Jack Junior Oberhansly

Military
media-13450.jpeg UPL 13450 Lt. Colonel Jack Oberhansly.

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Object Number - UPL 13450 - Lt. Colonel Jack Oberhansly.

Lt. Colonel Jack Oberhansly, from Spanish Fork, Utah, was commissioned and received his wings on 12 December 1941 at Luke Field, Phoenix Arizona. He joined the 14th Pursuit Group, 48th Pursuit Squadron. He later transferred to the 78th Fighter Group, 82nd Squadron on 1 May 1942. He became the Commanding Officer of the 82nd Squadron on 7 August 1943 to May 1944. He then became Deputy Commanding Officer of the 78th Fighter Group in August 1944. Assigned to the 4th Fighter Group as Deputy Commanding Officer on 4 December 1944.The next day he became acting Group Commander. He spent the next three months with the 4th Fighter Group during a period of little activity.

In February 1945 he was transferred to the 372nd Fighter Group as Commanding Officer.

Oberhansly, with 150 combat hours in his plane "Iron Ass" had nine victories, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Croix-de-Guerre with Palm.

After the war ended, he served as Commanding Officer of the 191st Fighter Squadron of the Utah Air National Guard from 1946 to 1948.

He died on 6 September 1981.

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Iron Ass
  • Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron Headquarters (4th Fighter Group)
A P-47 Thunderbolt (serial number 44-19566) of the 78th Fighter Group at Duxford airbase. Handwritten on slide casing: 'P-47, 78th F.G.'
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Iron Ass No Guts-No Glory
  • Unit: 78th Fighter Group 82nd Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (78th Fighter Group)

Places

Line up of P-47 Thunderbolts of the 82nd Fighter Squadron, 78th Fighter Group, at Duxford air base. September 1944. Printed caption on reverse of print: '55432 AC - War Birds Home To Rest - Republic P-47 Thunderbolts lined up on an 8th Air Force field in England after a daylight sweep over Germany. Crews have finished inspections and refueling.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: "Duckpond"

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Clinton, UT 21 January 1919 Son of John Edward and Mina [Spencer[ Oberhansly.

Enlisted

Salt Lake City, UT 26 April 1941 Salt Lake City, Utah

Died

San Clemente, CA 6 September 1982

Buried

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA 9 September 1982 Forest Lawn Memorial Park Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California

Based

Duxford Assigned to 82FS, 78FG, 8AF USAAF.

Based

Debden Transferred to 4FG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
Contributorfugari
Changes
Sources

JCook Archives

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list;
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- http://www.4thfightergroupassociation.org/pilots.html

Date
Contributorapollo11
Changes
Sources

All information correct as far as I am aware.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Jack Junior Oberhansly: Gallery (3 items)