Jim Heitkotter

The author and Jim Heitkotter at the Sacramento air show in September 2010

Jim Heitkotter joined the 449^th during the summer of 1944. The first time he saw Japanese fighters was 8 September 1944. He was a part of a flight of four P-38s led by Lieutenant Stuart Rea. At 1510 hours that day, twenty Oscars from the 64^thSentai attacked C-47s unloading Chinese troops at the frontier airfield of Baoshan. The four P-38s arrived just as the Oscars dove in on the field. They disrupted the attack and prevented a massacre. On a mission to Hainan Island on 5 January 1945, Heitkotter’s P-38 experienced a fuel malfunction and he was forced to bail out over southern China. Though injured, he was found by German missionaries and nursed back to health. An L-5 evacuated him to Kunming and shortly thereafter he returned to the United States.

Jim Heitkotter with his P-38G at Chenggong Airfield in 1944

In 2010, Mr. Heitkotter invited me to an airshow in Sacramento commemorating the P-38. I was able to take leave and I am very glad I did. My good friend Mr. Zemke, son of the famous World War II fighter ace, picked me up at the airport and took me to the airshow. What I like most about Mr. Heitkotter is his sense of humor. He has the ability to make light of his mistakes. Most pilots make many – myself included. In the intervening time between now and then, Mr. Heitkotter’s sense of humor has not diminished. When the flight of four P-38s was getting ready to takeoff for the show, he walked up to the lead pilot. “Bill,” he said. “You look awful. You should let me take this one.”

Mr. Heitkotter offering to lead the four ship of P-38s for the air show

The show was spectacular. The P-38 is a truly amazing airplane. I was surprised by how quiet they were. The upward-directed exhaust made a significant difference in the noise level as compared to a P-51 or other period fighter. The four Lightnings flew the missing man formation and two of them then flew a heritage flight with an F-22. I was glad to have seen the show. I was doubly glad to have finally met Jim Heitkotter in person. The man is a hero.