Jack A. Bade. Jack Albrecht Bade  (October 9, 1920 – May 2, 1963) was an American flying ace in the 18th Fighter Group during World War II.

Early life
Bade was born on October 9, 1920, in Minneapolis, the only child of Charles and Gladys Bade. Following his birth, his family moved to Elk River, Minnesota, where he grew up. After graduating from high school in 1938, he attended the University of Minnesota where he majored in engineering. For a brief time, he worked with Honeywell Corporation.

Military career
On January 5, 1942, Bade enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the United States Army Air Forces and on July 26, 1942, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded pilot wings at Luke Field in Arizona. During this time, he made a cameo in the 1942 film Thunderbirds.

World War II

In December 1942, following the completion of advanced fighter training, Bade was assigned as a P-40 Warhawk pilot with the 44th Fighter Squadron of the 18th Fighter Group in Solomon Islands. The 18th FG was part of the AirSols, which was a combined, joint command of Allied air units in the Solomon Islands campaign of the war. On February 4, 1943, he scored his first aerial victory. On February 13, while taking part in the escort of Navy and Marine Corps bombers attacking enemy shipping near Shortland-Kahili area, he shot down a A6M Zero that was attempting to attack the bomber formation. However, he was quickly attacked by four Zeros, resulting in damage to his P-40 including the guns being jammed and Bade himself suffering a head injury. Despite this, after seeing ten Zeros chasing four unescorted SBD Dauntlesses over Guadalcanal, he flew directly towards the Zeros and engaged in several aerial maneuvers in an attempt to distract the Zeros from chasing the SBDs. Bade's actions resulted in the Zeros running low on fuel and returning to the base, hence preventing them from chasing the SBDs. For his heroism in the mission, Bade was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

After his recovery, Bade continued to fly more missions. On June 7 and 16, 1943, he shot down his third and fourth enemy aircraft. On June 30, while protecting Allied ships near Rendova Island, he shot down a Nakajima E8N "Dave" floatplane, his fifth aerial victory and earned the title of flying ace.

During the war, Bade was credited in destroying five enemy aircraft and one probable while flying a total of 85 missions and 210 hours. His exploits were featured in True Comics and Heroic Comics.

In late 1943, Bade returned to the United States where he served as an instructor pilot and later was assigned by Republic Aviation to coordinate the P-47 Thunderbolt inspection and flight test program in Evansville, Indiana. Following the end of World War II, he was discharged from military service in 1946, at the rank of major.

Later life
On February 9, 1945, Bade married Geraldine Davis, later Ferguson (1924–2013). The couple had three sons and one daughter.

After his discharge from the military, Bade worked as a civilian test pilot with Republic Aviation. In 1949, while flying a F-84 Thunderjet, he survived a  crash by bailing out at . In 1956 and 1962, he was featured in the advertisements of Camel cigarettes and Chase Manhattan Bank.

On May 2, 1963, while test flying a F-105 Thunderchief at the speed of sound, he collided with another F-105 flown by test pilot Don Seaver, over the Catskill Mountains in New York, killing both of them. Bade was buried at Long Island National Cemetery.

Awards and decorations

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Bade, Jack A.
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces
44th Fighter Squadron, 18th Fighter Group, Thirteenth Air Force
Date of Action: February 13, 1943

Citation:

Aerial victory credits

References

1920 births
1963 deaths
Accidental deaths in New York (state)
American test pilots
American World War II flying aces
Aviators from Minnesota
Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in the United States
Burials at Long Island National Cemetery
Honeywell people
Military personnel from Minneapolis
People from Elk River, Minnesota
Recipients of the Air Medal
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
University of Minnesota alumni
Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in 1963
Victims of flight test accidents