|
|
 |
| 1st. Lt J. Ivan Potts, Jr. Clovis, NM, 1944 |
| |
| Current Address: |
|
|
| |
| Email: |
|
|
| |
| Family Information: |
|
|
| |
| Hometown: |
|
Shelbyville, TN |
| |
| Date Entered Service: |
|
May 1942 |
| |
| Service Number: |
|
AO449381 |
| |
| Bomb Group: |
|
40th Bomb Group |
| |
| Squadron: |
|
25th Bomb Squadron |
| |
| Location of Unit: |
|
Chakulia, India; Nov 1944 |
| |
| Missions Flown: |
|
35 |
| |
| Hump Missions Flown: |
|
8 missions - 525 combat hours |
| |
| Targets: |
|
|
| |
| Awards/Decorations: |
|
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation, American Campaign Medal with Battle Star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, China Memorial Medal, Senior Pilot Wings (China), Personal Commendation from Gen. H.H. Arnold as member of LeMay's crew on record-breaking flight from Japan to Washington, Sept. 1945 |
| |
| Service Schools Attended: |
|
Primary 1943; Twin Engine Instructors School 1944; B-17 Instructors School 1944 |
| |
| Military Specialty(ies): |
|
Sqdn. Adjutant; 2-engine Instructor, MOS 1093-Pilot B-29 VHB; MOS 1091-Pilot B-17 |
| |
| Rank Upon Discharge: |
|
Captain |
| |
| Crew Type: |
|
Flight Crew |
| |
| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
|
42-63420 Rankless Wreck, 42-24888 Smilin' Jack |
| |
| Were you a POW? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Were you interned? |
|
No |
| If so, where? |
|
|
| |
| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
|
September 18, 1945 |
| |
| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
|
December 1945 |
| |
| Post-WWII Military Service: |
|
Tennessee Air National Guard. |
| |
| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| Foreign Service Officer, US Embassy, Lima, Peru--1946-47. Ford-Mercury Dealer, 1953-1980. Assoc. Director, Small Business Development Center, Middle Tennessee State University, 1981-84. |
| |
| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| Proud of my service in the 40th Bomb Group. Finest group of men I ever knew. |
| |
| Comments: |
|
|
 |
| J. Ivan Potts, Jr. |
| |
 |
| Left to right - J. Ivan Potts, Jr., William Townes, Gen. LeMay, Theodore Finder |
|
