John D. Landers

John Dave Landers (23 August 1920 – 12 September 1989) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces.[1] He flew with the 9th Fighter Squadron in the Pacific[2] commanded the 357th Fighter Group and the 78th Fighter Group during World War II.[3][4]

John Dave Landers
Nickname(s)	Jack
Born	August 23, 1920 Wilson, Oklahoma
Died	September 12, 1989 (aged 69) Granbury, Texas
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air Forces
Years of service	1941-1945
Rank	Colonel
Unit	49th Pursuit Group 78th Fighter Group 357th Fighter Group
Commands held	38th Fighter Squadron 78th Fighter Group 357th Fighter Group 361st Fighter Group
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Silver Star (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (4) Purple Heart Air Medal (22)

Early life

Landers was born on August 23, 1920 in Wilson, Oklahoma to Obadiah Ray Landers and Mamie Legal Martin Landers. By 1938, he had relocated to Johnson County, Texas and was employed by the Lone Star Gas Company. [5]

Military career

With World War II ongoing, Landers entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on April 25, 1941, and was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Stockton Field, California, on December 12, 1941, just five days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor.[6]

World War II

By January 1942, Landers was posted to the 9th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group in Australia, flying the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. He named his P-40, “Texas Longhorn”. With only 10 flying hours, he embarked on his first combat missions over the Pacific.[7]

Pacific theater

During his second sortie that, Landers would get his first kill. His flight of 12 aircraft were dispatched to intercept an enemy flight near Darwin, Australia. Soon into the flight, his P-40 began to experience engine problems and Landers began to fall behind his formation.

P-40E of the 49th Fighter Group

He spotted a flight of seven Japanese bombers with fighter escort 2000 feet below him and decided to dive in on them. With one of the bombers in target, he pulled the trigger and claimed his first victory. With his aircraft damaged by the escorting A6M Zero fighters, he managed to catch up with his flight to shoot down a second bomber of the engagement.[7]

With 6 kills to his credit and now a flying ace, Landers was shot down over Papua New Guinea, but managed to escape from the jungle with help from some of the local population. He was returned to the US in January 1943 and assigned a training role, but he missed combat. So he applied for an active duty posting and, after completing Lockheed P-38 Lightning conversion training.[7]

European theater

Landers was assigned to the 38th Fighter Squadron of the 55th Fighter Group at RAF Wormingford in April 1944. Landers continued to score aerial victories against Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and Messerschmitt Me 410 over France and Germany, first in the P-38 and then the North American P-51D Mustang, after the 55th FG converted in July 1944.

Replica of Landers' aircraft

Promoted from Captain to Major, he took command of the 38th FS. During this time he was involved in what is regarded as the longest fighter escort mission. His flight accompanied heavy bombers on a 1,600-mile sortie over Poland and spent approximately 7 hours in flight. While with the 38th FS, he destroyed an additional 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 damaged.[8]

Newly promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, Landers was temporarily assigned as commanding officer of the 357th Fighter Group between October and December 1944 at RAF Leiston. Landers also destroyed 1 enemy aircraft, while flying with the 357th. He returned to the U.S. in December 1944, and returned to Europe in February 1945.

In February 1945, Landers took command of the 78th Fighter Group at RAF Duxford. He was credited in destroying another 3.5 enemy aircraft in the air, including a shared victory over a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter. From July 1945 until the war's end, he commanded the 361st Fighter Group from July 1945 until his return to the U.S. in October 1945.

Landers left active duty in December 1945. During the war, Landers was credited with destroying a total 14.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 damaged, and 20 more on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. He flew several P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang aircraft that were named "Big Beautiful Doll."[8]

Later life

After the war, he worked in construction management for many years. Landers moved to Granbury, Texas in 1979. In one of his last public appearances, he gave a presentation before a meeting of the Granbury Radio Control Airplane Club and talked about some of his experiences in 1988.[5]

Landers died on September 12, 1989 at the age of 69.[5]

Awards and decorations

His awards include:

Army Air Forces Pilot Badge

	Silver Star with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	Distinguished Flying Cross with three bronze oak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart
	Air Medal with four silver leaf clusters
	Air Medal (second ribbon required for accouterment spacing)
	Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze oak leaf clusters
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign stars
	World War II Victory Medal
	Army of Occupation Medal with 'Germany' clasp
	Croix de Guerre with Palm (France)

References

1. Hale, Virginia (2000). "Colonel John Dave Landers". Hood County Texas Genealogical Society. Retrieved 2018-11-27.
2. Thomas McKelvey Cleaver. Air Combat Annals. Pacifica Military History. pp. 60–. ISBN 978-1-890988-55-5.
3. Thomas McKelvey Cleaver (20 September 2013). Aces of the 78th Fighter Group. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78096-716-5.
4. Jerry Scutts (20 November 2012). Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 165–. ISBN 978-1-78200-675-6.
5. "Searching for relatives of John D Landers - WikiTree G2G". www.wikitree.com.
6. "Veteran Tributes". www.veterantributes.org.
7. "John D Landers - American Air Museum in Britain". www.americanairmuseum.com.
8. L.m.c (16 June 2017). "Timelines and Soundtracks: John D. Landers - Timeline".