Marlyn C Ford Jr
Military
Photo courtesy John McAlevey.
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian.
Object Number - UPL 39069 - Lt. Marlyn C. Ford Jr. 359th Fighter Group, 370th Fighter Squadron.
Enlisting on 12 March 1942 and assigned to the 370th Fighter Squadron on 25 March 1945, Lt. Marlyn C. Ford Jr. flew six combat missions with the 359th Fighter Group. In September 1945 he returned home to Jacksonville, FL.
10 April 1945: Pilots at 1050 went to briefing for 3-type escort mission, target: Oranienburg. No pilots in 20 returning early, and 4 pilots participated for 1st time: Lts. Ford, Brickner, Brayman, and Benneyworth. Escort provided through target. Bombing at 1450 from 27,000 feet in CAVU weather. At least 5 Me 262’s seen attacking bombers, but jets’ superior speed prevented us from getting into position for attack. No flak at target
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Units served with
![Three P-51 Mustangs of the 369th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group fly together in formation. The aircraft foreground to background are: (IV-P, serial number 44-14543) nicknamed "Precious Pat", piloted by Lieutenant Ralston; (IV-Z, serial number 44-15007) piloted by Lieutenant Klem; and (IV-D, serial number 44-15394). First handwritten caption on reverse: 'November 15 1944- 369th FS Lts. Ralston (P), Klem (Z), [illegible] (D).' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '15/11/44 369th Fighter Squadron, 3](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-377226.jpg.webp?itok=RQw6Mu-P)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Revisions
Lt Ford does not have an Air Medal card for WWII, but served in the Korean War and earned an Air Medal, Purple Heart, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal as a Major. On July 14, 1951, while on a combat mission, his aircraft received a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire, crashed and burst into flames. His remains were not recovered. His Air Medal was awarded under GO56, DAF, Wash, 11 Sep 56 (posthumously). His AF Serial number as a Major was 13337A.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / Unit History
