William T. Whisner Jr.
William Thomas Whisner Jr. | |
---|---|
48th Tactical Fighter Wing | |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | Distinguished Service Cross (3) Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (7) Bronze Star Medal Air Medal (11) |
William Thomas Whisner Jr. (October 17, 1923 – July 21, 1989) was a career officer and pilot in the United States Air Force, retiring as a colonel with 30 years of military service. He was a fighter ace with Army Air Forces over Europe in World War II and a jet fighter ace with the Air Force in the Korean War.
Although best known for his credited destruction of 22½ aircraft in aerial combat and being one of only seven U.S. combat pilots to become an ace in two wars, Whisner commanded the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, before retiring in 1972.
Early life
William T. Whisner Jr. was born in
Growing up in Shreveport, Whisner attended C. E. Byrd High School, becoming active in the school's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It was during this involvement that Whisner developed an interest in becoming a military aviator.[1]
Military career
Immediately upon graduating from high school, Whisner applied for the
Whisner's first assignment in the Air Corps was sent to
World War II
With the unit's training completed, the 352nd Fighter Group boarded the
From September 1943 through January 1944, Whisner and the group saw limited success, as the P-47s were limited in range and few
First tour
In late January 1944, the US Army Air Corps adapted a new strategy for P-47s to escort bombing runs as they returned from their missions. The first attempted mission, on 24 January, was disrupted by bad weather.
By March 1944, the 352nd Fighter Group had 63 victories to its pilots, but senior leaders felt it was under-performing, so the group was equipped with P-51 Mustangs. It was customary for pilots to nickname and decorate their own aircraft, but a command decision compelled Whisner to name his aircraft "Princess Elizabeth" in honor of an anticipated visit by Elizabeth II. Over the next month, the squadron saw much greater success, and Whisner was among the pilots to benefit.[2] On 9 April, Whisner and Preddy were on an escort mission over Belgium when they spotted an airfield which the flight attacked. In five passes, Whisner destroyed two Junkers Ju 88 dive bombers and damaged a nearby barracks. The group eventually claimed 12 aircraft destroyed and one probable in the attack. On 30 April, during an attack on an airfield in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Whisner shot down an Fw 190 which was attempting to attack the bombers. The 352nd ended the month with 107 victories and 4 probables, and 62 aircraft damaged.[3]
In May, Whisner and the group continued aggressive bombing missions, and while he was unable to get any aerial victories, he was credited with destroying several ground targets. On 10 May, Whisner was a part of an attack on an airfield in
In June, Whisner flew missions in support of the
Second tour
Whisner returned to England in late September. By this time, however, the Luftwaffe had taken heavy losses and was opposing allied pilots far less often. Whisner flew his first combat mission on 28 September, shortly after being promoted to
With no more than two Fw 190s left in the cover flight he had attacked, Whisner turned his attention to the main enemy formation, shooting a Fw 190 that had not dropped its drop tank. Evading three Fw 190s on his tail, he shot down another that was closing on one of his pilots. Then, low on ammunition, he joined up with his flight and returned to Bodney. Whisner was credited with five Fw 190s and two probables that day.[5][6]
His score later was revised by the Air Force Historical Research Agency to six destroyed, making that day one of the best for any USAAF pilot in the skies over Europe. For that achievement, Whisner was awarded his first Distinguished Service Cross—second only to the Medal of Honor. Whisner was finally certified a flying ace, bringing his total to 10 air-to-air kills.[7]
Battle of Y-29
During the Battle of the Bulge, which started on December 16, the 487th Fighter Squadron was moved forward to airfield Y-29 near Asch, Belgium.
On New Year's Day 1945, Whisner was one of 12 Mustang pilots led by Meyer that had started their takeoff roll when a large formation of Fw 190s and Bf 109s hit the field. In the ensuing battle, fought at low altitude and before the 487th Fighter Squadron pilots had time to form up, Whisner shot down a Fw 190, then was hit by 20 mm fire.[8]
With his windshield and canopy covered by oil and one aileron damaged, Whisner stayed in the fight, shooting down one more Fw 190 and two Bf 109s. He was awarded a second Distinguished Service Cross for that day's work—one of only 14 USAAF men to be so honored in World War II.[note 1] At the end of the war, Whisner had flown 127 missions and logged 450 combat hours. He was credited with 16.4 aerial victories, which put him in the top 20 USAAF aces of the European Theater.[7]
USAF career
After
Korean War
In September 1951, Whisner deployed with the
During his time in Korea, he served under the command of
Before the mission of February 20, 1952, Gabreski and Whisner each had four MiGs credited as destroyed. During the mission, Gabreski attacked and severely damaged a MiG 15 that fled across the Yalu River into China. He broke off the engagement and returned to base after his own airplane was damaged, where he claimed the MiG as a "probable kill".
Whisner trailed the MiG deep into Manchuria trying to confirm Gabreski's kill, but his Sabre ran low on fuel. He completed the shootdown and returned to K-14 where he confirmed the kill for Gabreski but did not claim it himself. Gabreski confronted him and angrily ordered him to change his mission report, confirming Whisner's own role in the kill. Whisner refused. Soon after, Gabreski recanted his anger and the two shared the claim, as a consequence of which three days later Whisner and not Gabreski became the first pilot of the 51st FW to reach jet ace status.
As a result, Whisner was awarded his third
For a two-war total of 22 destroyed in the air, 1 probable, 6 damaged, and 3 destroyed on the ground, made him one of only 7 people to have been an ace in both World War II and the Korean War.
Post-war
Whisner returned to the U.S. in March 1952, where he continued his career as a fighter pilot. Whisner also competed in air races, and in 1953, while a
He then served on the staff of the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project at Sandia Base from April 1959 to June 1962, and then as a special assistant to the commander for the Combat Crew Training Group at Luke Air Force Base until September 1962, when he became commander of the 4517th Combat Crew Training Squadron, also at Luke Air Force Base.[9]
After completing Vietnamese Language School, he served as an Operations Staff Officer with Headquarters 2nd Air Division at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam from October 1963 to October 1964, followed by service on the staff of Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base from October 1964 to October 1967, during the Vietnam War. He made several deployments to Southeast Asia, but did not fly any missions during the war.
Whisner then served as Chief of the Fighter Division with Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base from October 1967 to June 1969.
He was commander of the
Later life and death
After retiring as a colonel, he lived quietly in his home state of
His remains were cremated and scattered into the Red River near Shreveport, his birthplace.
Aerial victory credits
Date | # | Type | Location | Aircraft flown | Unit Assigned |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
January 29, 1944 | 1 | Focke-Wulf Fw 190 | Namur, Belgium |
P-47D |
487 FS, 352 FG |
April 30, 1944 | 1 | Fw 190 | Clermont-Ferrand, France | P-51B |
487 FS, 352 FG |
May 29, 1944 | 1 | Fw 190 | Güstrow, Germany |
P-51B | 487 FS, 352 FG |
May 30, 1944 | 0.5 | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Magdeburg, Germany | P-51B | 487 FS, 352 FG |
November 2, 1944 | 1 | Bf 109 | Merseburg, Germany | P-51D |
487 FS, 352 FG |
November 21, 1944 | 6.1 | Fw 190 | Merseburg, Germany | P-51D | 487 FS, 352 FG |
November 27, 1944 | 2 | Bf 109 | Hameln , Germany |
P-51D | 487 FS, 352 FG |
January 1, 1945 | 2 | Fw 190 | Liège, Belgium | P-51D | 487 FS, 352 FG |
January 1, 1945 | 2 | Bf 109 | Liège, Belgium | P-51D | 487 FS, 352 FG |
November 8, 1951 | 1 | MiG-15 |
Sukchon, North Korea | North American F-86A Sabre | 334 FIS, 4 FIG |
November 9, 1951 | 1 | MiG-15 | Sinuiju, North Korea | F-86A | 334 FIS, 4 FIW |
January 6, 1952 | 1 | MiG-15 | North Korea | North American F-86E Sabre | 25 FIS, 51 FIW |
January 11, 1952 | 1 | MiG-15 | North Korea | F-86E | 25 FIS, 51 FIW |
February 20, 1952 | 1 | MiG-15 | Uiju , North Korea |
F-86E | 25 FIS, 51 FIW |
February 23, 1952 | 1 | MiG-15 | North Korea | F-86E | 25 FIS, 51 FIW |
- SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II and Air Force Historical Study 81: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, Korean War, Freeman 1993
Awards and decorations
Whisner received numerous awards and decorations for his services:[14]
US Air Force Command Pilot Badge |
Distinguished Service Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Silver Star | |
Distinguished Flying Cross with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters | |
Bronze Star Medal | |
Air Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters | |
Air Force Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster
| |
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation | |
American Campaign Medal | |
campaign stars
| |
World War II Victory Medal
| |
National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | |
Korean Service Medal | |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | |
service stars
| |
Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
| |
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
| |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Award
| |
United Nations Service Medal for Korea
| |
Vietnam Campaign Medal | |
Republic of Korea War Service Medal |
Distinguished Service Cross citation (1st Award)
- Whisner Jr., William T.
- Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces
- 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
- Date of Action: November 21, 1944
- Citation:
Captain (Air Corps) William T. Whisner Jr.,
Distinguished Service Cross citation (2nd Award)
- Whisner Jr., William T.
- Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces
- 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, 8th Air Force
- Date of Action: January 1, 1945
- Citation:
The
Distinguished Service Cross citation (3rd Award)
- Whisner Jr., William T.
- Major, U.S. Air Force
- 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, 5th Air Force
- Date of Action: February 23, 1952
- Citation:
The
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Lorenz & Oliver 1999, p. 97
- ^ a b c Lorenz & Oliver 1999, p. 98
- ^ a b Lorenz & Oliver 1999, p. 99
- ^ a b c Lorenz & Oliver 1999, p. 100
- ^ a b Frisbee, John (1990-06-01). "Valor: A Very Special Ace". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ISBN 9798569101122. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "P-51 Mustang Aces in WW2 – with the USAAF in Europe". AcePilots.com. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ "Y-29 Bill Whisner". 352NDFG.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Veteran Tributes". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
- ^ "Fact Sheet: Korean Aces". NJ.gov. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ Lorenz & Oliver 1999, p. 1.
- ^ Fried, Joseph P. (1989-07-25). "William T. Whisner Jr., 65, Pilot – Was U.S. Fighter Ace in 2 Wars". The New York Times. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
- ISBN 9781563115042. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
- ^ Lorenz & Oliver 1999, p. 80.
- ^ a b c "Valor awards for William Thomas Whisner, Jr". Valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2016-12-16.
Notes
- ^ Meyer received his third Distinguished Service Cross on the same mission, the only Air Force pilot to receive three DSCs in World War II
- ^ see Gabby Gabreski
- ^ Other being his former World War II fighter squadron commander, John C. Meyer
Sources
- This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.
- Lorenz, William E.; Oliver, Dwight L. (1999), The Inner Seven: The History of Seven Unique American Combat 'Aces' of World War II and Korea, ISBN 978-1563115042
- Werrell, Kenneth P. (2005), Sabres Over MiG Alley: The F-86 and the Battle for Air Superiority in Korea, ISBN 9781591149330