John Charles Meyer
MilitaryIWM, Roger Freeman Collection
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Headquarters
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
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
- 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
- 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
GENERAL ORDER # 613, 12 December 1944, from Headquarters 1 Bomb Division by Brigadier General Turner.
GENERAL ORDER # 613, 12 December 1944, from Headquarters 1 Bomb Division by Brigadier General Turner.
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