colonel january american air ace credited having shot japanese aircraft world war born idaho joined age spent time combat american pilot world war years pacific serving pacific quickly distinguished ace achieving kills month period double ace career air_force officer commanded world war korea peacetime commands retired air_force colonel following military career taught high school physics years texas died natural causes age early life born idaho moved family norfolk nebraska parents generation americans french canadian parents elder worked commercial traveler lumber industry live servant reside expensive house time prior john born employed teacher catholic school eldest child younger brothers sisters graduating high school attended college nebraska entered flight training california march received pilot wings october military career world war receiving wings commission second lieutenant initially posted duties flight instructor waiting assignment posted unit route ship learned japanese attack pearl harbor assigned bell fighter pilot based new_guinea june flown combat missions versions selected newly formed lockheed lightning fighter group formed assigned began quickly abilities started flying aircraft compete line japanese fighters flying serial named screaming kid shot japanese fighters months flying earned promotion captain august escorting bombers near new_guinea shot tony fighters victories month later september claimed zero fighter near new_guinea slightly months later obtained ace status downing near new_guinea december picked kills zero 15th zero 21st build landings cape gloucester picked eighth victory january zero april escorting bombers near new_guinea shot oscar fighter fighter giving ninth tenth kills making double ace january assumed command unit tasked striking targets new_guinea support general return philippines august returned united_states major january returned return combat following assignment united_states eleventh final aerial victory march shot frank fighter near vietnam promoted lieutenant colonel july commanding officer relinquished command april returned united_states age lieutenant colonel fighter group commander earned assignment years longer american fighter pilot served combat flew hours combat fourth leading ace flying notable aces kills kills kills known instructing pilots head main body enemy disregard largest bunch korea return united_states married enrolled earn bachelor degree physics graduating beginning served commanding officer air defense unit based michigan led transition unit lockheed shooting star jet fighter staff tour returned combat korea having promoted colonel december commanded flying republic fighter flew additional combat missions subordinate squadrons command set air_force record number combat sorties flown day june set record sorties day post war career following korean war assignments included tours commander deputy commander 4th tactical fighter wing having achieved rank colonel flying hours combat missions retired air_force later life following retirement air_force attended obtaining master degree physics taught physics texas avid member married years son daughter died natural causes january texas buried dallas fort worth national cemetery survived wife daughter sisters son john brothers awards decorations oak leaf clusters silver oak leaf clusters oak leaf clusters republic korea medal silver star honors dallas texas inducted inducted
John S. Loisel