James Jabara

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Col. James Jabara United States Air Force
October 10, 1923(1923-10-10) – November 17, 1966 (aged 43)
James Jabara
Place of birth	Muskogee, Oklahoma
Place of death	Florida
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1943-1966
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	337th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross(7) Air Medal(25) British Distinguished Flying Cross

James Jabara (October 10, 1923 - November 17, 1966) was the second-highest-scoring U.S. ace of the Korean War. He was the first American jet ace in history. Jabara is credited with 15 victories over MiG-15 jets in Korea, one below the tally of Joseph C. McConnell, although Jabara's 1.5 victories in World War II bring his career total to 16.5 victories.

1 Early life
2 World War II
3 Korean War
4 After Korea
5 Legacy
6 Awards and decorations
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Early life

Jabara was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was of Lebanese American descent; his parents came from Marjayoun, Lebanon. He graduated from Wichita North High School in Wichita, Kansas, in May 1942, and immediately enlisted as an Aviation Cadet at Fort Riley, Kansas. After attending four flying schools in Texas, he received his pilot's wings and a commission as Second Lieutenant in October 1943, at Moore Field, Texas.

[edit] World War II

During World War II, Jabara flew two tours of combat duty in Europe as a P-51 Mustang pilot, the first with the 363rd Fighter Group of the Ninth Air Force from January to October 1944, and the second with the 355th Group of the Eighth Air Force from February to December 1945. During his European combat, he flew 108 combat missions and was credited with the destruction of one-and-a-half enemy planes in aerial combat and four on the ground.

After World War II, Jabara attended the Tactical Air School at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and from 1947 to 1949 was stationed on Okinawa with the 53rd Fighter Group. Jabara returned to the United States and was assigned as a flight commander, now at the rank of captain, with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, flying the newly operational F-86 Sabre jet fighter at the New Castle (Delaware) County Airport.

[edit] Korean War

Jabara arrived in Korea on December 13, 1950 with the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, which was the first F-86 unit deployed to the Fifth Air Force to counter the threat by the Soviet MiG-15. By January 2, 1951, he had flown five combat missions in F-86s and had damaged one MiG-15 enemy jet fighter in air combat.

He achieved his first confirmed "kill" on April 3, 1951. He scored another on April 10, a third on April 12, a fourth on April 22 and his fifth and sixth on May 20, making him the first American jet ace in history. All his victories were against MiG-15s.

Jabara returned to the United States in May, 1951, for temporary assignment to Air Force Headquarters, Washington, D.C. and two months later was transferred to the Air Training Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Upon his request, he returned for another tour of duty overseas, arriving in Korea in January 1953. Now a major, on his second tour, he shot down nine more MiGs for a total of 15.

[edit] After Korea

He returned to the United States in July 1953 and was assigned to Headquarters of the 32nd Air Division, Syracuse, New York. He then assumed command of the 337th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.

By 1966, Jabara had risen to the rank of colonel and to command of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Homestead AFB, Florida. He and his 17 year old daughter died in a car accident in Florida on November 17, 1966, just as he was preparing to deploy the 31st Wing for his first tour in the Vietnam War.

[edit] Legacy

The Colonel James Jabara Airport outside of Wichita, Kansas, was named after him. Each year, the United States Air Force Academy alumni association awards the Jabara Award, named after Colonel Jabara, to the Academy graduate whose accomplishments demonstrate superior performance in fields directly involved with aerospace vehicles.

[edit] Awards and decorations

During World War II, Colonel Jabara was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with 18 Oak Leaf Clusters. While in Korea, he received the Distinguished Service Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster and an Oak leaf Cluster to the Distinguished Flying Cross.