Oscar Randolph Fladmark

Oscar Randolph Fladmark
Birth name	Oscar Randolph Fladmark
Born	(1922-06-23)June 23, 1922 Lincoln County, South Dakota
Died	July 27, 1955(1955-07-27) (aged 33) Naval Medical Center San Diego San Diego, California
Buried	Hills of Rest Memorial Park
Service/branch	United States Army Air Corp South Dakota Air National Guard United States Air Force
Years of service	1942–1945 (USAAC) 1946–1950 (SDANG) 1950–1955 (USAF)
Rank	Captain (USAAC) Major (USAF) Colonel (SDANG)
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal (10) Mach Buster's Club Award (Speed of Sound Citation)
Spouse(s)	Phyllis Fladmark

Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)

Air Medal

Oscar Randolph Fladmark (June 23, 1922 – July 27, 1955) was an American fighter pilot who flew 164 "no-injury" combat missions in World War II and the Korean War. Fladmark received the Distinguished Flying Cross during his military career. Just a few years after the Korean War, Major Fladmark, at 33 years of age, was in an automobile accident near Yuma, Arizona on July 27, 1955 and died while being flown to the San Diego Naval Hospital.^[1][2]

Early life and education

Fladmark was born in Moe Township, Lincoln County, South Dakota^[3] on June 23, 1922. His father, Oscar C. Fladmark, Sr. (1888–1965), came from Alesund, Norway, located on the western coastal fjord region of the country, and had moved to South Dakota in 1907.^[4] His mother, Pethryn Hanson (1896-1998) was also of Scandinavian descent and came from Hudson, South Dakota.^[5] He had one younger sibling, Lorentz W. Fladmark (1926–1993).^[6]

Fladmark attended school in Canton, South Dakota. He was active in sports and became captain of his high school football team. Later, the family relocated to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He attended Augustana College starting in fall 1940 but his education was interrupted by World War II when he was inducted into the Army Air Corps as an Aviator in June 1942.

Military career

World War II

During World War II, Fladmark^[7] was selected as an aviation cadet and to undergo training with the United States Army Air Corp. He trained at various military bases in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and Virginia. He was inducted in June 1942 and was commissioned a second lieutenant and received his wings in the United States Army Air Corps in April 1943.

North American P-51 Mustangs of the 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st FG, Summer 1944

He was transferred to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in England on August 20, 1943 for active duty with the 8th Air Force. Fladmark flew combat missions with the 359th Fighter Group,^[8] commanded by Colonel Avelin P. Tacon, Jr. and based at the RAF station in East Wretham, England. Initially, the group flew the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, which was later replaced by the P-51 Mustang fighter. Fladmark flew combat mission strikes over Munich, Saarbrücken, Regensburg, Schweinfurt, Ebelsbach, Neuaubing, Hanover, Normandy, Mery, Oise River, Sens. St. Ouen and Genevilliers near Paris.^[9] On November 2, 1944, the Associated Press wired a report on the Battle of Merseburg^[10] near Leipzig, Germany. Fladmark was flying with an armada of 1100 bombers and 900 fighters when they encountered over 400 Luftwaffe fighters on the way to a combat mission near Berlin, Germany. During the Battle of Merseburg, over half of the Luftwaffe fighters were destroyed by the 8th Air Force, setting a new record.^[11]

Fladmark^[12] completed a total of 64 combat missions over Nazi Germany and received the Air Medal with ten Oak Leaf Clusters. After his tour of duty, he was transferred to the United States on January 24, 1945. He was stationed in Santa Ana, California until war's end. Fladmark was discharged from the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1945 and returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Fladmark continued his education at Augustana College and also flew with Professor Robert Branson's aerobatic team of Flandreau, South Dakota.

Post-World War II

The War Department authorized the establishment of Air National Guard units in all 48 states, with three units comprising a wing based in Sioux Falls, Sioux City and Des Moines, Iowa. The Air National Guard 132nd Wing^[13] was organized by Colonel Frederick C. Gray, Jr.^{[14][15][16][17]} who was a veteran of the RAF and 8th Air Force during World War II. Colonel Gray, based in Des Moines, Iowa, acted as wing senior instructor for the three Air National Guard units which comprised the wing. Col. Gray's appointment was made by Brigadier General Charles H. Grahl, Iowa Adjutant General, on June 26, 1946. Col. Frederick C. Gray, Jr. later attended the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Augustana University's mascot, Ole, with the Administration Building, East Hall, and Old Main visible in the background

In 1946, Fladmark was appointed to the rank of Captain and the duty of a Flight Commander with the Air National Guard 175th Fighter Squadron^[18] based in Sioux Falls. Fladmark's appointment was approved by Colonel E.A. Beckwith, South Dakota Adjutant General in Rapid City, South Dakota on September 20, 1946. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Augustana College in Sioux Falls in 1948. He also worked for the local newspaper the Argus Leader.

Korean War

Fladmark was recalled into the Air Force on November 14, 1950, for training in jet fighters and a tour in the Korean War. In February 1951, Fladmark^[19] reunited with a flying friend when he was assigned to the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, which was reactivated by Colonel Frederick Gray.^[20] The 35th Fighter-Interceptor Wing was a component of the 5th Air Force, Far East Forces. During the Korean War, he flew 100 combat missions over North Korea. A report from Headquarters of the 13th Air Force at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines, reads:

The Distinguished Flying Cross

"Captain Oscar Fladmark, son of Mr. & Mrs. Oscar Fladmark, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and husband of Mrs. Phyllis Fladmark, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was recently awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross. Assigned as a pilot for the 44th Fighter Squadron (Bomber), Philippines Command (Air Force) and 13th Air Force, Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, Fladmark received the award for exceptionally meritorious service performed on April 24, leading a flight of four F-51 type aircraft on a close support mission, Fladmark displayed airmanship by leading his flight to the target area near Hwachon, Korea, in below marginal weather where the flight carried out a series of devastating attacks on the enemy. With Napalm rockets and machine guns, Fladmark led the flight in pass after pass on the enemy in hazardous mountainous terrain. Only after maximum results had been achieved did Fladmark reassemble his flight and proceed to his home base. Due to the nature of the target and the type of attack it was impossible to ascertain the exact destruction wrought on the enemy by Fladmark but the flight was credited with over 100 Communist troops killed. As a result of this highly successful mission the enemy's drive in the Hwachon area was greatly impeded."^[21]

Post-Korean War

Fladmark, upon his return from the Korean War, was appointed Assistant Professor of Air Science and Tactics for the Reserve Officers Training Corps program at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota. The Air Force training programs were previous to the establishment of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Air Force subsequently reassigned him to active duty status, and he was stationed with the 85th Fighter Interceptor Group, at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois in September 1951.

A panoramic view of Kansas City, Missouri from the top of Liberty Memorial looking north to downtown. Union Station is in the foreground and the Crown Center to the right.

Later, in June 1954, he was transferred to the 326th Fighter Intercepter Group at the Headquarters of Central Air Defense Force at Grandview Air Force Base, in Grandview, Missouri with Major General Jarred V. Crabb^[22][23] as Commanding Officer. The Central Air Defense Force was One of Three Air Defense Force; Eastern, Central & Western which were responsible for the Defense of Continental North America. Major General Jarred V. Crabb later became the Commandant of the National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC.

85th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86D-40 NA Sabre 52-3725 20th Air Division, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois May 1957

In 1954, Fladmark was given an award for exceeding the Speed of Sound in a North American F-86 Sabre fighter jet. The award was the "Mach Busters Club" Citation for exceeding the Speed of Sound from North American Aviation Chairman of the Board James Howard Kindelberger and President John Leland Atwood.^[24]

Personal life

Fladmark married Phyllis Peterson (1922-2003) on November 13, 1950, at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They had a son and a daughter.^[25] She grew up on a farm in rural South Dakota. Her family was of Danish and Norwegian national heritage.

Death

In July 27, 1955, Fladmark, two other Air Force officers and a General Electric gas turbine engineer who was driving a 1955 Ford Fairlane hardtop convertible were killed when the car overturned near Yuma, Arizona.^{[26][27][28][29]} He was survived by his wife Phyllis, son Gary, daughter Vicki, father Oscar C. Fladmark, Sr., mother Pethryn Fladmark and brother Captain Lorentz W. Fladmark. His widow sued General Electric, but lost the case in 1956.^[30][31] The Lawsuit which went to Trial was initially investigated by JAG under the direction of Major General Jarred V. Crabb, Commanding Officer. Subsequent to the investigation a Wrongful Death action was filed through a Law Firm with offices in the Federal Reserve Building, Kansas City, Missouri. Former U.S President Harry S. Truman, also maintained his office in the Federal Reserve Building, Kansas City, Missouri during the 1950s.

Decorations

Fladmark's Military Decorations and Awards:

Senior Pilot USAF Wings
	Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)	Air Medal with ten Oak Leaf Clusters	Presidential Unit Citation
	United Nations Korea Medal	United Nations (UN) Korean Service Medal	National Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal with three Service stars	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal – World War II	World War II Victory Medal

Awards

• Senior Pilot USAF Wings
  
• Distinguished Flying Cross (United States),
  
• United Nations Korea Medal,
  
• United Nations (UN) Korean Service Medal,
  
• National Defense Service Medal,
  
• Air Medal
  
  , with ten Oak Leaf Clusters
• American Campaign Medal – World War II
  
  , with three Service stars
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal – World War II,
  
• World War II Victory Medal,
  
• Presidential Unit Citation,
  
• Charter Member of the South Dakota Air National Guard in 1946,
• "Mach Busters Club" Citation for exceeding the Speed of Sound in 1954 by North American Aviation Chairman of the Board James Howard Kindelberger and President John Leland Atwood

Memorials

A memorial bronze plaque was dedicated to Fladmark at the Gilbert Science Center on the campus of Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, by his father in 1965. Oscar C. Fladmark, Sr. often dedicated his radio broadcasts to his son. Also, Fladmark's biography is listed on the "Wall of Honor"^[32] at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum "Udvar-Hazy Center".  facility near the Dulles International Airport, Fairfax, Virginia. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is an Iconic Institution which has on Display Artifacts from The Entire History of Aviation from First Flights to the Lunar Landings.

Gallery

• 
  Wright Flyer (Right Wing View)
• 
  Wright Flyer (Left Front View)
• 
  Wright Flyer (Front View)
• 
  Wright Flyer (Left Wing View)
• 
  Wright Flyer (Left Rear View)
• 
  Wright Flyer (Rear View)
• A 1945 newsreel covering various firsts in human flight, including Wright Flyer footage

Multi-Media

• 
  Roll-out of Saturn V AS-505 from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad
• 
  Saturn V carrying Apollo 11 rises past the launch tower camera
• 
  Earth seen from Apollo 11 just after leaving Earth orbit (translunar injection)
• 
  The Eagle in
• Landing on the Moon, July 20, 1969
• Neil Armstrong describes the Moon's surface before setting foot on it
• President Nixon speaks to Armstrong and Aldrin from the Oval Office
• 
  Aldrin next to the Passive Seismic Experiment Package with Eagle in the background
• 
  Aldrin poses on the Moon, allowing Armstrong to photograph both of them using the visor's reflection
• 
  Eagle's ascent stage approaching Columbia

P51 Mustang

North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang Serial 44-13404 (CV-Z) of the 368th Fighter Squadron painted in D-Day Invasion markings, June 1944. The pilot of this aircraft, Lt. Louis E. Barnett was killed on 12 September 1944.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in 1940 by North American Aviation (NAA) in response to a requirement of the British Purchasing Commission. The Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation to build Curtiss P-40 fighters under license for the Royal Air Force (RAF). Rather than build an old design from another company, North American Aviation proposed the design and production of a more modern fighter. The prototype NA-73X airframe was rolled out on 9 September 1940, 102 days after the contract was signed, and first flew on 26 October.

The Mustang was originally designed to use the Allison V-1710 engine, which, in its earlier variants, had limited high-altitude performance. It was first flown operationally by the RAF as a tactical-reconnaissance aircraft and fighter-bomber (Mustang Mk I). The addition of the Rolls-Royce Merlin to the P-51B/C model transformed the Mustang's performance at altitudes above 15,000 ft, allowing the aircraft to compete with Luftwaffe's fighters. The definitive version, the P-51D, was powered by the Packard V-1650-7, a license-built version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 two-stage two-speed supercharged engine, and was armed with six .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2/AN Browning machine guns.

From late 1943, P-51Bs (supplemented by P-51Ds from mid-1944) were used by the USAAF's Eighth Air Force to escort bombers in raids over Germany, while the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force and the USAAF's Ninth Air Force used the Merlin-powered Mustangs as fighter-bombers, roles in which the Mustang helped ensure Allied air superiority in 1944. The P-51 was also used by Allied air forces in the North African, Mediterranean, Italian and Pacific theaters. During World War II, Mustang pilots claimed to have destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft. Among Allied aircraft, the P-51's claimed victory total in World War II was second to the carrier borne Grumman F6F Hellcat.

At the start of the Korean War, the Mustang was the main fighter of the United Nations until jet fighters, including the F-86, took over this role; the Mustang then became a specialized fighter-bomber. Despite the advent of jet fighters, the Mustang remained in service with some air forces until the early 1980s. After the Korean War, Mustangs became popular civilian warbird and air racing aircraft.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oscar Randolph Fladmark, Jr..

• Oscar Randolph Fladmark, Jr. at Find a Grave
• Major Oscar Fladmark at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
• Major Oscar Fladmark at the American Air Museum in Britain