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James B. Morehead

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American fighter pilot (1916-2012)
James Bruce Morehead
Nickname(s)"Jim"
Born(1916-08-16)August 16, 1916
Paoli, Oklahoma, United States
DiedMarch 11, 2012(2012-03-11) (aged 95)
Petaluma, California, United States
BuriedArlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Air Force
Years of service1940–1967
RankColonel
Unit49th Pursuit Group
1st Fighter Group
49th Fighter-Bomber Wing
Commands331st Fighter Squadron
488th Army Air Force Base Unit
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished 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. He was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and sixteen Air Medals

Early life

Morehead was born on August 16, 1916, in Paoli, Oklahoma.

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.

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.

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.

He received a second Distinguished Service Cross and an additional Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the European Theater.

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 Comment
February 25, 1942 Darwin Australia 3 Awarded DSC
April 25, 1942 Pacific Theater of Operations 2 Achieved Ace Status
August 23, 1942 Pacific Theater of Operations 2
June 6, 1944 Romania 1

Later life

In 1999 he was inducted into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame.

Morehead died on March 11, 2012. He is buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards and decorations

His awards and decorations include:

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster Silver oak leaf clusterSilver oak leaf clusterSilver oak leaf cluster Bronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf clusterBronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star Bronze starBronze star
Bronze starBronze starBronze starBronze star
Bronze star Silver oak leaf cluster
USAF Command pilot badge
Distinguished Service Cross
with bronze oak leaf cluster 		Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross
with bronze oak leaf cluster 		Air Medal
with silver oak leaf clusters 		Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
with three bronze oak leaf clusters
American Defense Service Medal
with service star 		American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
with two bronze campaign stars
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
with three bronze campaign stars 		World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal
National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal
with bronze campaign star 		Air Force Longevity Service Award
with silver oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
with bronze hourglass device 		Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Philippine Defense Medal
French Croix de Guerre
with Palm 		Philippine Independence Medal Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation United Nations Korea Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal

References

  1. "Military Times Hall of Valor". Awards and Citations: Distinguished Service Cross. militarytimes.com. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  2. ^ Carter, Lori (19 January 2011). "Petaluma honors WWII 'ace'". Petaluma, California: The Press Democrat. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
  3. ^ Fox, Margalit (19 March 2012). "James Morehead, World War II Flying Ace, Dies at 95". The New York Times.
  4. Ingman, Peter (2020). P-40E Warhawk vs A6M2 Zero-Sen, East Indies and Darwin 1942. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. p. 39. ISBN 9781472840875.
  5. Foss, Joe (1991). Top Guns: America's Fighter Aces Tell Their Stories. United States: Pocket Books. p. 20. ISBN 0-67168317-9.
  6. ^ "Veteran Tributes". www.veterantributes.org.
  7. "Aerial Victory Credits". Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. (search on Name "begins with" "Morehead"). Archived from the original on 15 January 2010. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  8. ^ Shapiro, T. Rees (16 March 2012). "James B. Morehead, WWII ace known as Wildman". The Washington Post.
  9. "American Combat Airman Hall of Fame" (PDF). www.airpowermuseum.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
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