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WWII Fighter Aces Panel at Museum of Flight Seattle

Stony

Well-Known Member
For those in the Seattle area, here is the official release for the next fighter aces panel on March 27th. If you've never been to one, it's a great experience.

I'll be there, so hopefully some local members can attend and we can "shoot the jacket bull".

World War II American Fighter Aces in Museum Program March 27
Four pilot veterans share stories of air combat over Europe and the Pacific

SEATTLE, March 3, 2010—The latest in a continuing series of American Fighter Ace panel discussions at the Museum is March 27 at 2 p.m. This panel of World War II veteran pilots includes eight-aerial combat victory Ace, James Tapp; 14-victory Ace Clyde East; 13-victory Ace James Brooks and five-victory Ace James Kunkel. Kunkel was one of three American D-Day veterans personally honored by President Barack Obama and French President Sarkozy in ceremonies at Normandy, France in June 2009. The program is in the William M. Allen Theater, and is free with admission to the Museum.

Col. James B. Tapp, U.S. Air Force – Tapp is a native of Eveleth, Minn. He completed primary and secondary Civilian Pilot Training Programs in June 1941, and became an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps on Nov. 7, 1941. He joined the 78th Fighter Squadron of the Seventh Fighter Command in Hawaii, and remained with the unit for the next three years.

Tapp was involved with missions defending Iwo Jima and group support of the Marines. Missions also include fighter sweeps to Japan and escorting B-29 bombers flying P-51s. On his first escort mission Tapp earned aerial combat victories against a twin-engine Japanese fighter and three single-engine types. He earned two more victories on escort missions and two during fighter sweeps. While leading 150 P-51 Mustangs escorting the B-29 raid against Yokohama, Tapp repelled numerous enemy passes and earned another victory against a Japanese Zero fighter despite having mechanical difficulties with the guns on his Mustang.

After the War Tapp spent the rest of his 30-year career with the Air Force in the areas of research and development, and test flying.

Lt. Col. Clyde B. East, U.S. Air Force – A Virginia state native, East joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in June 1941, and was stationed with the 414 RCAF Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in May 1943. He completed his combat tour with the RCAF in December of that year, transferring to the U.S. Air Force in January 1944. He remained with the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, until the end of the war in Europe. During this time he flew over 200 combat missions in RF-51 fighters and earned 14 1/2 aerial victories, most of them against German Me-109s and Fw-190 fighter aircraft.

East remained with the Air Force after World War II. He flew jets during the Korean War, retired from the Air Force in 1965 and joined the Rand Corporation.

Capt. James L. Brooks, U.S. Air Force – A native of Roanoke, Virginia, James L. Brooks entered the Air Force in 1942. He flew P-39s and P-40s in Panama before joining the 31st Fighter Group in Italy in early 1944. The 31st was assigned to the 15th Strategic Air Force for escorting bombers deep into Europe and the Balkans. Brooks recorded his first aerial combat victory over Ploesti, Romania in April 1944.

While on a special mission from Russi to Lvov, Poland, Brooks lead the 307th Fighter Squadron during an engagement of 40 JU-87 Stuka dive bombers. The squadron destroyed 27 aircraft. For this mission the 31st received its second Unit Citation and Brooks received the Silver Star. In Sept. 1944 he ended his tour with 280 combat hours and 13 confirmed aerial combat victories—most of them being against Me-109s.

During the Korean War Brooks participated in the first “big, all-jet battle” 42,000 feet over the Yalu River, involving 12 enemy MIGs and four U.S. F-86s.

Brooks resigned from the Air Force in 1951, becoming an engineering test pilot for North American Aviation. He was one of the founders and the first president of the Fighter Aces Association, and a past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

His war decorations include the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross/One Oakleaf Cluster, Air Medal/20 Oakleaf Clusters, and Unit Citation/One Oakleaf Cluster.

Lt. James K. Kunkle, U.S. Air Force – James K. Kunkle, was a P-38 and P-51 fighter pilot credited with five aerial combat victories. He joined the 401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Group of the 9th Air Force and carried out 36 combat missions in support of the Normandy Landing operations and bombing missions in Germany and the Ardennes. After taking off from Roye/ Amy, 42 km southeast of Amiens on Sept. 16, 1944, he was attacked near Aachen, Germany, after having attacked two enemy aircraft in order to protect the formation in which he was flying. He was badly burned but was able to open his parachute and was rescued by soldiers from the U.S. Army's 1st Division. He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross. Kunkel was one of three American D-Day veterans honored by President Barack Obama and French President Sarkozy in ceremonies at Normandy, France in June 2009. He has also been nominated by the French government to receive the rank of Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor. Kunkle lives in Santa Ynez, California.

The citation for the DSC reads: “The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to James K. Kunkle (0-763232), Second Lieutenant (Air Corps), U.S. Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-38 Fighter Airplane in the 401st Fighter Squadron, 370th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 16 September 1944, during an air mission over Aachen, Germany. On this date, while flying as rear man in a squadron on an armed reconnaissance mission, Lieutenant Kunkle noticed that his squadron was about to be surprised by a vastly superior force of enemy aircraft. Unable to summon his leader on the radio, he alone unhesitatingly pulled away from his formation and vigorously attacked the enemy, immediately destroying one of his aircraft. In so doing, Lieutenant Kunkle placed himself in a position to be attacked from the rear and above. When this attack materialized, many hits were registered on his aircraft which caught fire burning his face, neck, and hands. Despite his burning plane and the gunfire from enemy planes, Lieutenant Kunkle continued his attack against the vastly superior enemy force and succeeded in destroying a second enemy aircraft, breaking off combat only when forced to parachute to safety when his left fuel tank exploded. Second Lieutenant Kunkle's unquestionable valor in aerial combat is in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.”
 

TankBuster

Active Member
Stony,

I wish I lived closer. It would be fantastic to be there. Hearing the stories was my favorite part of the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends show. You're a lucky guy!!
 
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