P-51 Mustang
UNITED STATES ARMY, 5TH AIR FORCE 35TH FIGHTER GROUP 41ST FIGHTER SQUADRON "The Flying Buzzsaws"
41st FIGHTER SQUADRON
Jack Epperson was born in Kansas, moving to Laramie, Wyoming four years later. In 1936, his family moved to Loveland, Colorado. The family later moved to the small community of New Ramer, Colorado near Sterling, Colorado. He graduated from high school in 1939 and at the age of seventeen moved to Los Angeles, California to live by himself. He entered the U.S. Army in 1942. Following his initial training, he was selected for the Army Air Force and commenced his training as a pilot. Upon graduation from his training, he was commissioned and stationed in the states for a short period of time. In 1944, he was given orders to the 41st Fighter Squadron when this squadron made the transition to the P-51 Mustang from the P-47 Thunderbolt. He would remain with the "The Flying Buzzsaws" for the duration of the war flying a variety of missions. Following the surrender of Japan, Lieutenant Epperson returned to the United States and was discharged from the military in 1946.
Following the war, Jack and Mary lived in the Los Angeles area. Terry Lynn Epperson Harrington was born on April 18, 1947 and her brother Dean Allen Epperson on November 17, 1949. The Epperson family would move to Alaska in 1954. The family, including Jack's two brothers and his mother homesteaded adjoining properties in the area between Homer and Anchor Point, geographically known as Epperson Knob situated on the North Fork Road.
The majority of the men and women of the "Great Generation" that served in the military in both the European and Pacific Theater, seldom talk in detail concerning their experiences in combat. As a nation, they deserve our respect and admiration for the sacrifices that they made to protect the freedoms that we often take for granted. In time,the last of these great warriors of World War II will be gone, but hopefully never forgotten.
The 41st Fighter Squadron operated in the Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II. Pilots in the 41st Squadron flew the P-47 Thunderbolt and transitioned to the P-51 in later combat operations. The primary mission of the 41st was to provide top cover for the bombing raids conducted by B-24's throughout the western Pacific theater. The secondary mission of the "Flying Buzzsaws" was to search and destroy enemy aircraft and provide aerial attacks on water surface and shore based targets. The 41st Fighter Squadron operated in the New Guinea and Philippine area as well as providing air coverage for several major assaults north of the Philippines. The 41st Fighter Squadron earned three Presidential Unit Citations during the war, "given for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy." This award is equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross which is awarded to an individual.
Lieutenant Jack Warren Epperson, U.S. Army Air Force
Born: October 22, 1921~ Frontnac, Kansas
Father: Allen Hubert Epperson ~ August 15, 1897 ~ July 24, 1942
Mother: Mary Louise Roeser ~ January 1, 1903 ~ 1994
Married: Mary Laurie Epperson ~ October 1, 1942
Born: October 22, 1921~ Frontnac, Kansas
Father: Allen Hubert Epperson ~ August 15, 1897 ~ July 24, 1942
Mother: Mary Louise Roeser ~ January 1, 1903 ~ 1994
Married: Mary Laurie Epperson ~ October 1, 1942
Following the war, Jack and Mary lived in the Los Angeles area. Terry Lynn Epperson Harrington was born on April 18, 1947 and her brother Dean Allen Epperson on November 17, 1949. The Epperson family would move to Alaska in 1954. The family, including Jack's two brothers and his mother homesteaded adjoining properties in the area between Homer and Anchor Point, geographically known as Epperson Knob situated on the North Fork Road.
Leather Flight Jacket of Lt. Jack Epperson With "Buzzsaw" Squadron Patch
Leather Flight Jacket of Lt. Jack Epperson With Squadron Sleeve Patch
Leather Flight Jacket of Lt. Jack Epperson With P-51 Mustang Image on Back
6 comments:
I have only head grandpa talk once about his service, His eyes lit up as he talked about flying over foreign soil. He has really lived, hasn't he?
Who's wearing the coat? Where is it? What a treasure!
Once in awhile,he will talk about the War years, but then it is only some of the humorous stories that occurred or places he had been. He does not talk much about the combat missions that he flew. As for who is wearing the jacket, that would be your mother! She brought it home the other day to show me, she was the only model that I could find small enough to wear it.
No I have never heard about a combat mission. He mentioned the children (in Africa I think) waving at him from the ground with so much excitement and the time he buzzed his old high school.
I am still in awe of that coat, I just want to touch it. It needs to be treated and packaged (like they do with wedding dresses).
He was not in Africa, I think the story you refer to occurred in Borneo. The flight over his school was also about he time that he "buzzed" a farm to impress a young lady and scattered the the farmers flock of turkeys. The jacket will be returned to him, we will packaged it in a good plastic covering to protect it. That is one thing that has not changed, Naval aviators, not sure about the other services, still wear the leather jackets with their squadron patches on them. The "Green Lizards" gave me one when I was with them, but mine is nylon which I still have.
Wow,flash back, I had totally forgotten. I remember that jacket, or maybe I remember being proud of being part of the Green Lizards. Is it Navy Blue?
This made me cry (happy nostalgic tears)....that jacket was worn when we came up in the early 70's....grandpa had it on when we were all out in the yard...he put it on Shane...and he had a hat too...I can smell the smell. I also remember the feeling of the patches beside against the leather....I wanna be little again!!!
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