John Charles Meyer

Military
Lieutenant-Colonel John C. "J.C." Meyer, ace pilot of the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, which was stationed at Bodney air base between July 1943 and November 1945. media-377014.jpg FRE 317 Lieutenant-Colonel John C. "J.C." Meyer, ace pilot of the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, which was stationed at Bodney air base between July 1943 and November 1945. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 317 - Lieutenant-Colonel John C. "J.C." Meyer, ace pilot of the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, which was stationed at Bodney air base between...

John C Meyer became an Aviation Cadet and enlisted shortly after in 1939. By 1940 he had been promoted to Second-Lieutenant and was training pilots at Randolph Field, Texas. After received his orders in September 1942 he reported to the 352nd Fighter Group where he was given command of the 34th Pursuit Squadron who later became the 487th Fighter Squadron.



Meyer and the 487th arrived at Bodney in July 1943, entering combat in September. Meyer scored the group's first kill and went on to score an additional 23 victories, becoming the top Ace of the 352nd Fighter Group and the fourth highest scoring American Ace in the European Theatre.



Following the War, Meyer returned to the United States, he remained with the US Air Force, claiming two more kills flying sorties during the Korean War. After a long career in high ranking positions Meyer was promoted to General in 1972 and assumed command of the 7th Air Force. In this position he directed Operation Linebacker II to bomb northern Vietnam. Meyer retired in 1974 and died in 1975.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13106786 / 0-2005779
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Lambie II / Petie
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Stardust, Moose
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
A P-51 Mustang (HO-M, serial number 44-14151) nicknamed "Petie 2nd" of the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group flown by John C. Meyer at Bodney. caption on image: "Meyers 'Petie 2nd' 487th FS, 352nd Group, Bodney, Norfolk, 67 Wing."
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Petie 2nd / Sweetie Face
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: Petie 3rd. / Ricky
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Bodney airfield, looking south east, the barrack sites are in the top centre of the image, 8 June 1945. Photograph taken by No. 542 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/369. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Royal Air Force Bodney

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Brooklyn, NY, USA 3 April 1919

Other

Operation Linebacker II

Vietnam 18 December 1972 - 29 December 1972 Appointed Commander of Strategic Air Command, 7th Air Force 1 May 1972 and directed Operation Linebacker II (bombing of northern Vietnam) over Christmas 1972.

Other

Retired

1 July 1974 Retired as Five Star General and Commander In Chief of Strategic Air Command

Died

Los Angeles, CA, USA 2 December 1975

Revisions

Date
ContributorHotelie1970
Changes
Sources

GENERAL ORDER # 613, 12 December 1944, from Headquarters 1 Bomb Division by Brigadier General Turner.

Date
ContributorHotelie1970
Changes
Sources

GENERAL ORDER # 613, 12 December 1944, from Headquarters 1 Bomb Division by Brigadier General Turner.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Freeman, The Mighty Eighth, p. 274.

Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Fighter Aces of the U. S. A. and Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Meyer

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

John Charles Meyer: Gallery (6 items)