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Jack T. Bradley

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Jack Tarleton Bradley
Jack Tarleton Bradley in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang
Bradley in the cockpit of his P-51 Mustang
Born(1918-06-06)June 6, 1918
Brownwood, Texas
DiedJuly 4, 2000(2000-07-04) (aged 82)
Brown County, Texas
Buried
Eastlawn Memorial Park Cemetery
Early, Texas
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1942–1962
RankColonel
Service numberO-36537
Unit354th Fighter Group
Commands353rd Fighter Squadron
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsDistinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Air Medal (22)

Jack Tarleton Bradley (June 6, 1918 – July 4, 2000) was a United States Army Air Forces flying ace who was credited with shooting down 15 aircraft during World War II, being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. He served as commanding officer of the 353rd Fighter Squadron.[1][2][3]

Bradley's combat experiences during World War II were notably documented through film, and he recorded several minutes of footage produced by his P-51 Mustang's gun camera.[4]

Early life

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Bradley was born in Brownwood, Texas, on June 6, 1918. He attended Howard Payne College in Brownwood and joined its pilot training program.[4][5]

Military career

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In 1941, Bradley joined the United States Army Air Corps Flying Cadet Program in Dallas, and was commissioned with the rank of Second Lieutenant.[5] Following the start of American involvement in World War II, Bradley was assigned to 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, part of the USAAF's Ninth Air Force.[5]

Bradley's experiences during the war were recorded on film, mostly through the gun camera of his P-51 Mustang, which recorded silent films of his strafes and dogfights while serving in the European theatre.[4] He is also believed to have recorded footage of a destroyed German airfield captured by the Allies.[4]

On May 28, 1944, then-Major Bradley was leading the 353rd Fighter Squadron during an escort of a large bomber formation, which was conducting an attack deep within Germany. Observing a large group of Luftwaffe fighters about to attack the bombers, Bradley directed his squadron to protect the bombers and led them to combat. Bradley shot down two fighters, while his squadron accounted for ten downed enemy fighters. The bombers were unscathed. For his actions, Bradley was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest medal given to members of the United States Army, of which the USAAF was a branch.[5][6]

Following the war, Bradley remained in the United States Air Force.[5] He acted as a technical advisor for the 1950 Humphrey Bogart film Chain Lightning.[7] He retired from the Air Force in 1962 at the rank of colonel.[5]

Later life and death

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Bradley died on July 4, 2000, in his birthplace of Brown County, Texas. He was buried at Eastlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Early, Texas.

Awards and decorations

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  USAF Command pilot badge
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
 Air Medal with four silver oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster (second ribbon required for accoutrement spacing)
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
American Campaign Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars
World War II Victory Medal
Bronze star
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes
 National Defense Service Medal with service star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze oak leaf cluster
 Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

Distinguished Service Cross citation

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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Major (Air Corps) Jack T. Bradley, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-51 Fighter Airplane in the 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in aerial combat against enemy forces on 28 May 1944, during an air mission over Germany. On this date while leading his squadron of fighter airplanes in escort of a large bomber formation attacking a highly important and exceedingly well defended target deep within Germany, Major Bradley observed a large group of enemy fighters about to attack the bombers. Without hesitation he directed his forces to give maximum protection to the bombers and, although under repeated attack himself, dived fearlessly into the midst of the enemy formation and personally destroyed two enemy airplanes while his squadron accounted for ten. The enemy attack was so completely disorganized, that not a single enemy airplane reached the bombers. The outstanding heroism and skill displayed by Major Bradley on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.[6][8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ William N Hess (20 December 2012). 354th Fighter Group. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 66–. ISBN 978-1-78200-894-1.
  2. ^ Bonnier Corporation (August 1944). Popular Science. Bonnier Corporation. pp. 114–. ISSN 01617370.
  3. ^ Martin Bowman (27 October 2010). US 9th Air Force Bases In Essex 1943-44. Pen and Sword. pp. 72–. ISBN 978-1-84884-332-5.
  4. ^ a b c d "The Lt. Col. Jack Bradley Collection". texasarchive.org. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Col Jack Tarleton Bradley". www.militaryhallofhonor.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  6. ^ a b "Jack Tarleton Bradley | American Air Museum in Britain". www.americanairmuseum.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  7. ^ "Colonel Jack T. Bradley of the US Army Air Corps working as a..." Getty Images. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  8. ^ "Valor Awards for Jack Bradley". Military Times. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
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