Air Force demonstration team will debut at this weekend's Melbourne Air & Space Show. This squadron went on to become the third largest CAP squadron in the nation and in 2003 became the most decorated CAP squadron in the nation receiving the Texas Squadron of Merit, Texas Emergency Services Squadron of the Year, Regional (SW Region of the USA) Squadron of Distinction, and National Squadron of Distinction. The 75th Fighter Squadron (75 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. Inactivated on 5 Jan 1946. While attending McCallie, he won the Tennessee Middleweight Championship in boxing in 1934. On the same day as its activation, the 75th scored its first major victory during a night interception flight against Japanese bombers. "Maj Quigley was a 75 th Fighter Squadron commander, one of our only Aces, and a prisoner of war for over a year, said Joca. When anything [unusual] happens, its apparent and very easy to spot it and fix it, Ingber said in the release. [2][3] This group of men, under the leadership of General Claire Lee Chennault, engaged in aerial . [1] Tex then attended Texas A&M for two years before transferring to Austin College, from which he graduated in 1938. 75 th FIGHTER SQUADRON MISSION LINEAGE 75 th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) constituted, 17 Dec 1941 Redesignated 75 th Fighter Squadron, 15 May 1942 Activated, 4 Jul 1942. The 75th Fighter Squadron (75 FS) is a United States Air Force unit. Soon after graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in engineering in 1936, Mr. Alison enlisted in the Army Air Corps. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. She and the A-10 may look the same as they did when she took off in 2020, and the resiliency and innovation from the maintainers and operators make it all possible. Timothy Dischinat) Col. Michael Ferrario, Commander. The emergency occurred April 7, 2020, while Bye was flying at the Grand Bay Bombing and Gunnery Range east of Moody. He ended his military career in the Air Force Reserve, retiring as a brigadier general. Colonel Brandon Kelly is an A-10C instructor pilot and the Commander of the 476th Fighter Group, Moody AFB, GA which is a Geographically Separated Unit of the 442d Fighter Wing at Whiteman AFB, MO. This was to recognize the 190th Fighter Squadron -- Idaho's first Air Guard unit. 141114-F-AV342-049. The squadron inactivated there on 30 November 1969[7] as part of the drawdown of ADC interceptor bases, the aircraft being passed along to the Air National Guard. Upon return to Maine in 1959 the squadron converted to the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer. Bye successfully landed her first flight in the aircraft since its restorations from a crash-landing that happened nearly 2 years ago. Read Next: VA Nursing Aide Reta Mays Gets 7 Life Sentences for Killing Veterans in Her Care, "My initial reaction was to climb away from the ground and then look at my engines," Bye, a 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation, said in the release. During this period, the 75th served under the Air Defense Command and flew the F-86 Sabre day interceptors with a mission to maintain a high degree of operational proficiency so that it might repel any possible enemy air attack. The Flying . The squadron moved to Moody AFB, Georgia in 2008 due to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) panel recommendations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers), U.S. Air Force Capt. His sights were set after a barnstormer took him on a flight as a teenager, his son David said. On Nov. 3, 2021, Bye departed on a sortie in that same A-10C. As a professional researcher and World War II historian, Bill Beigel provides research services to genealogists, historians, authors, and civilians who are looking for information found in WW2 military unit records. Performing proper checks before and after flights is crucial to the safety of pilots. The light blue and white scheme was conceptualized to emulate the WWII era Grumman F-4F Wildcat flown by South Dakota native and Medal of Honor recipient Joe Foss. List of battleships of the United States Navy, Articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Military units and formations of the United States in World War II, Fighter squadrons of the United States Air Force, Military units and formations in Georgia (U.S. state), 23d Tactical Fighter (later, 23d Fighter) Wing, http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.org/bio-Rodewald.htm, http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.org/bio-Hill.htm, "History: The Flying Tigers - American Volunteer Group - Chinese Air Force", http://www.flyingtigersavg.22web.org/tiger1.htm, Reduced flying hours forces grounding of 17 USAF combat air squadrons, Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II, "AVG American Volunteer Group - Flying Tigers", House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, Hangchow Airfield, China, 10 Oct 10 Dec 1945, A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 - 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The first operational deployment of a composite wing happened in October 1994, when Iraqi troops began massing near the Kuwaiti Border. Mr. Alison, a retired Air Force Reserve major general, was a lieutenant colonel in what was then the Army Air Forces in late 1943 when Gen. Henry Arnold, commander of the Air Forces, assigned him and another lieutenant colonel to organize Operation Thursday, which is credited with having helped protect India from invasion by the Japanese. [7], During the early days of its history, the 75th's mission was to attack and destroy the enemy by strafing airfields, troops, and supply depots, while maintaining air superiority so that the Japanese could not locate and bomb targets in China. Ingber said in the statement that it was his "job to think of everything that (Bye) is not because she has a massive handful of an airplane that is falling apart.". The two officers were authorized by General Arnold to acquire as many aircraft and men as needed to insert British forces behind Japanese lines, to set up airfields to supply them and to evacuate the wounded. Box 758516 Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, support.woundedwarriorproject.org. [14], The 75th Fighter Squadron has deployed several times in the battle against global terrorism. Three fighter squadrons were tasked with defending. "My job was to take care of myself and to take care of the jet.". Taylor Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation, poses on the flight line at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, May 5, 2021. On her canopy-less descent back to Moody, Bye tried to shift down in her seat to shield herself from the 350-mph winds whipping the plane but blocked her view of the runway in the process. The Pentagon has not provided any public updates or said when the formal policy will be issued. Vincent De Groot U.S. Air National Guard photo: Senior Master Sgt. The American force returned home with no casualties. "We take the honor of being a member of the 75 th seriously, and use our incredible heritage as motivation to continue the legacy of excellence. Preferred memorial to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. [14], Squadrons either stood down on a rotating basis or kept combat ready or at a reduced readiness level called "basic mission capable" for part or all of the remaining months in fiscal 2013. At 17, he became a pilot in WWII, and was attached to the 75th Fighter Squadron in China, Burma, and India Theater. Activated on 4 Jul 1942. She then slowed down and allow her wingman, Maj. Jack Ingber, to inspect the damaged aircraft. Airman 1St Class Jason Epley/US Air Force, via Associated Press. Due to the relationship between the 75th FS and 76th FS, Paetzhold is slated to deploy as the 75th FSs weapons officer. "The heritage of our wing is impressive. Ryan Foltz, 75th AMU cann manager, pose for a photo in front of A-10C Thunderbolt II tail-995 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 4, 2021. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. He was a bombardier in the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group and his aircraft "Decatur Deb" was shot down on May 28, 1944. Previously, (the 75th) was unsure if it would fly again, said Tech. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Daniel Snider) This doesnt happen very often in the history of the A-10, Joca said of Byes incident. [13], Air Combat Command officials announced a stand down and reallocation of flying hours for the rest of the fiscal year 2013 due to mandatory budget cuts. It consisted of an F-22, an F-15E, an F-16C, and a P-40 like the one Hill flew with the AVG. The F9F-6 Cougar was the first F9F variant with swept wings. Constituted as the 75th Pursuit Squadron(Interceptor) on 17 December 1941 Redesignated 75th Fighter Squadronon 15 May 1942 Activated on 4 July 1942 Redesignated 75th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine on 28 February 1944 Inactivated on 5 January 1946 Activated on 10 October 1946 Redesignated 75th Fighter Squadron, Jet on 3 May 1949 The pair flew on a basic surface attack to Grand Bay Range during the flight. She climbed farther away from the ground to check whether her engines were still functioning. This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. [10] Received A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft transferred from the 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina prior to the 353d's inactivation and the base's closure in January 1993. U.S. Air Force Capt. Im excited, Bye said. Buy 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron F-89 Model: Aircraft - Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron F-89 Model : Arts, Crafts & Sewing On 18 May 1972, the squadron was redesignated the 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and on 1 July 1972 was activated at England Air Force Base, Louisiana. Capt. On 3 April 1992, the squadron was again activated, as the 75th Fighter Squadron located at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. In his book Way of a Fighter (1949), the commander of the Flying Tigers, Gen. Claire Chennault, recalled that Alison got more out of that P-40 in his five-minute demonstration than anybody I ever saw before or after. When he landed, General Chennault said, members of the Chinese delegation pointed at the P-40 and smiled, We need 100 of these. No, I said, pointing to Alison, you need 100 of these.. David Lee "Tex" Hill (July 13, 1915 October 11, 2007) was an American fighter pilot and triple flying ace. It will instead rely on further refurbishment to fly Warthogs for about another two decades. Colonel Alison led the mission on its first day, landing a glider bearing 15 soldiers in the glade. Find the perfect red flag nellis stock photo. [15], 75th Fighter Squadron, 23d Fighter Group, Tenth Air Force, Department of the Army, General Orders No. [6], On the same day as its activation, the 75th scored its first major victory during a night interception flight against Japanese bombers. Along with her courageous flight are the extraordinary efforts of the 75th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron to repair the aircraft. [4][5] This group of men, under the leadership of General Claire Lee Chennault, engaged in aerial combat against the Japanese very soon after 7 December 1941. Taylor Bye, 75th Fighter Squadron standardization and evaluation chief, prior to her flight at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nov. 3, 2021. [3], In 1941, he was recruited with other Navy, Army and Marine Corps pilots to join the 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG), better known by its later nickname of the Flying Tigers. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Briana Beavers, NOW WATCH: The Air Force's A-10 Warthog targets ISIS fighters with this massive gatling gun, pulled off an emergency belly landing in her A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in April 2020, 23rd Wing at Moody AFB announced on Friday, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, that blew off the canopy, stripped off some of the panels, and damaged the landing gear, made an emergency wheels-up landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California during a 2008 training flight. U.S. Air Force Capt. Although the events surrounding the flight can be mentally challenging, Bye said she remembers the advice of her mentors. Upon return to Maine in 1959 the squadron converted to the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo supersonic interceptor and the F-101F operational and conversion trainer. Middle School 14 in San Antonio was named "Hill Middle School" after him in June 2013.[11][12]. Stay up to date with what you want to know. Juggling a malfunctioning 30mm Gatling gun, a landing gear that wouldnt deploy and a cockpit canopy that fell off in flight, Bye managed to safely land the aircraft with minimal damage to the runway or the plane. On 3 April 1992, the squadron was again activated, as the 75th Fighter Squadron located at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. Tail number 995 was recently restored, and who better to fly the aircraft than Bye. After graduating the Weapons Instructor Course, Paetzhold joined the Airmen who serve as tactical and operational advisors to military leaders at all levels. [4] He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006. Despite the damage, Bye was able to bring the busted-up A-10 back to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, performing a successful belly landing. Ryan Foltz, 75th AMU cann manager. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Rachel Perkinson), An A-10C Thunderbolt II sits on the runway after making an emergency landing April 7, 2020 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. On a basic surface attack ride at Grand Bay Range, Bye's attempts to fire her gun were met with severe failures that prevented her landing gear from deploying, caused panels to fly off and sent . The across-the board spending cuts, called sequestration, took effect 1 March when Congress failed to agree on a deficit-reduction plan. On November 2, 2008, the Air Force Heritage Flight at the Lackland AFB Air Show in San Antonio was dedicated to Hill. He was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. The family returned to the United States when he was 15 months old. Taylor during the 2014 Flying Tiger Reunion heritage day, Nov. 14, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Taylor is a former 75th Fighter Squadron pilot and World War II veteran who spent 10 months as a prisoner of war, including two months in solitary confinement. It is assigned to the 23d Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Bye maintained control of the aircraft and safely landed the Warthog on its belly. Redesignated 75 th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, 28 Feb 1944 Inactivated, 5 Jan 1946 Activated, 10 Oct 1946 Redesignated 75 th Fighter Squadron, Jet, 3 May 1949 Inactivated, 24 Sep 1949 Redesignated 75 th Fighter . [1] The other lieutenant colonel was Philip Cochran, the model for the character Flip Corkin in the popular comic strip Terry and the Pirates.. The 75th FIS was based at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor from 1959 to the base's closure in 1968.