John D. Landers
John Dave Landers (23 August 1920 – 12 September 1989) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces. He flew with the 9th Fighter Squadron in the Pacific commanded the 357th Fighter Group and the 78th Fighter Group during World War II. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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." 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. Landers died on September 12, 1989 at the age of 69. Awards and decorations. His awards include: