Email to Daniel Jackson. 8 September 2018.
Dear Capt. Dan Jackson::
Following is a resume of my military and civilian career..
I entered the Army Air Corp Aviation Cadet Pilot Training Program in the fall of 1941 and graduated in May of 1942 in the class of 42-E. Upon graduation, I was assigned to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where squadrons were being formed for a new method of intelligence gathering, i.e., aerial photograph by unarmed pursuit (fighter) aircraft. Unarmed to discourage any temptation to engage attaching aircraft, but, instead, to turn tail and return home with the intelligence gathering photos.
We shipped out of San Francisco in the fall of 1942 for New Caledonia, where we received our aircraft off freighters and assembled them. The pilots flew up to Guadalcanal and the ground personnel went by sea, arriving in January of 1943. I flew off Guadalcanal until the fall of 1943, performing 50 missions, at which time I was rotated to the U.S. as we began receiving replacement pilots. Our missions consisted of photographing enemy airfields, harbors and bivouac areas; pre and post strike assessment photos; and entire island photos to produce current maps. We lost four of the original 16 pilots and two more were rescued and returned to our unit.
For the first few months, the enemy bombed us almost every night as a harassing action to keep us up. One bomb landed in our bivouac area, killing one airman. We were also subject to large daytime attacks by up to 100 enemy air corps., plus occasional single plane strafing attacks.
Upon returning to the U.S., I was assigned to Will Rogers Field in Oklahoma City as the Colorado Springs function had been transferred there. While there, I instructed new pilots in P-38 photoreconnaissance technique for a few months and then was assigned to a new squadron being formed to go overseas.
In the spring of 1944, we traveled by sea from the east coast to Calcutta, India. After receiving our aircraft, we operated off Calcutta for a short time, then as the Japanese were pushed back, we moved to the west coast of Burma. Our targets were all the enemy installations in Burma, plus Bangkok, Siam, where we performed the same tasks as when in The Solomons. Again, I had completed 50 missions by the time the Japanese evacuated Burma and flew over to Kunming and Chunking, China to visit the 14th Air Force Operations Section to plan moving our unit to China, as I was Squadron Commander by this time. However, the atomic bombs were dropped and we returned to the U.S. where I was discharged in the spring of 1946.
I moved to Portland, Oregon early in 1948, joined the Oregon Air National Guard and was called up for a two and one-half year stint during the Korean War. During the Korean War, I flew a desk as Base Adjutant at Hamilton Air Force Base and Base Executive Officer at Oxnard Air Force Base, both on the U.S. west coast.
I was promoted to Colonel a couple of years before my retirement from the military in 1966. My military decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross with four oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with six clusters, four Asiatic Pacific Battle Stars and various theatre and service ribbons. My military career was a wonderful experience and I’ll cherish it always. My Guadalcanal unit still meets every year.
My civilian career was also very pleasant and somewhat successful. When I came to Portland, I went to work as a salesman for Crane Company, a national plumbing manufacturer and distributor. I worked there for nine years, except for the Korean War absence. In 1956, a friend any myself struck out on our own in a similar business and due to various circumstances, and events, I eventually became sole owner of the business and continued to operate the company until 1988 when I sold the firm to two employees and retired, completing 40 years in the wholesale plumbing business.
I became a widower in 1998, and since then have become active in a senior group that paddles dragon boats three days a week on the Willamette River, year round, and competes in races during the summer. I belong to a Portland to Seaside walking team and to a walking group at my church. While I do not participate in the physical activities as much, I do continue to participate in these groups socially. I am 101 years old and am very fortunate that I enjoy excellent health and many activities, including tai chi classes at a local Senior Center.
I did not intend to write a book, and hope this is not too boring.
Sincerely,
Al Bailey