John S. Loisel
John Simon Loisel | |
|---|---|
475th Fighter Group 432nd Fighter Squadron | |
| Battles/wars | World War II
|
| Awards | Silver Star Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Air Medal (11) |
| Other work | High School Physics teacher |
He became a career Air Force officer when the United States Army Air Forces was disbanded in 1947 and would serve in the United States Air Force until 1970. Loisel commanded Fighter Groups in both World War II and Korea, along with several peacetime commands. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel. Following his military career, Loisel taught high school physics for 15 years in the Plano Independent School District.
Early life
Loisel was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on May 21, 1920, and moved with his family to
After graduating from high school, Loisel attended Wayne State Teacher's College, Nebraska (now
Military career
World War II
Upon receiving his wings and a commission as a
Once assigned to the 432nd Fighter Squadron, Loisel began to quickly show his abilities once he started flying an aircraft that could compete with the top-line Japanese fighters. Flying a P-38H, serial no. 42–66682,
In December 1943, he picked up two more kills, a Zero on the 15th and another Zero on the 21st, during the build-up for the landings at
In January 1945, Loisel returned to the 475th Fighter Group as the Operations Officer.
He had, by the age of 25, become a lieutenant colonel, a fighter group commander, and earned the Silver Star. His assignment to the Pacific Theatre of Operations for over three years was longer than any other American fighter pilot served in combat, and he flew more than 875 hours in combat.[3] Loisel was the fourth leading ace in the 475th Fighter Group, flying with notable aces Thomas McGuire (38 kills), Charles MacDonald (27 kills) and Daniel T. Roberts, Jr. (15 kills).[3] He was known for his aggressiveness, instructing his pilots to "Head for the main body of the enemy – disregard stragglers ... [and] plow into the largest bunch you see."[3][12][15]
Korea
On return to the United States in 1946, he married Rachel 'Rae' Hultman,
Post-war career
Following the Korean War, Loisel had assignments that included tours as the Commander,
Later life
Following his retirement from the Air Force, Loisel attended North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas), obtaining his master's degree in physics in 1972.[11] Loisel then taught physics at Plano Senior High School in Plano, Texas from 1972 to 1985. Loisel was an "avid golfer" and a member of the American Fighter Aces Association.[3] Loisel was married to Rae Loisel for 63 years.[16] They had a son, John S. Loisel, Jr., and a daughter, Susan Bryan. He died of natural causes on January 20, 2010, in Plano, Texas and is buried at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and two sisters, Mary Margaret Pappas and Anne Schueth. His son John, Jr. and his brothers predeceased him.[16]
Awards and decorations
USAF command pilot badge[20]
Silver Star[21][22][20]
Legion of Merit[22][20]
Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters[21][22][20]- Presidential Unit Citation with four oak leaf clusters[20]
American Defense Service Medal with one star[20]- Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two silver stars[20]
- World War II Victory Medal[20]
Army of Occupation Medal[20]
National Defense Service Medal[20]
Korean Service Medal[20]- Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with silver oak leaf[20]
Philippine Liberation Medal[20]
Philippine Independence Medal[20]- Republic of Korea Ulchi Medal with silver star[20]
- United Nations Korea Medal[20]
Other honors
- Grand Marshal, Dallas Veteran's Day Parade, Dallas, Texas, 2007[16]
- Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame, inducted 1994[23]
- U.S. Air Force Gathering of Eagles, inducted 1991[3]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e Fifteenth Census of the United States, United States census, 1930; Norfolk, Madison, Nebraska; roll T626 1288, page 118, line 80–93.
- ^ Fourteenth Census of the United States, United States census, 1920; Coeur d'Alene, Kootenai, Idaho; roll T625 291, page 236, line 17–18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Air Command and Staff College Gathering of Eagles, Eagle Biography, John S. Loisel". www.au.af.mil. Retrieved February 1, 2010.
- ^ a b c Holmes 2004, p. 114
- ^ Holmes 2004, p. 126
- ^ Stanaway 2004, p. 36
- ^ a b c d e f g Holmes 2004, pp. 114–115
- ^ McAulay 2005, p. 85
- ^ McAulay 2005, p. 219
- ^ Stanaway 2004, p. 38
- ^ a b c d Holmes 2004, p. 115
- ^ a b Fifth Air Force Staff 2007, p. 73
- ^ Stanaway 2004, p. 44
- ^ Foley 1980, p. 349
- ^ Bergerud 2000, p. 490
- ^ a b c d Simnacher 2010.
- ^ "Fact Sheet, 63 Fighter Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
- ^ Foley 1980, p. 347
- ^ Dorr 2003, p. 174
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lewis, Adam. "John Loisel's P-38". Adamsplanes.com. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ a b c Fighter Combat Tactics in the Southwest Pacific Area, p. 71
- ^ a b c d "Maj. John Loisel: P-38 Lightning Ace of the 475th FG". AcePilots.com. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
- ^ "Nebraska Aviation Hall of Fame". State of Nebraska. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
References
- Fifth Air Force Staff (2007). Fighter Combat Tactics in the Southwest Pacific Area. Bennington, VT: Merriam Press. ISBN 978-1-57638-064-2.
- Bergerud, Eric (2000). Fire in the Sky : The Air War in the South Pacific. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-3869-7.
- Dorr, Robert; Thompson, Walter (2003). Korean Air War. Osceola, WI: Zenith Press. ISBN 0-7603-1511-6.
- Foley, Erin, ed. (1980). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. New York, NY: Arno Press. ISBN 0-405-12146-6.
- Holmes, Tony, ed. (2004). Twelve to One: V Fighter Command Aces of the Pacific. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-784-0.
- McAulay, Lex (2005). MacArthur's Eagles: the U.S. Air War Over New Guinea. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-479-5.
- Simnacher, Joe (January 26, 2010). "John S. Loisel was Plano high physics teacher, WWII fighter pilot". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
- Stanaway, John (2004). P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-633-7.
External links