James Jabara
James Jabara | |
---|---|
337th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron | |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (7) Air Medal (24) British Distinguished Flying Cross |
James "Jabby" Jabara (10 October 1923 – 17 November 1966) was the first American and United States Air Force jet ace.[1][2] Born in Oklahoma, he lived in Kansas where he enlisted as an aviation cadet at Fort Riley after graduating from high school. Jabara attended four flying schools in Texas before he received his pilot's wings and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Jabara flew two tours of combat duty in Europe during World War II as a North American P-51 Mustang pilot, and scored 1.5 air victories against German aircraft.
Jabara flew his first jet aircraft in 1948, the USAF
Jabara next held a series of commands at various Air Force bases across the United States. He flew the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and later the Convair B-58 Hustler. In 1966, while on leave from service in Vietnam, Colonel Jabara was traveling with his family in two cars to their new home when his daughter crashed the car she was driving and he was riding in, killing them both. They were buried together at Arlington National Cemetery. In recognition of his contributions to military aviation, an airport outside of Wichita, Kansas was named in his honor. Each year the United States Air Force Academy alumni association bestows the Jabara Award upon an Academy graduate whose aerospace accomplishments demonstrate superior performance.
Early life
Jabara was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma,[3] of Lebanese descent; his father, John, and mother came from Marjayoun, a town in Southern Lebanon.[4]
Jabara joined the
World War II
During
After World War II, Jabara considered leaving the military to attend college, but later decided to attend the Tactical Air School at
Korean War
Before the start of the
This [air combat] is just business. It's what we're trained for—just like you might be trained for any business.
—James Jabara, reflecting on his combat victories[20]
On 20 May, two flights of F-86 Sabres encountered multiple MiG-15s in MiG Alley, and through radio communications, two additional flights of F-86 Sabres joined the battle, including Jabara.[21] In preparation for the oncoming battle, Jabara and the other F-86 Sabre pilots were ordered to jettison their auxiliary fuel tanks to improve their maneuverability. Jabara's right fuel tank failed to separate from his wing, and protocol required he return to base as the aircraft would be impeded by the extra weight and imbalance, and limit his potential to match off with a MiG.[10] However, with his desire to become a jet ace, Jabara decided to continue to the air battle, where he was able to still handle his aircraft well enough to be credited with shooting down two MiG-15s with .50 caliber machine gun fire.[4] The first was in a group of three MiGs and the other was the last in a six-plane group. Jabara was able to see the first aircraft explode from his gunfire, but he only saw his second victory go into a tailspin as he was avoiding being targeted by another MiG.[22] His fifth and sixth victories made Jabara the first American in history to use jet aircraft to become an ace.[23] The Americans said the 20-minute air battle had included 36 F-86 Sabres against nearly 50 MiG-15s (Russian data shows 30 MiGs), and the American pilots recorded Jabara's two victories and another pilot's "probable".[6][21] While returning to base, Jabara's F-86 Sabre was so low on fuel, he turned off the engine and glided towards the base before turning it on prior to landing.[6] Data-matching with Soviet records made available since the end of the Cold War has since shown that only one MiG was lost in the combat, and that Jabara's jet-versus-jet tally was four at best. According to Soviet records he did not become an ace till his second combat tour in 1953.[24] Jabara later stated in an interview, "That was my bag for the day, and it made me feel pretty good to know that I was the first jet ace in the history of aerial warfare [sic]."[11] The mission was his 63rd[25] Korean mission of an eventual 163;[26] he was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest decoration.[5]
Against his wishes, Jabara received a stateside leave for a publicity tour. The Jabara family grocery store in Wichita was thronged with people for days, and both he and his father John appeared on local and national radio and television. Wichita mounted one of its most-attended parades in the city's history.
By then a major, on his second tour, Jabara was credited with shooting down nine more MiGs for a total of 15 victories.
After Korea
Jabara returned to the United States in July 1953,
From July 1960 to June 1961, he attended and graduated from the
In 1965, Jabara was given command of the
Death
While traveling to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where his family would stay while he returned to combat in Vietnam, Jabara and his 16-year-old daughter Carol Anne died in a car accident in Delray Beach, Florida, on 17 November 1966.[3] The Jabara family were in two cars that day, on their way to a new home in South Carolina where his wife Nina and their children—James Jr., Carol Anne, Jeanne, and Cathy—would reside during Jabara's combat tour. Carol Anne was driving a Volkswagen with her father as a passenger in the back seat. She lost control of the car going through a construction zone, when she initially veered onto a grass median.[3] She swerved back onto the highway but during the rapid turn, she lost control and the vehicle returned to the median where it rolled several times.[35][36] Jabara sustained head injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at a Delray hospital, and Carol Anne died two days later. A memorial service was held for Jabara at Homestead Air Force Base with a missing man formation fly-by.[37] Jabara and his daughter were buried together in a single grave at Arlington National Cemetery.[38][39]
His grandson, 2d Lt Nicholas Jabara, USAF, a 2001 graduate of the
Legacy
An airport just northeast of Wichita, Kansas, was named the Colonel James Jabara Airport in his honor.[10][42] Each year since 1968, the United States Air Force Academy alumni association bestows the Jabara Award upon the Academy graduate whose accomplishments demonstrate superior performance in fields directly involved with aerospace vehicles.[43][44] The James Jabara Memorial Foundation was founded by a friend of Jabara, and the foundation constructed a statue of him at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2004.[45]
In 1950, the
Awards and decorations
During World War II, Colonel Jabara was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters.[47] While in Korea he received the Distinguished Service Cross and another Oak Leaf Cluster for his Distinguished Flying Cross. He was also awarded the Silver Star for two missions flown on 10 and 12 April 1951, where he shot down two MiGs while defending American bombers.[48] He received the Distinguished Service Cross for shooting down his fifth and sixth MiG victories on 20 May 1951.[48] Another Silver Star was received in 1953 with an Oak Leaf Cluster.[47] The United Kingdom awarded him the British Distinguished Flying Cross for his accomplishments in combat on 1 December 1955.[47]
Command Pilot
| ||
Distinguished Service Cross | ||
Oak Leaf Cluster )
|
"V" Device )
|
Air Medal (with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters) |
Air Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters) | Air Force Commendation Medal | Presidential Unit Citation |
American Campaign Medal | Service Stars )
|
World War II Victory Medal
|
Army of Occupation Medal | National Defense Service Medal (with Service Star) | Korean Service Medal (with 3 Service Stars) |
Vietnam Service Medal | Air Force Longevity Service Award (with four Oak Leaf Clusters)
|
Marksmanship Ribbon
|
Distinguished Flying Cross (British) | Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
|
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
|
United Nations Korea Medal | Vietnam Campaign Medal (with Silver 1960– Device) | Korean War Service Medal |
See also
- List of Korean War air aces
References
- Notes
- ^ "Jet Ace Out of Combat". The New York Times, 22 May 1951 (Fee required). United Press. 22 May 1951. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Arab-Americans in the United States Military". Arab-American Business and Professional Association. 4 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "First American Jet Ace Dies As Car Overturns in Florida". The New York Times, 18 November 1966 (Fee required). United Press International. 18 November 1966. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ a b Dorr, Robert F. "History: Heroism across the ages". Navy Times, 2 September 2007. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
- ^ a b c Boyne 2001, p. 331.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Allmon, William B. "Captain James Jabara: Ace of the Korean War". Aviation History, March 1995. HistoryNet.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d Patrick, Bethanne Kelly. "Col. James Jabara". Military.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012.
- Military Channeldocumentary
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fredriksen 1999, pp. 362–363.
- ^ a b c d Emery, Gary. "Air Force pilot becomes first jet ace half century ago". dcmilitary.com, 20 May 2001. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Dorr, Robert F.; Fred L. Borch. "History in Blue: Jabara was first U.S. jet ace". Navy Times, 18 October 2006. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
- ^ The New York Times staff (21 May 1951). "World's First Jet Ace Downs 2 MIG's within 10 Minutes". The New York Times, 21 May 1951 (Fee required). Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- The Deseret News, 29 May 1951. United Press. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ "Col. Jabara, First US Jet Ace, Killed". Chicago Tribune, 18 November 1966. United Press. 18 November 1966. Archived from the original (Fee required) on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ Randall, Peter. "Database Search". Little Friends. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- ^ Wyllie 2005 (WWII Victories), p. 397.
- ^ Dorr et al. 1995, p. 23.
- ^ Parrott, Lindesay (31 December 1950). "Attack Gains Some Ground on Right Flank of 8th Army". The New York Times, 31 December 1950 (Fee required). Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ The New York Times staff (13 April 1951). "Foe Seeks to Halt Attack". The New York Times, 13 April 1951 (Fee required). Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Jet Ace Scouts Glamour". The New York Times, 13 April 1951 (Fee required). Associated Press. 30 May 1951. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ Air Force Magazine. 73 (6, June 1990). Archived from the originalon 30 July 2012.
- ^ Gurney 1958, p. 246.
- ^ "U.N. Blows Check Chinese Drive But Foe Pours in Troops". The New York Times, 21 May 1951 (Fee required). Associated Press. 21 May 1951. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Welcome to the Air Combat Information Group". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011.
- ^ "Jabara to Fight Again". The New York Times, 26 November 1952 (Fee required). United Press. 26 November 1952. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ "Jabara Misses Record". The New York Times, 18 July 1953. Associated Press.
- ^ "Jet Ace Pilot on Tour". The New York Times, 8 January 1952 (Fee required). Associated Press. 8 January 1952. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "First Jet Ace Asks Return To Combat Duty in Korea". The New York Times, 13 November 1952 (Fee required). Associated Press. 13 November 1952. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- ^ Thompson 2006, p. 37.
- ^ "Jet Ace Jabara Completes Last Korean Sortie". Rome News-Tribune, 17 July 1953. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ Wyllie 2005 (Aerial Victories), p. 12.
- ^ Bowers, Al. "Fighter Pilot Aces". United States Air Force, 15 May 1999. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
- Air Force Magazine. 43 (8, August 1960). Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Top Ace Enters His 3rd War". The Miami News, 20 July 1966. Retrieved 28 July 2011.[permanent dead link]
- The Washington Reporter. UPI. 18 November 1966. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- Youngstown Vindicator. Associated Press. 18 November 1966. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- St. Petersburg Times, 22 November 1966. Associated Press. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Colonel James Jabara: American Hero." Archived 16 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine Midwest Corporate Aviation. Retrieved: 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Hero and Daughter Buried". The New York Times, 23 November 1966 (Fee required). Associated Press. 23 November 1966. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
- Air Force Magazine. 85 (7, July 2002): 7. Archived from the original(PDF) on 30 July 2012.
- ^ de Leon, Virginia. "Gonzaga Prep grad dies when jet crashes in Texas". The Spokesman-Review, 2 February 2002. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ Price et al. 2010, p. 86.
- ^ "The Jabara Award for Airmanship". United States Air Force Academy. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
- ^ "Awards". Air Force Times, 15 December 2003. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012.
- ^ deGrandpr, Andrew. "Friend keeps memory of America's first jet ace alive". Air Force Times, 18 October 2006. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
- ^ "Kansas Hall of Fame Awards". Kansas Aviation Museum. Archived from the original on 4 January 2011.
- ^ a b c Miner, Craig. "James Jabara: Hero". Wings Over Kansas. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
- ^ Military Times Hall of Valor. Archived from the originalon 30 August 2012.
- Bibliography
- ISBN 1-57607-345-9.
- Davis, Larry. MiG Alley: Air to Air Combat over Korea (Aircraft Specials series 6020). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1978. ISBN 0-89747-081-8.
- Dorr, Robert F., Jon Lake and Warren Thompson. Korean War Aces. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-501-2.
- Gurney, Gene. Five Down and Glory. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1958. ISBN 0-405-03764-3.
- Fredriksen, John C. American Military Leaders: From Colonial Times to the Present (Volume II). Santa Barbara, California: ISBN 1-57607-001-8.
- Price, Jay M. Victoria Foth Sherry and Matthew Namee. Wichita's Lebanese Heritage. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2010. ISBN 0-7385-7717-0.
- Shores, Christopher. Fighter Aces. London: Hamlyn Publishing, 1975. ISBN 0-600-30230-X.
- Thompson, Warren. F-86 Sabre Aces of the 51st Fighter Wing. Oxford, UK: Osprey, 2006. ISBN 1-84176-995-9.
- Wyllie, Arthur. Aerial Victories of the Jet Era. Raleigh, North Carolina: Lulu.com, 2005. ISBN 1-4116-6598-8.
- Wyllie, Arthur. WWII Victories of the Army Air Force. Raleigh, North Carolina: Lulu.com, 2005. ISBN 978-1-4116-4864-7.
External links
- United States Air Force Bio at archive.today (archived 1 August 2012)
- AcePilots Bio
- National Museum of the Air Force Fact Sheet
- Arlington National Cemetery