Jack W Hayes Jr

Military

Colonel Hayes was from California and joined the US Army prior to WWII at age 15. Yes he lied and got away with it, first in the infantry and then to the Cavalry. Yep at time in 1940 it still existed spurs saddles and all. Jack joined referencing his biography because he wasted college though he did graduate. By April of 1940 Jack entered pilot training at Lindberg Field in San Diego flying Ryan PT-20s, upon completion of pilot training was assigned to B-17s during which he flew one of six B-17Es you see flying in the movie Bombardier staring Pat O'Brian, this was not to be his only interaction with Hollywood as you will read in his book. Jack flew fighters and bombers during WWII. Seeing combat in B-17s, P-47s, and P-51s he flew other types in theater as well. Jack stayed in after WWII and was able to keep his rank as a Lt Col which he had attained by age 24. Jack transitioned to jets flying P-80s though he continued to log time in Thunderbolts, Mustangs and other WWII types. Jack went to Korea flying the F-86, and here is another connection to Hollywood; for those of you who have seen the Hunters staring Robert Mitcham and Robert Wagner you will remember they get briefed about a North Korean Ace Casey Jones. Well guess what folks Casey Jones was real except he was Russian and Jack came up against him. War number 3 was Vietnam where he flew F-4s in country during the time of Robin Olds, Chappie James. Jack last fighter assignment was as CO of the 4th TFW in Korea. He relinquished this unit to the new CO Chuck Yeager! Jack finished out as CO of a SAC missile unit. He went on to have a long civilian fly career as an airline pilot a flight instructor where I met him as I a proud to say. I finished up my flight instruction with him. Jack also became an airshow pilot in his Bellanca Decathalon which he painted in Thunderbird colors, I took care of this aircraft until I joined the Air Force in 1974. During this time he became re-acquainted with longtime friend R.A. Bob Hoover who he first met in 1950 during his transition from the Lockeed F-80 to the North American F-86 where Bob was a NAA test pilot. Jack has gone west but still has family here in Seattle. Colonel Jack Hayes was a friend and a mentor and I am honored to have known him and have his name in my log book.



Marilynn K L.aird, Seattle Washington June 19, 2019.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 96th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

The nose art of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-6097) nicknamed "The Bad Penny Always Comes Back" of the 96th Bomb Group. Image by Captain Arnold Delmonico, photographic officer 490th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Bad Penny Always Comes Back
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group

Places

Aerial photograph of Leiston airfield looking south, the control tower and technical site are to the right, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/929. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Theberton/Saxmundham
Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group stands beside his P-51 Mustang, "Katydid". Print signed 'Best of everything your big loud Elwyn', 1944-1945.
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground

Revisions

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity and readability.

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ContributorAir Boss
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Personal conversations, with Colonel Jack W Hayes, Bob Hoover also a friend of mine, General Robin Olds, and excerpts from his biography from Cavalry Trooper To Fighter Pilot And Three Wars Sunflower University Press 1997

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ContributorAir Boss
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Several Sources indicate Colonel Hayes nick name was Pappy; Jack would neither confirm or deny it

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ContributorAir Boss
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During WWII Colonel Hayes also flew missions in P-47s with the 56th and 78th FG. The 96th BG had gained a P-47D to be used for control of group bombing formations. During WWII Colonel Hayes flew missions in B-17F, P-51D, P-51K, P-47D, P-38H and P-38J All of Colonel Hayes Aircraft were named Love of Mine a popular song recorded by Tommy Dorsey and Frank Sinnatra

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ContributorAir Boss
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Listed in From Cavalry Trooper To Fighter Pilot and Three Wars, not a complete list Colonel Hayes received a total of 23 medals and decorations from 6 countries, with 26 oak leaf clusters. Pilot Wings awarded by the US Air Force, Royal Air Force of Thailand, Wings of the Turkish Air Force, US Army Jump Wings

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ContributorAir Boss
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Related tome by Colonel Jack Hayes, he was promoted to Brigadier General but got in trouble and lost his star. The incident that caused this to happen appears to have been the formation of the unofficial Gray Eagles Jack and 3 full colonels took 4 P-51Ds and painted them red then proceeded to fly demonstrations a various installations and civilian airports

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ContributorAir Boss
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Personal Interviews with Colonel Jack Hayes, BG Robin Olds, Bob Hoover, and information from unit histories 55th FG, 357th FG, 67thTRW
Roger Freemans Mighty 8th Air Force series. Information contained in From Cavalry Trooper To Fighter Pilot and Three Wars by Colonel Jack W Hayes 1997 Sunflower University Press

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / WWW.55th.org roster