Inner Seven

William E. Oliver

Description

The history of seven unique American combat "aces" of World War II and Korea.

Sujets

• Histoire
• Segunda Guerra Mundial
• Military
• World War II
• Korean War
• History
• Seconde Guerre mondiale

Informations

• Publié par: Turner Publishing Company
• Date de parution: 01 juin 1999
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781681621418
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

THE INNER SEVEN
The History of Seven Unique American Combat Aces of World War II and Korea
by William E. Oliver with Dwight L. Lorenz
Co-published by Turner Publishing Company and Mark A. Thompson, Associate Publisher
Pre-Press work by M. T. Publishing Company, Inc. Graphic Designer: Diana F. Butcher
Copyright 1999 William E. Oliver
This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced without the written consent of the Author and the Publishers.
The materials were compiled and produced using available information; Turner Publishing Company and M. T. Publishing Company, Inc. regret they cannot assume liability for errors or omissions.
Author: William E. Oliver
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 99-70975
ISBN: 978-1-56311-504-2
Contents

Introduction
Dedication
Foreward
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1 Lieutenant Colonel John F. Bolt, U.S. Marine Corps
Chapter 2 Lieutenant Colonel George A. Davis, Jr., U.S. Air Force, Medal of Honor Awardee
Chapter 3 Colonel Francis S. Gabreski, U.S. Air Force
Chapter 4 Colonel Vermont Garrison, U.S. Air Force
Chapter 5 Colonel James P. Hagerstrom, U.S. Air Force
Chapter 6 Brigadier General Harrison R. Thyng, U.S. Air Force
Chapter 7 Colonel William T. Whisner, Jr., U.S. Air Force
Epilogue
Appendix
I. Glossary of Military Terms And Acronyms
II. Maps
III. Aircraft Photos
Introduction


The book which you are about to read is based upon the lives and ex ploits of seven extraordinary citizens who answered the call to military duty during World War II. Each became a combat aviator and none knew, or could imagine, that they would again be called upon a relatively short time later to participate in yet another armed conflict in a theater located on the other side of the globe and with a totally different enemy. None of the seven could have suspected that the combat record compiled in Korea when added to that compiled in World War II would isolate them as the only seven of many thousands of aviators who would qualify for inclusion in the annals of history as The Inner Seven .
Many books of historical value have been written about our past wars. Several encompass entire theaters, specific battles, single individuals or various combinations thereof, particularly as relate to the geopolitical or geographical conflict under the author s consideration. This text, however, examines the recorded combat exploits of seven aviators who became Aces while flying piston driven aircraft during World War II, and then became Jet Aces during the Korea War. The title, The Inner Seven refers to the fact that these were the only seven aviators in our military history to have earned this status-and will, in all probability, be the only ones ever to do so.
Of added significance is the fact that the life history of each of The Inner Seven is an important part of the personalized chapter of this historical document which is devoted to him. Of importance is the revelation that there is no socioeconomic form which molds heroes, nor is there a military school which produces extraordinary combatants. The Inner Seven were selected for immortalization as the result of their individual and collective contributions to the aerial combat portion of the war effort, in two totally different types of aircraft, and to serve as positive examples for those who will follow in the field of military aviation.
The Inner Seven did not only excel in the destruction of enemy aircraft and materiel. During each combat assignment they also provided training and coaching to the newly assigned aviators in their organizations. With the exception of one, they survived extremely brutal periods of aerial combat in two theaters under much less than ideal operating circumstances, and went on to make major contributions to the United States Air Force and Marine Corps during their post war service.
As of this writing, only two of The Inner Seven are still alive. However, it is certain that the examples of airmanship and daring, and the attitude, tactics and techniques developed, applied by, and attributed to, these valiant airmen will endure the test of posterity--to the benefit of the present and all future generations.
Dedication


I had the rare opportunity to meet six of The Inner Seven , to establish a mutual friendship, and to interview each at great length. These memorable occasions were recorded on audio tape and provided the basis for the content of this historical text.
This book is dedicated to The Inner Seven military aviators who committed their lives to the defense of our country:
Lieutenant Colonel John F. Jack Bolt, United States Marine Corps, Retired, a soft-spoken gentleman of the South whose friendship is treasured.
Lieutenant Colonel George A. Davis, Jr., United States Air Force, who was killed in action during the Korean War and posthumously awarded our country s highest military decoration--The Congressional Medal of Honor.
Colonel Francis S. Gabby Gabreski, United States Air Force, Retired, our country s highest scoring living Ace whose official records reflect credit for the destruction of 34.5 enemy aircraft. Gabby has always been ready, willing, and able to help with the completion of this book.
Colonel Vermont Gary Garrison, United States Air Force, Retired, to whom one listened because he was a natural leader.
Colonel James P. Jim Hagerstrom, United States Air Force, Retired, an intense, sincere, gracious individual.
Brigadier General Harrison R. Harry Thyng, United States Air Force, Retired, a great leader who was respectfully and enthusiastically followed without question or hesitation by all who served under his command. Colonel William T. Whiz or Bill Whisner, United States Air Force, Retired, a delight to be with and also always willing to assist with the completion of this book
Also, to Tom Ivie, a long time friend who was with me at the beginning of my quest to gather information and prepare the document which has become this tribute to The Inner Seven, and to Dwight Lorenz, a new friend, who was irreplaceable in the completion of the manuscript and thus the realization of my ultimate dream.
Foreward

Before you read this foreward, please stop. Read the prologue, then the text, then the epilogue. Now come back to the foreward .

I ask you to think for yourself. After reading of their exploits, after trying to imagine yourself doing what they did, feeling what they felt, living each day as they did, do you really know and understand the men about whom this volume is written? Can you visualize them as a friend, perhaps the man who married a girl you knew in high school? Maybe you think they re so unique and move in such distant circles that had your lives crossed when they were all alive you would have felt timid about saying hello or presenting yourself.
Well, let me tell you. They were indeed unique, but you would have never known that if you had not known their stories. They were the guy next door mowing his lawn-the man down the street with six kids-the father who stood up at the PTA meeting and asked the same question you wanted to ask-the fellow out on the golf course who struggled to break ninety, never did, but like you, kept trying.
So what was it? How did each of these men differ from the thousands of others who were in the same situation, fought the same enemies, had had the same training, went through the same battles, but didn t achieve the same results?
Don t feel put upon because I ask these questions. Eminent scholars, mighty psychiatrists, four star generals, pundits, writers, laymen-all have asked the same question-what made these seven different?
Some of the reasons are obvious. Each man was in the right place at the right time. Each found opportunity and took full advantage of it. Each possessed outstanding hand-eye coordination and superb flying skill. Each was a natural aerial marksman with a heightened sense of spatial orientation and situational awareness.
Given all that, we still don t really know what made these seven stand out. Plenty of our pilots possessed the same attributes and flying skills. Many of them were top dogs in their state-side squadrons, out-shooting, out-bombing, and out-maneuvering their contemporaries with consummate ease. But something seemed to lack when these top dogs went into combat. I m not implying timidity or reluctance to engage the enemy. Nor am I ignoring the basic factor of opportunity. But the fact remains, in almost every fighter squadron two or three of the thirty-odd pilots are stand-outs. The majority are excellent. One or two are at the bottom of the pecking order of skill, yet they too are capable and fine fighter pilots.
Think again about these seven. I knew three of them well, and the other three Air Force men were acquaintances. Not one of them was a fire breathing hell for leather personality. Had you met them I guarantee you would have liked them as friends. So what was the difference? Some may quarrel with my assessment, but I ll only listen to those of you who have been there, and I doubt if any of you can change my mind.
Given all the skills, attributes, and opportunities each of these seven enjoyed, beyond that and deep down it was a matter of fearless pride and indomitable desire that drove each man to excel. And though you may find this hard to accept, each in his own way was prudent. I say that in the sense that it was often prudent to attack rather than disengage; always, it was prudent to know your enemy, to study and mark his habits, his strengths, and weaknesses. Prudence kept you alive.
Going back to situational awareness, look again at the description of some of the aerial battles in this volume. Put yourself in the cockpit. Now try to visualize a sphere of sky containing a swirling mass of fighter aircraft whose three dimensional movements are limited only by the thin blue sky above, the surface of the earth below, and the ability of each airc