James B. Morehead

James Bruce Morehead
James Bruce Morehead
Nickname(s)	Jim
Born	August 16, 1916; Paoli, Oklahoma
Died	March 11, 2012 (aged 95); Petaluma, California
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	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

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.[4]

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.[4]

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

Later life

In 1999 he was inducted into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame.[7]

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

	Distinguished Service Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Silver Star
	Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster
	Air Medal with three silver oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	American Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four 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

Philippine Independence Medal

French Croix de Guerre with Palm

Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

United Nations Korea Medal

Korean War Service Medal

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References

"Military Times Hall of Valor". Awards and Citations: Distinguished Service Cross. militarytimes.com. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
Carter, Lori (19 January 2011). "Petaluma honors WWII 'ace'". Petaluma, California: The Press Democrat. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
Fox, Margalit. "James Morehead, World War II Flying Ace, Dies at 95".
"Veteran Tributes". www.veterantributes.org.
"Aerial Victory Credits". Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. (search on Name "begins with" "Morehead"). Retrieved 14 March 2012.
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.

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[1] "Military Times Hall of Valor". Awards and Citations: Distinguished Service Cross. militarytimes.com. Retrieved 9 February 2011.

[Petaluma-2] Carter, Lori (19 January 2011). "Petaluma honors WWII 'ace'". Petaluma, California: The Press Democrat. Retrieved 9 February 2011.

[nytimes.com-3] Fox, Margalit. "James Morehead, World War II Flying Ace, Dies at 95".

[veterantributes.org-4] "Veteran Tributes". www.veterantributes.org.

[5] "Aerial Victory Credits". Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. (search on Name "begins with" "Morehead"). Retrieved 14 March 2012.

[WPObit-6] Shapiro, T. Rees (16 March 2012). "James B. Morehead, WWII ace known as 'Wildman". The Washington Post.

[7] "American Combat Airman Hall of Fame" (PDF). www.airpowermuseum.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.