6.A HPSR 10-17-2013 eteran Tributes
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onoring Those Who Served
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Jack A. Bade
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Major 0-4, U.S. Army Air Forces
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U.S. Army Air Forces 1942-1945
World War II 1942-1945
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Jack Bade was born on October 9, 1920,in Minneapolis,
Minnesota.He entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. •
Army Air Forces on January 5, 1942,and was commissioned a 2d
Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Luke Field,Arizona,on July 26,
1942.After completing advanced fighter training,he was
assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron of the 18th Fighter Group •
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in the Pacific in December 1942.Lt Bade was credited with
destroying 5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 probable
before returning to the U.S.in September 1943.He served as an `*
instructor pilot until leaving active duty at the end of the war.Jack
Bade became a test pilot for Republic Aviation after the war,and
was killed in an aircraft collision while flying an F-105D
Thunderchief on May2, 1963.He is buried at the Long Island
National Cemetery in Farmingdale,New York.
His Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads: ,�y
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting 00
the Distinguished Service Cross to Jack A Bade,Second
Lieutenant(Air Corps),U.S.Army Air Forces,for extraordinary
heroism in connection with military operations against an armed
enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-40 Fighter Airplane in the 44th
Fighter Squadron,18th Fighter Group,THIRTEENTH Air Force,in
aerial combat against enemyforces on 13 February 1943,in the
Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations.While leading part of a
fighter sweep preceding a bombing raid on hostile shipping in the
Shortland-Kahili area,First Lieutenant Bade fought back
desperately against intercepting Zeros which struck from behind
and below.When his crippled wingman fell off in a smoking dive,
he followed him down until his own plane was tailed by four
Japanese fighters whose disintegrating fire riddled his wings and
fuselage and jammed his guns.Immediately afterward.although
bleeding profusely from a deep head wound,he flew to the
defense of several of our bombers which had been stripped of
fighter cover and were being attacked by a swarm of Zeros.
Undeterred by complete lack of fire power and suffering great
pain,he put his damaged plane through a series of headlong
passes with such formidable aggressiveness that the Japanese
airmen broke off their fight and fled.His heroic perseverance and
superb flying skill were in keeping with the highest traditions of ,�,.
the United States Naval Service. ', 1.121:4
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