James B. Morehead
James Bruce Morehead | |
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| Nickname(s) | Jim |
| Born | August 16, 1916 Paoli, Oklahoma |
| Died | March 11, 2012 (aged 95) Petaluma, California |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1967 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 49th Pursuit Group 1st Fighter Group 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing |
| Commands held | 331st Fighter Squadron 488th Army Air Force Base Unit |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Air Medal (16) |
James Bruce Morehead (August 16, 1916 – March 11, 2012) was an American fighter pilot and flying ace of World War II. He flew combat missions over a three-year span of the war with a total of eight aerial victories.[1][2] He was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and sixteen Air Medals [2]
Early life[]
Morehead was born on August 16, 1916, in Paoli, Oklahoma.[3]
Military career[]
World War II[]
At the initial outbreak of hostilities, Morehead was recovering from injuries sustained by a mid air collision. In late December after recovery, he joined pilots and support personnel in San Francisco, aboard the USS President Polk, ordered to be sent to the Philippines, but instead diverted to port in Brisbane, Australia as the Japanese threaten the Dutch East Indies and Australia. [4][5]
He destroyed three enemy aircraft on February 25, 1942 and was awarded his first Distinguished Service Cross for that mission. On April 25, 1942, he destroyed two more enemy aircraft, earning him the flying ace status.[6]
During this time he was credited with the destruction of 7 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the Pacific Theater.[6]
He received a second Distinguished Service Cross and an additional Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the European Theater.[3]
His aerial victories during World War II consisted of 8 enemy planes destroyed in the air and 1 damaged. Of his kills, 7 were attained while flying P-40 and one was attained while flying P-38.
His book "In my sights" is a candid, honest, brave story of the few who survived the terrible aerial battles against the Zeros in the Southwest Pacific.
Aerial Victory credits[]
| Date | Location | Credits[7] | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 25, 1942 | Darwin Australia[8] | 3 | Awarded DSC[8] |
| April 25, 1942 | Pacific Theater of Operations[8] | 2 | Achieved Ace Status |
| August 23, 1942 | Pacific Theater of Operations[8] | 2 | |
| June 6, 1944 | Romania[8] | 1 |
Later life[]
In 1999 he was inducted into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame.[9]
Morehead died on March 11, 2012. He is buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.[3]
Awards and decorations[]
His awards and decorations include:
 Command pilot badge
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Distinguished Service Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster |
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Silver Star |
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Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster |
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Air Medal with three silver oak leaf clusters |
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Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze oak leaf clusters |
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American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star |
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American Campaign Medal |
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Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars |
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European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign stars |
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World War II Victory Medal |
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Army of Occupation Medal |
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National Defense Service Medal |
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Korean Service Medal with bronze campaign star |
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Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster |
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass device
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
French Croix de Guerre with Palm
Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
References[]
- ^ "Military Times Hall of Valor". Awards and Citations: Distinguished Service Cross. militarytimes.com. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ^ a b Carter, Lori (19 January 2011). "Petaluma honors WWII 'ace'". Petaluma, California: The Press Democrat. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ^ a b c Fox, Margalit. "James Morehead, World War II Flying Ace, Dies at 95".
- ^ Ingman, Peter (2020). P-40E Warhawk vs A6M2 Zero-Sen, East Indies and Darwin 1942. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. p. 39. ISBN 9781472840875.
- ^ Foss, Joe (1991). Top Guns: America’s Fighter Aces Tell Their Stories. United States: Pocket Books. p. 20. ISBN 0-67168317-9.
- ^ a b "Veteran Tributes". www.veterantributes.org.
- ^ "Aerial Victory Credits". Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. (search on Name "begins with" "Morehead"). Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Shapiro, T. Rees (16 March 2012). "James B. Morehead, WWII ace known as 'Wildman". The Washington Post.
- ^ "American Combat Airman Hall of Fame" (PDF). www.airpowermuseum.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- 1916 births
- 2012 deaths
- American World War II flying aces
- Aviators from Oklahoma
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
- People from Garvin County, Oklahoma
- Military personnel from Oklahoma
- United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- American expatriates in Taiwan