Francis Gabreski | Timeline

Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski (born Franciszek Stanisław Gabryszewski; January 28, 1919 – January 31, 2002) was an American career pilot in the United States Air Force who retired as a colonel after 26 years of military service. He was the top American and United States Army Air Forces fighter ace over Europe during World War II and a jet fighter ace with the Air Force in the Korean War. (Intro from Wikipedia)

January 28, 1919 - Oil City, Pennsylvania - Franciszek Stanisław Gabryszewski is born

June(?) 1(?), 1938 - Oil City - Graduates from Oil City High School

July 1(?), 1940 - Maxwell AF Base, Montgomery, Alabama - Enters pilot training at Maxwell AF Base, Alabama

March 14, 1941 - Maxwell AF Base, Montgomery, Alabama - Earns his wings and his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Corps =(START)

April(?) 1(?), 1941 - Charleston, South Carolina - Assigned to the 45th Fighter Squadron of the 15th Fighter Group at Wheeler Field, Hawaii. Sails for Hawaii aboard the SS Washington

April(?) 5(?), 1941 - Panama Canal - SS Washington transits the Panama Canal

April(?) 10(?), 1941 - San Francisco - SS Washington stops for two days in San Francisco

April(?) 16(?), 1941 - Honolulu, Hawaii - After 4 days, SS Washington arrives in Honolulu

April(?) 18(?), 1941 - Wheeler Field, Hawaii - Arrives at Wheeler Field, Hawaii

March 1, 1942 - Wheeler Field, Hawaii - Promoted to First Lieutenant

September 15(?), 1942 - Honolulu | San Francisco - Reports to Honolulu and flies to San Francisco in a Martin Flying Boat

September 20(?), 1942 - Washington D.C. - Leaves San Francisco for Washington D.C.

September 25(?), 1942 - Lisbon, Portugal - Two days in Lisbon

October 1(?), 1942 - RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire - Reports to the HQ of the 8th Air Force VIII Fighter Command in England

October 16, 1942 - RAF High Wycombe - Promoted to Captain

December 1(?), 1942 - RAF Norholt - Posted to No. 315 (Dęblin) Squadron at RAF Northolt, flying the Spitfire Mk.IX

February 3, 1943 - RAF Norholt - Mission to St.Omer. Finds opposition for the first time over the Channel - FW190s

February 27, 1943 - RAF Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire - Francis Gabreski reports for duty with the 56th Fighter Group at King's Cliffe

April 5, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith, near Norwich - The Fighter Group relocates to RAF Horsham St.Faith

May 15, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Gabreski damages an Fw190 on a rodeo mission to Zanvoort, Holland

May 17, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Leads the full squadron for the first time on a sweep to Morlaix, France

June 9, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Zemke makes Major Gabreski the new 61st Squadron Commander, due to his earlier combat experience with the RAF

June 13, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Gabreski leads a flight on the day of Robert S. Johnson's first confirmed kill

June 26, 1943 - RAF Manston - 48 P-47Cs left a forward operating base at RAF Manston late in the afternoon to provide escort for B-17 bombers returning from a mission against Villacoublay airfield in the Paris suburbs.

July 8, 1943 - Halesworth, N of Ipswich - The Fighter Group relocates to Halesworth, North of Ipswich.

July 19, 1943 - Halesworth - Gabreski is promoted to Major

August 24, 1943 - Halesworth - Mission over Dieppe - Gabreski shoots down 1 FW190 over Dreux (1 total)

September 3, 1943 - Halesworth - 1 FW190 shot down over St.Germain (2 total)

November 1(?), 1943 - Halesworth - The group commander of the 56th, Colonel Hubert Zemke, was replaced in command for two months by Colonel Robert Landry, a staff officer at VIII FC. Because of Landry's inexperience, combat missions of the 56th were alternately led by deputy commander Lieutenant Colonel David C. Schilling and Gabreski, who acted as deputy group operations officer

November 3, 1943 - Halesworth - Ramrod mission to Wilhelmshaven

November 11, 1943 - Halesworth - 1 FW190 shot down over Rheine (3 total)

November 26, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD mission to Bremen. 2 Me110 shot down over Oldenburg (5 total)

November 29, 1943 - Halesworth - 2 Bf 109 shot down over Bremen (7 total)

December 1, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Solingen. Gabreski returns to base after being badly shot up by an Me 110

December 11, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Emden. 1 Bf 110 shot down over Emden (8 total). He has a close brush with death when a 20 mm cannon shell lodged in his engine without exploding, destroying its turbocharger. Low on fuel and ammunition, Gabreski outmaneuvered a Bf 109 until it succeeded in placing a burst of fire into his P-47, disabling the engine. Gabreski stayed in the airplane, however, until it restarted at a lower altitude, where the turbocharger was not needed.

January 6, 1944 - Halesworth - Air fight against an unidentified german ace over Koblenz, Germany

January 19, 1944 - Halesworth - Zemke resumes command and Gabreski relinquishes command of the 61th FS

January 20, 1944 - Halesworth - Major Gabreski becomes Deputy Flying Executive and Operations Officer

January 23, 1944 - Halesworth - Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

January 29, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 Bf 110 shot down over Emden (9 total)

January 30, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 Bf 109 and a Me 410 shot down over Lingen (11 total)

February 1(?), 1944 - Halesworth - Brings two polish pilots into the 56th Fighter Group, who had flown with him in 1943 while serving with the RAF, including Squadron Leader Boleslaw "Mike" Gladych

February 20, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Me 410 shot down over Koblenz (13 total)

February 22, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 Fw190 shot down over Paderborn (14 total)

March 2, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Frankfurt. On the return, Gabreski and Johnson strafe an airbase south of Aachen

March 16, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Fw190 shot down over Nancy (16 total)

March 27, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Bf 109 shot down over Nantes (18 total)

April 6, 1944 - Halesworth - Strafing mission east of Schleswig

April 13, 1944 - Boxted, Essex - The 56th FG moves to Boxted. Gabreski takes command of the 61st Fighter Squadron

May 8, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Bf 109 shot down over Celle (19 total)

May 16, 1944 - Boxted - The 56th Fighter Group is awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance in combat. The First three P-47D with "Bubble" canopy arrive at Boxted. They are allocated to Zemke, Gabreski and Dade

May 22, 1944 - Boxted - Shoots down 3 Fw190s over Höperhöfen, northwest Germany (22 total)

June 7, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Bf 109 and 1 Fw190 shot down over Dreux (24 total)

June 12, 1944 - Boxted - 2 Bf 109 shot down over Évreux (26 total)

June 27, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Bf 109 shot down over Connantre (27 total)

July 5, 1944 - Boxted - 1 Me109 shot down over Évreux (28 total) - Gabreski becomes the top american scoring fighter pilot in the Europe Theatre of Operations

Gabreski's P-47, near Bassenheim

July 20, 1944 - Bassenheim, near Koblenz, Germany - Ramrod to Russelsheim. Gabreski decides to strafe Bassenheim airfield in his last mission. Streaking low across the airfield Gabreski gets just a little too low and hits the ground with his propeller which results in having to make a belly landing just outside the airfield perimeter

July 25, 1944 - near Bassenheim, Germany - After 5 days on the run Gabreski is captured. He is collected at the small jail by two Luftwaffe airmen

July 29, 1944 - Stalag Luft I, Barth, NE Germany - Gabreski is transfered to Stalag Luft I, a prisoner camp for allied airmen

April 30, 1945 - Stalag Luft I - The prisoners are ordered to evacuate Stalag Luft I in the face of the advancing Soviet Red Army, but the Senior American Officer, Colonel Hubert Zemke, refused to give the order. After negotiations between Zemke and Commandant Oberst (Colonel) Gustav Warnstedt, it was agreed that to avoid useless bloodshed the guards would go, leaving the POWs behind

May 1, 1945 - Stalag Luft I - Soviet troops liberate Stalag Luft I

May 21, 1945 - New York City - Gabreski lands at LaGuardia Field in New York

June 11, 1945 - Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin - Gabreski marries Kay Cochran

November 1, 1945 - Wright Field, near Dayton, Ohio - Gabreski, Gentile and Godfrey check a captured german Me-262 jet fighter

April 1(?), 1946 - ? - Leaves the US Air Force

April 7, 1947 - Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina - Recalled to active duty to command the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina

September 1(?), 1947 - New York City - The Air Force sends him to Columbia University to complete his degree and study russian

June 1(?), 1949 - New York City - Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

March 11, 1950 - Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan - Promoted to Colonel

May 1(?), 1951 - Honolulu, Hawaii - On his route to Korea, Gabreski runs into John C.Meyer, who had commanded the 4th fighter group in Korea, and they have dinner together

May 15(?), 1951 - Johnson AF Base (Iruma Air Base), Sayama, Japan - Reports to the 4th Fighter Wing at Johnson Air Force Base, Japan

June 1(?), 1951 - Kimpo Air Base, South Korea - Gabreski and a group of selected pilots of the 56th FIW accompanied the delivery of F-86Es of the 62nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to South Korea aboard the escort carrier USS Cape Esperance. The planes and pilots joined the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group at K-14 (Kimpo) Air Base

June 17, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base, South Korea - First combat mission with the F-86A Sabre

July 8, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base - Mission covering F-80s attacking ground targets near Pyongyang, North Korea. 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (29 total)

September 2, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (30 total)

October 2, 1951 - Kimpo Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (31 total)

November 8, 1951 - Suwon Air Base, South Korea - Transferred to the 51st Fighter Wing at K-13 (Suwon) Air Base

December 1, 1951 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 51st Fighter Wing First F-86 mission

January 11, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over Dandong, China (32 total)

February 20, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 shared over Yalu River, North Korea (32,5 total)

April 1, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (33,5 total)

April 12, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - 1 Mig-15 shot down over North Korea (34,5 total)

June 4, 1952 - K-13 Suwon Air Base - Receives orders sending him home

June 17, 1952 - San Francisco - Gabreski receives the key to the city from San Francisco Mayor Elmer E. Robinson and is given a ticker-tape parade up Market Street

June 24, 1952 - Washington D.C. - US President Harry S.Truman welcomes Francis Gabreski from Korea to the White House

July 1(?), 1952 - Norton Air Force Base, California - Chief of Combat Operations Section, Office of the Inspector General

July 12, 1952 - Burbank, California - Visit to the Lockheed factory in California

November 1(?), 1953 - Edwards Air Force Base, California - First flight in the new F-100 Super Sabre during a visit to North American Aviation

January(?) 1(?), 1954 - Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama - Student at the Air War College

July 1(?), 1955 - Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina - Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Ninth Air Force 

September 10, 1956 - Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina - Commander, 342d Fighter-Day Wing — (September 10, 1956 – November 19, 1956) (inactivated before operational and succeeded by 354th TFW)

November 19, 1956 - Myrtle Beach Air Force Base - Commander, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-100 Super Sabre) —  (November 19, 1956 – July 13, 1960)

January(?) 1(?), 1958 - Myrtle Beach Air Force Base - Flies to Sola, Norway, in na F-100 using air-to-air refueling during Mobile Foxtrot deployment - Myrtle Beach - Bermuda - Azores - France - Sola. Same route back

August 8, 1960 - Kadena Air Base, Okinawa - Commander, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-100) — (August 8, 1960 – June 19, 1962)

July 1(?), 1962 - Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii - Director of the Secretariat, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces — (July 1962 – July 1963)

July 1(?), 1963 - Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii - Inspector General, Pacific Air Forces — (July 1963 – August 1964)

August 17, 1964 - Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York - Commander, 52d Fighter Wing (Air Defense) (McDonnell F-101 Voodoo) — (August 17, 1964 – October 31, 1967)

October 31, 1967 - Suffolk County Air Force Base - Retires from the US Air Force

July 1(?), 1978 - Dayton, Ohio - Inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame

February 26, 1981 - New York City - Resigns from the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

September 15, 1983 - Chicago - Gabreski and Hanns Scharff reenact an interrogation at a reunion of Stalag Luft III POWs

August 6, 1993 - Wisconsin - His wife dies as the result of an automobile accident as they both were returning from the Oshkosh Air Show

January 31, 2002 - Huntington, New York - Francis Gabreski dies of an heart attack, aged 83 =(END)

~Work in Progress~

Thomas J. Lynch | Timeline

Thomas Joseph Lynch (9 December 1916 – 8 March 1944) was a United States Army Air Forces lieutenant colonel and a flying ace of World War II.

December 9, 1916 - Hazleton, Pennsylvania - Thomas Joseph Lynch is born

January(?) 1(?), 1936 - Catasauqua, Pennsylvania - Graduates from Catasauqua High School

January(?) 1(?), 1937 - Pittsburgh - Enters the University of Pittsburgh

January(?) 1(?), 1940 - Pittsburgh - Graduates from the University of Pittsburgh with a chemical engineering degree

March 1(?), 1941 - Selfridge Field, Michigan - Assigned to the 39th Pursuit Squadron, flying the Bell P-39 Airacobra =(START)

December 6, 1941 - Baer Field, Indiana - The 39th Pursuit Squadron moves to Baer Field

January 29, 1942 - San Francisco - 39th Squadron personnel board the "USS Ancon" bound for Australia

February 25, 1942 - Brisbane, Australia - "USS Ancon" arrives in Australia
March 8, 1942 - Ballarat, Australia - 39th Pursuit Squadron moves to Ballarat, Australia
March 16, 1942 - Mount Gambier, Australia - 39th Pursuit Squadron moves to Mount Gambier, Australia
April 3, 1942 - Williamstown, Australia - 39th Pursuit Squadron moves to Williamstown, Australia
April 20, 1942 - Woodstock, Australia - 39th Pursuit Squadron moves to Woodstock, Australia
May 15, 1942 - Woodstock - 39th Pursuit Squadron is redesignated 39th Fighter Squadron
May 17, 1942 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - 39th Fighter Squadron moves to Port Moresby, New Guinea. First contact with japanese aircraft
May 20, 1942 - 2 japanese aircraft shot down. (2 total)
May 26, 1942 - 1 japanese aircraft shot down while escorting a troop transport flight. (3 total)
June 15, 1942 - Lynch is forced to bail out after his plane is heavily damaged by japanese aircraft, breaking his arm in the process
July 26, 1942 - Townsville, Australia - The 39th Fighter Squadron is selected to become the first Fifth Air Force P-38 squadron and returns to Australia to receive the new fighter
October 10, 1942 - Townsville, Australia - Transition and check-out completed. The 39th Fighter Squadron departs to Laloki airfield, via Horn Island
October 18, 1942 - Laloki airfield, near Port Moresby, New Guinea - The Squadron returns to combat operations, reequipped with the new P-38
December 27, 1942 - over the Buna beachhead - Lynch shoots down 2 "Oscars" over the Buna beachhead. (5 total)
December 31, 1942 - over Lae, E. Papua New Guinea - 2 "Zeroes" shot down over Lae. (7 total)
January 6, 1943 - not far from Lae - P-38s from Lynch's squadron bomb a japanese reinforcement convoy bound for Lae. Lynch claims a bomb hit on one ship
January 7, 1943 - not far from Lae - 1 "Oscar" shit down while escorting P-40 Kittyhawks on their way to bomb Lae. (8 total)
March 3, 1943 - Schwimmer Field, near Port Moresby - Battle of the Bismarck Sea - Lynch shoots down a "zero" while escorting B-17s and B-25s. (9 total)
March 24, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Thomas Lynch becomes the commander of the 39th Fighter Squadron

Lynch (kneeling, center), May 1943
Schwimmer Field, New Guinea

May 8, 1943 - 1 "Zero" shot down. (10 total)
June 12, 1943 - 1 japanese aircraft shot down. (11 total)
July 1(?), 1943 - Schwimmer Field, near Port Moresby - Thomas Lynch is promoted to Major
July 21, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - The 39th Fighter Squadron shoots down 11 japanese airplanes for a total of 104
August 20, 1943 - Wewak, N. Papua New Guinea - 2 Kawasaki ki-45 Nicks shot down on a bomber escort mission to Wewak. (13 total)
August 21, 1943 - 1 japanese aircraft shot down. (14 total)
September 4, 1943 - over Huon Gulf - 1 Kawasaki ki-48 Lily bomber shot down over the Huon Gulf. (15 total)
September 16, 1943 - 1 japanese aircraft shot down. (16 total)
October 1(?), 1943 - United States - 30-day leave
October 23, 1943 - Swissvale, Pennsylvania - Thomas J. Lynch marries his college girlfriend, Rosemary Fullen
December 15, 1943 - While in the United States - The 39th Fighter Squadron is moved to Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea
January 1(?), 1944 - Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea(?) - Lynch returns to the Southwest Pacific
January 27, 1944 - Gusap Airfield, New Guinea - 39th Squadron moves to Gusap Airfield, New Guinea
February 14, 1944 - Wewak Area - 1 japanese aircraft shot down. (17 total)
February 15, 1944 - off Cape Hoskins, New Britain - Covering Major Richard Bong while he downed a "Tony" on a flight back from an escort mission to Kavieng
February 28, 1944 - Wewak, N. Papua New Guinea - Covering Major Richard Bong while he destroys a japanese transport full of officers on the runway at Wewak
March 3, 1944 - 2 japanese aircraft shot down. (19 total)
March 5, 1944 - 1 japanese aircraft shot down. (20 total)
March 8, 1944 - over Aitape Harbor, N. Papua New Guinea - Without aerial opposition that day, Bong and his friend and mentor Tom Lynch fire at 6 barges, one of which is destroyed. When the two pilots come around for a second pass, Thomas J. Lynch is hit on one of his engines and crashes in the jungle, jumping too low for his parachute to work properly =(END)

Thomas McGuire | Timeline

Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr. (August 1, 1920 – January 7, 1945) was an Irish American United States Army major who was killed in action while serving as a member of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the second highest scoring American ace of the war. (Intro from Wikipedia)

August 1, 1920 - Ridgewood, New Jersey - Thomas Buchanan McGuire Jr is born

January(?) 1(?), 1929(?) - Moves with his mother to Sebring, Florida after his parents' divorce

January(?) 1(?), 1938 - Sebring - Graduates from Sebring High School

January(?) 1(?), 1939(?) - Atlanta(?) - Enrolls at the Georgia Institute of Technology

November 1(?), 1940 - Cander Field, Atlanta - First flying lessons on a Piper Cub

February 1(?), 1941 - Cander Field(?) - McGuire unsuccessfully tries to join the Eagle Squadron, an american corps of volunteers for the Royal Air Force

July 12, 1941 - Corsicana, Texas - Leaves the Georgia Institute of Technology and enters the US Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program =(START)

August 5, 1941 - Corsicana - First solo flight

September 30(?), 1941 - Randolph and Kelly Airfields, near San Antonio, Texas - Flying North American BT-9 and AT-6 at Randolph and Kelly airfields, near San Antonio. McGuire meets his future wife Marilynn Giesler

February 2, 1942 - Kelly Field, Texas - Commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings

February 15(?), 1942 - Selfridge Field, Michigan - Assigned to the 313th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field, Michigan

May 7, 1942 - Selfridge Field, Michigan(?) - Transfered to the 56th Pursuit Squadron

June 14, 1942 - Nome, Alaska - The squadron is transfered to Western Alaska. McGuire flies patrols over the Aleutian Island in a P-39 Airacobra while assigned to the 54th Fighter Group

August 10, 1942 - Nome, Alaska - McGuire is punished after a looping above the airfield

November 29, 1942 - Harding Field, Louisiana - The Group is sent to Harding, Louisiana

December 4, 1942 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana(?) - Marries Marilynn "Pudgy" Giesler

February 1(?), 1943 - Muroc Field, Mojave Desert - Reports to Muroc Field, Mojave Desert, for transition training in the Lockheed P-38 Lightning

April 1(?), 1943 - Dobodura, New Guinea - Sent to the Southwest Pacific as a member of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, Fifth Air Force

June 6, 1943 - Dobodura, New Guinea - Promoted to First Lieutenant

July 20, 1943 - Amberley Field, near Brisbane, Australia - Transfered to the 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group

August 11, 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - The Squadron moves to Port Moresby, New Guinea

August 17, 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - First combat mission

August 18, 1943 - Wewak, New Guinea - Cover mission for bombers striking at Wewak, New Guinea. McGuire shoots down 2 "Oscars" and 1 "Tony". (3 total)

August 19, 1943 - Wewak, New Guinea - McGuire shoots down two more "Oscars" over Wewak. (5 total)
August 29, 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - 2 japanese aircraft shot down. (7 total)
September 15(?), 1943 - Dubodura, New Guinea - The Squadron moves to Dubodura, New Guinea. McGuire is assigned "Pudgy II"
September 28, 1943 - Tsili-Tsili - 2 "Zeroes" shot down over Wewak. Maguire is shot up and looses one engine, making an emergency landing at Tsili-Tsili. (9 total)
October 15, 1943 - over Oro Bay - 1 japanese aircraft shot down over Oro Bay. (10 total)
October 17, 1943 - over Oro Bay - McGuire shoots down 3 "Zeroes" before being shot down himself. He bails out with difficulty and is rescued by a PT boat. Taken to the hospital with a bullet wound in his wrist and some broken ribs. (13 total)
October 20(?), 1943 - Port Moresby, New Guinea - Hospitalized in Port Moresby (for 3 weeks)
December(?) 10(?), 1943 - Brisbane, Australia - Awarded the Silver Star and a Purple Heart for his action of October 17th, 1943
December 12, 1943 - Brisbane, Australia - Leaves the hospital after 6 weeks (3 weeks of convalescent leave in Australia)
December 26, 1943 - Over Cape Gloucester - 3 "Vals" shot down over Cape Gloucester + 1 uncredited. (16 total)
December(?) 29(?), 1943 - Dubodura, New Guinea(?) - McGuire is promoted to Captain and becomes the operation officer of the 431st Fighter Squadron
February 1(?), 1944 - Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea - 431st Squadron is moved to Finchhafen, Papua New Guinea. McGuire assigned "Pudgy III"
March 1(?), 1944 - Nadzab Airfield, near Lae, Papua New Guinea - 431st Squadron is moved to Nadzab, Papua New Guinea
May 1(?), 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - McGuire becomes the commanding officer of the 431st Fighter Squadron. The Squadron moves to Hollandia
May 4, 1944 - Hollandia - McGuire's book "Combat Tactics in the Southwest Pacific Area" for Fifth Air Force is published
May 16, 1944 - over Noemfoer - 1 "Oscar" shot down over Noemfoer. (17 total)
May 18, 1944 - over Manokwari | Hollandia - 1 "Tojo" shot down. Promoted to Major. (18 total)
June 1(?), 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - Charles Lindbergh arrives at 475th Group
June 16, 1944 - Over Jefman - 1 "Oscar" and a "Sonia" shot down over Jefman. (20 total)
July 15(?), 1944 - Biak, Schouten Islands - The 475th Fighter Group moves to Biak, Schouten Islands
July 30(?), 1944 - Over Halmaheras - 1 "Oscar" shot down over Halmaheras. (21 total)
August 1(?), 1944 - Biak, Shouten Islands - Shares tent with Lindbergh. Both go fishing and exploring caves
August 15(?), 1944 - Biak - Assigned "Pudgy IV" when "Pudgy III" is wrecked
September 1(?), 1944 - Biak(?) - Assigned a new P-38L "Pudgy V"
October 15, 1944 - over Balikpapan, Borneo - Operating with the 9th Fighter Squadron for Bomber escort - 3 japanese aircraft shot down over Balikpapan. (24 total)
November 1, 1944 - over Tacloban, Leyte - 1 "Tojo" shot down. (25 total)
November 10, 1944 - over Tacloban, Leyte - 1 "Oscar" shot down. (26 total)
November 12, 1944 - 2 "Jacks" shot down. (28 total)
November 19, 1944 - Dulag Airfield, Leyte - The Squadron moves to Dulag Airfield, Leyte
December 1(?), 1944 - Dulag Airfield - McGuire becomes the Operation Officer of the 475th Fighter Group
December 7, 1944 - over Ormoc Bay - Flight with Richard Bong - 2 "Tojos" shot down. (30 total)
December 15(?), 1944 - Over Cebu - 1 japanese aircraft shot down. (31 total)
December 25, 1944 - Over Manila, Philippines - McGuire leads a squadron of 15 planes to protect B-24 Liberators bombing Mabaldent Airdrome. McGuire shoots down 3 "Zeroes". (34 total)
December 26, 1944 - Over Manila - McGuire shoots down 4 more "Zeroes". (38 total)
January 7, 1945 - Negros, Visayas, Philippines - Thomas McGuire is killed when his P-38 crashes in a low-altitude dogfight with japanese ace Akira Sugimoto, aged 24 =(END)

Richard Bong | Timeline

Richard Ira Bong (September 24, 1920 – August 6, 1945) was a United States Army Air Forces major and Medal of Honor recipient in World War II. He was one of the most decorated American fighter pilots and the country's top flying ace in the war, credited with shooting down 40 Japanese aircraft, all with the Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter. He died in California while testing a Lockheed P-80 jet fighter shortly before the war ended. (Intro from Wikipedia)

September 24, 1920 - Superior, Wisconsin - Richard Ira Bong is born

January(?) 1(?), 1934 - Superior, Wisconsin - Enters Poplar High School

January(?) 1(?), 1938 - Superior, Wisconsin - Graduates from Central High School in Superior

October(?) 1(?), 1938 - Superior, Wisconsin - Begins studying at Superior State Teachers College and enrolls in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, also taking private flying lessons

May 29, 1941 - Wausau, Wisconsin - Bong enlists in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Program =(START)

June 25, 1941 - near Tulare, California - Solo flight in a Stearman biplane trainer at Rankin Aeronautical Academy

January 19, 1942 - Northern California(?) - Commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings

January 25(?), 1942 - Luke Field, Arizona - First assignment - instructor (gunnery) pilot

May 6, 1942 - Hamilton Field, California - Operational assignment to the 49th Fighter Squadron, 14th Fighter Group, where he learns to fly the Lockheed P-38 Lightning

June 12, 1942 - Hamilton Field - Bong is temporarily grounded for "buzzing" over a house in San Anselmo

July 1(?), 1942 - Hamilton Field - Still grounded when his Fighter Group is sent to England

September 10, 1942 - Brisbane, Australia - Reports to Major General Kenney. Assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron (flying P-40 Warhawks)
November 14, 1942 - Laloki airfield, near Port Moresby, New Guinea - Reassigned temporarily to fly missions and gain combat experience with the 39th Fighter Squadron
December 27, 1942 - Schwimmer Field, near Port Moresby - Captain Thomas Lynch leads a flight of 12 P-38a off Schwimmer Airstrip to intercept a flight of 40 japanese fighters and bombers over Buna on the northern coast of New Guinea. Bong shoots down a Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" and a Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar". (2 total)
January 7, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Shoots down two "Oscars". (4 total)
January 8, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - One japanese "oscar" shot down over Lae harbor. (5 total)
January 11, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Rejoins 9th Fighter Squadron, equipped with P-38s
February 3, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Returns from leave in Australia
March 3, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Battle of the Bismarck Sea - Bong shoots down a "zero" while escorting B-17s and B-25s. (6 total)
March 11, 1943 - Schwimmer Field - Bong shoots down two "zeroes". (8 total)
March 29, 1943 - over the Bismarck Sea - Bong shoots down a japanese "Betty" bomber. (9 total)
April 6, 1943 - Schwimmer Field, near Port Moresby - Richard Bong is promoted to First Lieutenant
April 14, 1943 - Off Cape Frere - The Japanese move from their base at Rabaul, New Britain with 92 fighters, dive bombers and bombers to attack U.S. shipping at Milne Bay, New Guinea. Bong shoots down a G4M1 bomber. (10 total)
June 12, 1943 - 1 "Zero" shot down. (11 total)
July 21, 1943 - Schwimmer Field(?) - The 39th Fighter Squadron shoots down 11 japanese airplanes for a total of 104
July 26, 1943 - over Lae, E. Papua New Guinea - 1st Lieutenant Bong shoots down 4 japanese fighters over Lae. (15 Total)
July 28, 1943 - Off Cape Gloucester - 1 "Oscar" shot down while escorting B-25s over New Britain (his P-38 is damaged). (16 total)
August 24, 1943 - Australia - Promoted to Captain. Rest and Recuperation in Australia
September 6, 1943 - Mailinan Airstrip - Claims two bombers (not confirmed). Bong crash-lands at Mailinan airstrip
October 2, 1943 - over Cape Hoskins, New Britain - 1 "Dinah" shot down over Cape Hoskins, New britain. (17 total)
October 29, 1943 - over Rabaul - 2 "Zeroes" shot down over the japanese airfield at Rabaul. (19 total)
November 5, 1943 - over Rabaul - 2 "Zeroes" shot down over the japanese airfield at Rabaul. (21 total)
November 11, 1943 - United States - On leave until December (meets Marjorie "Marge" Vattendahl in Wisconsin)
December 15, 1943 - (While in the United States?) - The 39th Fighter Squadron is moved to Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea

Richard Bong and his P-38 "Marge"

January 1(?), 1944 - Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea - Bong returns to the Southwest Pacific. Names his P-38 "Marge" and adorns the nose with her photo
February 1(?), 1944 - Nadzab Airfield - Assigned to V Fighter Command HQ
February 15, 1944 - off Cape Hoskins, New Britain - 1 "Tony" shot down off Cape Hoskins, New Britain, on a flight back from an escort mission to Kavieng (22 total)
February 28, 1944 - Wewak, N. Papua New Guinea - Bong destroys a japanese transport full of officers on the runway at Wewak
March 3, 1944 - over Tadji, New Guinea - 2 "Sally" bombers shot down over Tadji, New Guinea. (24 total)
March 8, 1944 - over Aitape Harbor, N. Papua New Guinea - Without aerial opposition that day, Bong and his friend and mentor Tom Lynch fire at 6 barges, one of which is destroyed. When the two pilots come around for a second pass, Thomas J. Lynch is hit on one of his engines and crashes in the jungle, jumping too low for his parachute to fully open
April 3, 1944 - over Hollandia (Jayapura) - 1 "Zero" shot down over Hollandia. (25 total)
April 10, 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - Letter to his mother and younger brother
April 12, 1944 - over Tanamerah Bay | Hollandia (Jayapura) - Bong shoots down three japanese aircraft for a total of 28. Richard Bong is promoted to Major
May 1(?), 1944 - United States - On leave in the US until July - pubilicy tours
June 7(?), 1944 - Washington D.C. - Major Richard Bong meets ETO ace Robert S. Johnson
September 10, 1944 - Hollandia (Jayapura, N. New Guinea) - Returns to New Guinea and reports to General Kenney at Hollandia. His assignment is "Advanced gunnery instructor". He is allowed to go on combat missions but with orders only to defend himself and not seek out the japanese
October 10, 1944 - over Balikpapan, Borneo - 2 aircraft shot down on a raid over Balikpapan (Borneo) oil refineries. General Kenney grounds Major Bong. (30 total)
October 27, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines - 9th Squadron fflies from Morotai Island (North Malukku) to Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines. 1 "Oscar" shot down off Biliran Island. (31 total)
October 28, 1944 - Off Leyte - 2 "Oscars" shot down off Leyte. (33 total)
November 10, 1944 - over Ormoc Bay - 1 "Oscar" shot down over Ormoc Bay. (34 total)
November 11, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - Bong shoots down two more japanese aircraft for a total of 36. He is recommended for the Medal of Honor
December 7, 1944 - over Ormoc - Bong shoots down a "Sally" and a "Tojo". (38 total)
December 12, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - Receives the Medal of Honor from General MacArthur
December 15, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - 1 "Oscar" shot down. (39 total)
December 16, 1944 - over Mindoro - 1 "Oscar" shot down. (40 total)
December 17, 1944 - Tacloban, Leyte - General Kenney finally grounds Major Bong and sends him to the United States. 40 victories, 7 probables and 11 damaged
December 24, 1944 - United States - Returns to the US on Christmas Eve to a hero's welcome
February 10, 1945 - Superior, Wisconsin - Richard Bong marries Marjorie Vattendahl
March(?) 1(?), 1945 - Wright-Patterson AB, Ohio - Assigned to the Flight Test Section at Wright-Patterson air base in Ohio, to work with the Lockheed P-80 jet fighter
June 1(?), 1945 - Burbank, California - Reports to Lockheed's plant in Burbank, California
August 6, 1945 - North Hollywood, California - Richard Ira Bong is killed in jet fighter prototype accident, aged 24 =(END)

Robert S. Johnson | Timeline

Robert Samuel Johnson (February 21, 1920 – December 27, 1998) was a fighter pilot with the United States Army Air Forces(USAAF) during World War II. He is credited with scoring 27 victories during the conflict flying a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.
Johnson was the first USAAF fighter pilot in the European theater to surpass Eddie Rickenbacker's World War I score of 26 victories. He finished his combat tour with 27 victories. He was later credited by the Eighth Air Force claims board with a 28th victory when a "probable" was reassessed as a "destroyed", then reduced back to 27 when a post-war review discovered that the Eighth Air Force had inadvertently switched credits for a kill he made with a double kill made by a fellow 56th Fighter Group pilot, Ralph A. Johnson, on November 26, 1943, a day when Robert Johnson aborted the mission after takeoff. (Intro from Wikipedia)

February 21, 1920 - Lawton, Oklahoma - Robert Samuel Johnson is born

July(?) 1(?), 1928 - Post Field, Oklahoma - Develops interest in military aviation when his father takes him to see a US Army Air Corps barnstorming team "the three Musketeers"

January(?) 1(?), 1932 - Lawton, Oklahoma - Robert takes his first flight: a 15-minute night excursion over Lawton in a Ford Tri-motor

November 9, 1941 - Post Field, Oklahoma - Enlists as an aviation cadet in the US Army

November 11, 1941 - Oklahoma City - Johnson enters service at Oklahoma City as a member of Class 42F =(START)

November 12, 1941 - Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas - Begins Pre-Flight training

December 18, 1941 - Sikeston, Missouri - Johnson reports to the Missouri Institute of Aeronautics, for Primary Flying Training
December 23, 1941 - Sikeston - First Flight as an Air Corps cadet
January 28, 1942 - Sikeston - Switches instructor. His new instructor, Phil Zampini, becomes his mentor
February 10, 1942 - Sikeston - A new regulation authorizes the acceptance of married personnel as flight cadets
February 21, 1942 - Benton, Missouri - Johnson marries Barbara Morgan immediately upon completing Primary Flying Training
February 27, 1942 - Randolph Field, Texas - Begins Basic Flying Training
May 2, 1942 - Kelly Field, Texas - Begins Advanced Flying Training - Bomber school
June 28, 1942 - Kelly Field - Completes Advanced Flying Training
July 3, 1942 - Kelly Field - Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
July 19, 1942 - Bridgeport, Connecticut - Johnson reports to the 56th Fighter Group's 61st Fighter Squadron
September 16, 1942 - Bridgeport - The 56th Fighter Group receives a new Group Commander, Major Hubert Zemke
November 26, 1942 - Bridgeport - The 56th Fighter Group is alerted over overseas movement and ceases flying operations to prepare
December 28, 1942 - Camp Kilmer, New Jersey - The 56th Fighter Group moves to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
January 6, 1943 - Pier 90, New York - Sails to Scotland aboard "RMS Queen Elizabeth"
January 12, 1943 - Gourock, near Glasgow, Scotland - "RMS Queen Elizabeth" docks in Scotland
January 13, 1943 - RAF King's Cliffe - The group arrives at its first base in the United Kingdom without aircraft
January 14, 1943 - London - Visit to London. Johnson witnesses the blackout and the noise of the anti-aircraft guns
January 25, 1943 - RAF King's Cliffe - The First P-47Cs arrive at the base
February 8, 1943 - Peterborough - Unable to fly with low-visibility, the fighter group visits Peterborough
February 11, 1943 - RAF King's Cliffe - First flight in England
February 20, 1943 - RAF King's Cliffe - 56th Fighter Group party
March 10, 1943 - Llanbedr, Wales - Johnson is sent to a 2-week course in gunnery training
March 27, 1943 - Llanbedr - Gunnery Mission
March(?), 30(?), 1943 - RAF King's Cliffe - Due to bad weather, Johnson returns to Kings Cliffe without any training flights and still not qualified for fighter pilot
April 5, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - The 56th Fighter Group relocates to RAF Horsham St.Faith, near Norwich
April 17, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - First Combat mission. Johnson is then sent to RAF Goxhill to complete gunnery training
April 29, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - 56th Fighter Group's first combat. Two aircraft and two pilots are lost
May 3, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Resumes combat missions
May 14, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Escort mission. Johnson encounters Luftwaffe aircraft fo the first time. He damages two FW190's but becomes separated from the group. He is reported as missing in Action, but manages to return to base
May 19, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - His flight is ambushed by german fighters, but again the inexperienced Johnson is able to elude them
June 13, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Johnson shoots down his first enemy aircraft, a FW190, while flying over Bergues (France) in a flight led by Gabreski (1 total)
June 15, 1943 - RAF Horsham St.Faith - Johnson is assigned to lead two replacements in their first flights. To celebrate Johnson's first official victory, General Carl Spaatz sends him a bottle of Whiskey
June 26, 1943 - RAF Manston - 48 P-47Cs left a forward operating base at RAF Manston late in the afternoon to provide escort for B-17 bombers returning from a mission against Villacoublay airfield in the Paris suburbs. As the P-47s approached the rendezvous point near Forges-les-Eaux, they were jumped from above and behind by 16 Focke-Wulf Fw 190s of II Gruppe, JG 26. The first pass scattered the Thunderbolts, and Johnson's aircraft, flying at the rear of the 61st Squadron's formation, was seriously damaged by an Fw 190 fighter which fired 21 20 mm cannon shells into his fuselage which ruptured his hydraulic system. Burned and partially blinded by hydraulic fluid, Johnson tried to bail out, but his parachute snagged, and the canopy was damaged and would only open about 6 inches. After pulling out of an uncontrolled spin and with the fire amazingly going out on its own, Johnson headed for the English Channel, but was intercepted by a single Fw 190. Unable to fight back, he maneuvered while under a series of attacks, and although sustaining further heavy damage from hundreds of 7.92 mm rounds, managed to survive until the German ran out of ammunition. The German rocked his wings to salute Johnson, then turned back. His opponent was likely the commander of III/JG 2, Oberst Egon Mayer. After landing, Johnson tried to count the bullet holes in his airplane, but gave up after the tally passed 200 – without even moving around the aircraft. While Johnson made it back to land at Manston, four other pilots of the 56th FG were victoryed in action. A fifth, able to extend only one of his plane's landing gear struts, had to bail out over the English Channel and was rescued north of Yarmouth. Five other Thunderbolts suffered battle damage. Johnson suffered shrapnel wounds and minor burns to his face, hands, and legs, and was awarded the Purple Heart (from wikipedia)
July 1, 1943 - RAF Manston - Johnson resumes flying missions
July 2, 1943 - RAF Manston - "Rodeo" Mission to Villacoublay
July 3, 1943 - Biggin Hill - Orientation lectures with the Royal Air Force
July 6, 1943 - Biggin Hill - Johnson flies the Spitfires Mk.V and Mk.9B
July 8, 1943 - Halesworth, North of Ipswich - The Fighter Group relocates to Halesworth, north of Ipswich. Johnson receives his "purple Heart"
July 30, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD mission to Kassel
August 9, 1943 - Halesworth - Uneventful mission
August 12, 1943 - Halesworth - Mission to Gelsenkirchen with belly fuel tanks. Johnson has to abort and to return to base
August 17, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD Mission to Regensburg
August 19, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD mission to Gilze-Rijen. Johnson shoots down a Bf109 over Woensdrecht, Netherlands (2 total)
August 24, 1943 - Halesworth - Mission over Dieppe
September 2, 1943 - Halesworth - The group suffers casualties over Brussels
September 3, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD Mission to Romilly / Rodeo Mission to Woensdrecht
October 4, 1943 - Felixtowe - Johnson enjoys a 2-day leave at Felixtowe
October 8, 1943 - Halesworth - Johnson shoots down Hans Philipp's FW190 over Lingen, on an ramrod mission to Bremen. The 206-victory german ace is killed (3 total)
October 10, 1943 - Halesworth - Johnson shoots down a FW190 and a Bf110 over Münster, his P-47 being badly damaged (5 total)
November 3, 1943 - Halesworth - 1 Me109G shot down over Ameland, Netherlands (6 total)
November 11, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Münster
November 13, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission over the Zuiderzee. B17s and P47s return badly crippled after an air battle
November 26, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD mission to Bremen. Johnson has a fuel leak and is forced to abort and return to base
December 1, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Solingen. Johnson stays home
December 11, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Emden. 1 Me110 shot down (7 total)
December 22, 1943 - Halesworth - 1 Me109G shot down over Almelo, Netherlands (8 total)
December 30, 1943 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Ludwigshafen. Johnson shoots down a german fighter which isn't confirmed. Then damages a FW190D-9 over Soissons
December 31, 1943 - Halesworth - RAMROD mission to Kerlin-Bastard. Johnson shoots down 2 FW190s over Savenay (10 total)
January 1, 1944 - Wattisham - Flight to a maintenance depot to have the Thunderbolts modified
January 5, 1944 - Halesworth - RAMROD Mission to Münster.
January 6, 1944 - Halesworth - Air fight against an unidentified german ace. 1 FW190 shot down (11 total)
January 16, 1944 - London - 2-day pass in London. Before reaching the City, the train suffers an accident and 9 people are killed
January 20, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 FW190 shot down over Rouen (12 total)
January 30, 1944 - Halesworth - RAMDOD mission to Bremen. 1 Me410 shot down over Lingen and an unconfirmed Me109 (13 total)
February 20, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Me110 shot down over Dümmer Lake, Germany (15 total)

March 2, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Frankfurt. On the return, Gabreski and Johnson strafe an airbase south of Aachen
March 6, 1944 - Halesworth - 1 FW190 and a Me109 shot down over Dümmer Lake, Germany (17 total)
March 8, 1944 - Halesworth - 2 Me109 shot down over Steinhude Lake, Germany (19 total)
March 15, 1944 - Halesworth - Bomber escort to Braunschweig - 2 FW190 and 1 Me109 shot down over Dümmer Lake, Germany (22 total) - Johnson becomes the leading ace in the ETO and is promoted to Captain. Zemke authorizes a 25-hour extension of his combat tour
March 16, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Friedrichshafen
March 20, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Frankfurt
March 23, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Osnabrück
March 24, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Braunschweig cancelled because of bad weather
March 25, 1944 - London - Visit to London
March 28, 1944 - Halesworth - Short-range mission to Calais
March 29, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Braunschweig
April 1, 1944 - Halesworth - Mission to Strasbourg
April 5, 1944 - Halesworth - Strafing mission to Denmark. The Group is recalled to base because of a storm front
April 8, 1944 - Halesworth - RAMROD mission to Hesepe
April 9, 1944 - Halesworth - Escort mission to Poznan and Tutow. 1 FW190 shot down over Kiel (23 total)
April 10, 1944 - Halesworth - Short Mission to Brussels
April 12, 1944 - Halesworth - Strafing mission to Oldenburg
April 13, 1944 - over Kaiserslautern, Germany - Escort Mission to Munich. 2 FW190 shot down (25 total)
April 18, 1944 - Boxted, Essex - The 56th Fighter Group relocates to Boxted, Essex
May 1, 1944 - Boxted, Essex - Promoted to Major
May 8, 1944 - Boxted, Essex - 1 Me109 and 1 FW190 shot down over Celle (27 total). Johnson is ordered to return to the United States
June(?) 5(?), 1944 - West Iceland | Greenland | Newfoundland, Canada - Johnson departs for the United States aboard a Skymaster, via West Iceland, Greenland and Newfoundland
June 6, 1944 - LaGuardia Airport, New York | Washington D.C. - Returns to the United States. He is immediatly taken with his wife to Washington
June 7(?), 1944 - Washington D.C. - Robert S. Johnson meets President Roosevelt and members of Congress. Later he meets Major Richard Bong
June 11, 1944 - Post Field, Oklahoma - Johnson and his wife depart to Oklahoma
September 1(?), 1944 - Abilene, Texas - Commands an OTU at Abilene until the end of World War II
November 1, 1945 - Farmingdale, Long Island, N.Y. (?) - Joins Republic Aviation for sales and flight test
May 13, 1947 - Birmingham, Alabama (?) - Commands the 514th troop carrier group
January(?) 1(?), 1949 - ? - Becomes President of the Air Force Association (until 1951). Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel
October 25, 1951 - Panmunjon, South Korea - Sits in on the first Korean War "Peace Meeting"
November 27, 1951 - Panmunjon - Both sides of the War agree upon a Military Demarcation Line
January(?) 1(?), 1958 - Oklahoma(?) - Collaborates with aviation author Martin Caidin to write his autobiographical story
May 1(?), 1961 - ? - First P-47 meeting
January(?) 1(?), 1964 - Lake Wylie, South Carolina - Johnson becomes an insurance executive
February 3, 1977 - Roslyn, N.Y. - Deputy commander of the 26th Air Div.
December 15, 1983 - Oklahoma - Aviation and Space Hall of Fame induction banquet
October 4, 1995 - Lake Wylie, South Carolina - Barbara Ellen Morgan dies, aged 72
February 21, 1997 - Spartenburg, South Carolina - Robert S. Johnson, along with Maj.Gen. John Alison and Capt. T. Hugh Winters are honored at an event
December 24, 1998 - Lawton, Oklahoma - Robert S. Johnson collapses while on a visit with family members and is hospitalized
December 27, 1998 - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Robert Samuel Johnson dies, aged 78 =(END)

Bibliography
JOHNSON, Robert S. and CAIDIN, Martin - Thunderbolt! (1958)