| James Bruce Morehead | |
| Nickname: | "Jim" |
| Birth Date: | 16 August 1916 |
| Birth Place: | Paoli, Oklahoma, United States |
| Death Place: | Petaluma, California, United States |
| Placeofburial: | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance: | United States |
| Branch: | United States Air Force |
| Serviceyears: | 1940–1967 |
| Rank: | Colonel |
| Unit: | 49th Pursuit Group 1st Fighter Group 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing |
| Commands: | 331st Fighter Squadron 488th Army Air Force Base Unit |
| Battles: | World War II Korean War |
| Awards: | Distinguished Service Cross (2) Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (2) Air Medal (16) |
James Bruce Morehead (August 16, 1916 – March 11, 2012) was an American fighter pilot and flying ace of World War II. He flew combat missions over a three-year span of the war with a total of eight aerial victories.[1] [2] He was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses, a Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and sixteen Air Medals
Morehead was born on August 16, 1916, in Paoli, Oklahoma.[3]
At the initial outbreak of hostilities, Morehead was recovering from injuries sustained by a mid air collision. In late December after recovery, he joined pilots and support personnel in San Francisco, aboard the USS President Polk, ordered to be sent to the Philippines, but instead diverted to port in Brisbane, Australia as the Japanese threaten the Dutch East Indies and Australia. [4] [5]
He destroyed three enemy aircraft on February 25, 1942 and was awarded his first Distinguished Service Cross for that mission. On April 25, 1942, he destroyed two more enemy aircraft, earning him the flying ace status.[6]
During this time he was credited with the destruction of 7 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat. He received the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the Pacific Theater.[6]
He received a second Distinguished Service Cross and an additional Distinguished Flying Cross for his service in the European Theater.[3]
His aerial victories during World War II consisted of 8 enemy planes destroyed in the air and 1 damaged. Of his kills, 7 were attained while flying P-40 and one was attained while flying P-38.
His book "In my sights" is a candid, honest, brave story of the few who survived the terrible aerial battles against the Zeros in the Southwest Pacific.
| Date | Location | Credits[7] | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 25, 1942 | Darwin Australia[8] | 3 | Awarded DSC |
| April 25, 1942 | Pacific Theater of Operations | 2 | Achieved Ace Status |
| August 23, 1942 | Pacific Theater of Operations | 2 | |
| June 6, 1944 | Romania | 1 | |
In 1999 he was inducted into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame.[9]
Morehead died on March 11, 2012. He is buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.[3]
His awards and decorations include:
| USAF Command pilot badge | |||||||||||
| Distinguished Service Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster | Silver Star | ||||||||||
| Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster | Air Medal with silver oak leaf clusters | Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with three bronze oak leaf clusters | |||||||||
| American Defense Service Medal with service star | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars | |||||||||
| European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars | World War II Victory Medal | Army of Occupation Medal | |||||||||
| National Defense Service Medal | Korean Service Medal with bronze campaign star | Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster | |||||||||
| Armed Forces Reserve Medal with bronze hourglass device | Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon | Philippine Defense Medal | |||||||||
| French Croix de Guerre with Palm | Philippine Independence Medal | Philippine Presidential Unit Citation | |||||||||
| Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation | United Nations Korea Medal | Republic of Korea War Service Medal | |||||||||