Henry Buttelmann
Henry Buttelmann | |
|---|---|
F-86 Sabre in Korea | |
| Nickname(s) | Hank |
| Born | June 26, 1929 Corona, New York |
| Died | September 16, 2019 (aged 90) Frankfort, Illinois |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1952–1979 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Air Medal (25) |
| Spouse(s) | Audrey Buttelmann[1] |
Henry "Hank" Buttelmann (June 26, 1929 – September 16, 2019) was a fighter pilot of the United States Air Force in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He achieved seven victories over enemy aircraft in Korea, making him a flying ace. He gained his fifth kill on June 30, 1953, just after his 24th birthday, which made him the youngest ace of the war.
Buttelmann was born in
Early life and education
Buttelmann was born to German immigrants[1] on June 26, 1929, in Corona, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens.[2] His first introduction to aviation was when he had a neighbor who was an American Airlines pilot.[3]
He began attending the
Military career
Korean War
He joined the
He flew in "
On June 19, his 55th mission and first as an element leader (which meant he was in the shooting position), he made his first kill.[7]
His fifth victory came on June 30, 1953, making him a flying ace.[9] He was the USAF's 36th ace[7] and the youngest ace of the war at 24 years and 4 days.[6]
On July 19, he was in a flight of four F-86s led by future astronaut John Glenn that ran into a group of MiGs. In the ensuing skirmish, Glenn, Buttelmann, and Glenn's wingman were each credited with a victory. Glenn said that "the MiGs' tactics were so poor I could only imagine it was a training flight, or they were low on fuel, but we were unbelievably lucky".[10] In another flight with Glenn three days later,[10] he scored his seventh and final victory—also the last day of aerial combat in the war.[11] After coming home from Korea with 65 combat missions,[6] Buttelmann returned to Nellis to serve as an instructor.[5]
Vietnam War
Buttelmann was stationed at
He retired from the Air Force in October 1979 as a lieutenant colonel,[6] having flown 286 combat missions over the two wars.[5]
Later life
In May 2015, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by Nevada Senator Dean Heller for "his role as an American Fighter Ace during the Korean and Vietnam Wars".[5]
Buttelmann died on September 16, 2019, at the age of 90. He died in Frankfort, Illinois, where he and his wife, Audrey Buttelmann, moved in 2018. Buttelmann was one of two surviving Korean War aces when he died; the other is Charles G. Cleveland[1] Buttelmann was interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.[12]
Awards and decorations
His decorations include:[13]
|
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
|
Silver Star |
   |
”V” device and three bronze oak leaf clusters
|
  |
Air Medal with four silver oak leaf clusters |
|
Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing) |
|
Air Force Commendation Medal |
  |
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star |
 |
campaign star
|
 |
Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze campaign stars |
 |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver leaf cluster
|
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Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
|
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Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
|
|
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
|
|
Vietnam Campaign Medal |
|
Korean War Service Medal |
Aerial victory credits
Throughout his career, Buttelmann was credited with seven victories, all of them in the Korean War.
| Date | No. | Type | Location | Aircraft flown | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 19, 1953 | 1 | MiG-15 |
Uiju , North Korea |
F-86 Sabre |
25 FIS
|
| June 22, 1953 | 1 | MiG-15 | Yangsi, North Korea | F-86 Sabre | 25 FIS |
| June 27, 1953 | 1 | MiG-15 | Yonsu-dong, North Korea | F-86 Sabre | 25 FIS |
| June 29, 1953 | 1 | MiG-15 | Ch'eyung, North Korea | F-86 Sabre | 25 FIS |
| June 30, 1953 | 1 | MiG-15 | Uiju, North Korea | F-86 Sabre | 25 FIS |
| July 19, 1953 | 1 | MiG-15 | Sakchu , North Korea |
F-86 Sabre | 25 FIS |
| July 22, 1953 | 1 | MiG-15 | Tongsong-ni, North Korea | F-86 Sabre | 25 FIS |
| Source:[9] | |||||
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Erikson, Briana (September 25, 2019). "Korean War ace, longtime Las Vegas resident Hank Buttelmann dies". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
- MilitaryTimes. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ Buttelmann, Henry (March 11, 2016). "Lt. Colonel Henry Buttelmann". Chronicles of Courage: Stories of Wartime and Innovation (Interview). Interviewed by Wayne Weiss. Las Vegas, Nevada: Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c Collier, Peter. "Lt. Col. Henry Buttelmann" (PDF). Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ United States Government Printing Office: S2846. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "Henry Buttelmann". National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Thompson 2012, p. 65.
- ^ a b Bledsoe, Larry W. (May 1, 2009). "MiG Hunters". Airport Journals. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ a b Maurer, Maurer, ed. (June 1963). USAF Historical Study No. 81: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, Korean War (PDF). Montgomery, Alabama: USAF Historical Division. p. 50. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-61251-344-7.
- ISBN 978-1-910294-31-4. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
- ^ "Buttelmann, Henry". Nationwide Gravesite Locator. National Cemetery Administration. Archived from the original on July 31, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "First Lieutenant Henry Buttelmann". San Diego Air & Space Museum. 29 September 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-1-78200-743-2. Retrieved December 29, 2017.