40th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

Unit Casualty List By Last Name

Unit Casualty List By Date

Air Force BBS

Legacy Messages - 1995-1999

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Dave Mitchell wrote on July 18, 2023

Send Email To DAVE MITCHELL

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship:

Comments: My dad, Jess David Mitchell was Staff Sergeant, and served at Yokota AFB (I think). He passed away July 27, 2005. I still have much of his film that he shot while there, as well as his Contax IIIa camera and a Fightin' 40th stein that was his.

If anyone had any better more detailed information on time there, it would be nice the hear.

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James Tinker wrote on May 23, 2016

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City and State: PHOENIX AZ

Unit: 40TH FIS

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: For Patty Frank, who posted on March 4, 2007, regarding her father Capt. Engroff, who was killed in an F86 crash January 23, 1956, Yokota AFB, my siblings and I witnessed your father's plane crash from behind base housing and saw the plane post-crash. That memory is vivid in my mind. Very sorry for your loss, even so long ago.

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Norman Boyd wrote on January 31, 2016

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City and State: BRATTLEBORO VT

Unit: 40TH FIS. YOKOTA, JAPAN

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: William Bagwell

I was Crew - Chief 1960 - 1962. B Flt I've sent you off into the Blue many times in F86D 145.
Looking for contacts , e - mails etc -

1/LT Howard M Dean - Captain Ronald F Lewis -- Ran into Robert D Geortz Aug 30 1970 - F102's Madision, Wisconson ANG - Lt/Col Edward Walsh, was our Co. Norman Boyd vtflyboy@yahoo.com

Keywords: F-86D and F-102 Crew - Chief

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Gerald Esposito wrote on November 22, 2015

Send Email To GERALD ESPOSITO

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City and State:

Unit: 40TH FIGHTER SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Hi. My Dad served in Korea with the 40th Fighter Squadron. I have a baseball cap of his from the war with Fightin' Fortieth on it, but also Japan 884 JADF and ENG B, with wings on either side of the B. The cap is black and red. Any information on how Japan 884 JADF and ENG B are related to the 40th, as well as any information on these units would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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Stan Tinker wrote on December 10, 2014

Send Email To STAN TINKER

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City and State: COOKEVILLE TN

Unit: 40TH FIGHTER

Service or Relationship: Army Veteran

Comments: My dad, Maj. Edward Tinker, was a proud pilot in the 40 Fighter Squadron, stationed in Japan from 1953 to 1956. During that time he was stationed at Gifu, Kamaki, and Yokota. During his Air Force career he flew P-38's in WW11, F-86D's in Korea & Japan and F-104's in North Africa. My dad was the nephew of Gen,Tinker, namesake of Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Ok. and was proud of his family history in the U.S. Air Force.

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Susan Cassidy wrote on June 9, 2013

Send Email To SUSAN CASSIDY

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: Dad just past away May 16, 2013. He was proud of his service in
the USAF and had military honors at his service.

Keywords: Edgar Bousquet, Armorer Crew Chief, 40th Fighter Interceptor
Squadron (Red Devils)

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Bill Highfield wrote on June 6, 2013

Email Update Needed

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City and State: WILLIAMSON GA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: The 40th Fighter Sqdn. 2013 Reunion is being planned for
September 2013 at Wright Patterson AFB. Ohio. All Red Devils
from 1939 to the present 40th at Eglin AFB FL are invited.
Please comtact me for information.

Keywords: 40th Fighter and 40th Flight Test Sqdn Red Devils

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Ben Fichera wrote on October 27, 2012

Email Update Needed

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City and State: SPRING HILL FL

Unit: 40TH FTR SQ.

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: anyone from the 40th out there? 1951 thru 1953?

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John Burgmeier III wrote on August 16, 2012

Send Email To JOHN BURGMEIER

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City and State: SPARTA NE

Unit: 40TH FIS

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: My father, then Capt. John J. Burgmeier was assigned to the 40th FIS
from 1952 flying F-80s, T-33s, F-86Es and F-86D - along with any
other
aircraft he could get his hands on. He later moved to a 35th FG job in
flying training until 1955. I was 6months to 3 years old so I don't
remember very
much but I still have his log books.

Dad retired in 1973 as a Lt.Col. and passed away on 2/20/83.
My mom, Caroline now lives in Florida. She has said many times that
their
assignment with 40th FIS/35th FIG was the best ever.

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Bill Highfield wrote on June 25, 2012

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit: 40TH FIGHTER SQDN

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: The 40th Fighter Sqdn is now the 40th Flight Test
Sqdn stationed at Eglin AFB FL. We are haveing our
2012 reunion at Eglin this year. All Red Devils are
invited to attend. If you are interested in the
reunion or have stories or pictures you would like to
share please contact me.I was in the 40th at Johnson
in the early 50s in radio maintenance with F-51s
BillHighfield

Keywords: Red Devils 1939 - present

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William (Bill) Bagwell wrote on May 19, 2012

Send Email To WILLIAM (BILL) BAGWELL

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City and State: LITTLETON CO

Unit: NOW RETIRED (5/19/12

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Assigned Oct 15, 1958 to Apr 15, 1962 as a line pilot.
Great assignment, great squadron mates, great
leadership, great living in Japan. Remained in AF
until Nov, 1980. Would enjoy hearing from old friends
and swapping old stories!!

Bags

Keywords: F-86D and F-102 Pilot

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Albert Brown wrote on November 27, 2011

Send Email To ALBERT BROWN

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City and State: BEDFORD NH

Unit: 40 FIS YOKOTA

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Finished Jet Engine Mech school and was assigned to
the 40, arrived there in Aug 57 and was sent down to
Komaki AB and the 39th FIS. After a few months there
the 39th closed shop and I was assigned back up to
the 40th. Lt Col. Tate was the co then and my boss in
the engine shop was SSgt Sheppard. Loved it there,
retired from the Air Force as an E9 Avionics
superintendent and then on to a tech rep job with BAE
systems where i worked for years on the U2 and now on
Compass Call C130's. Are any of the old engine shop
guys around. Cheers Al Brown

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Bill Cannan wrote on November 1, 2011

Email Update Needed

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City and State: LAKEWOOD NJ

Unit: 40TH FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Assigned to the 40th in 1952 - While aboard the USN Buckner bound for
Pusan, the unit deployed from Korea (K8 ?) to Johnson AFB in Irumagawa,
Japan. At Johnson until 1954. Did the Squadron Red Devil symbol in
1953.
Any of you still around? I have some pictures.

Keywords: Red Devils. From P-51D Mustangs to F-80s to F86Ds in 2 years.

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Hal Beeso wrote on July 7, 2010

Send Email To HAL BEESO

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City and State:

Unit: 40TH FIS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I was assigned to the 40th from Itazuke AB. Later I was married to a Japanese lady from Fukuoka, my best man was Major Doc Williams, a pilot with the sq later to retire as a Col. A great time of my life in spite of the difficulty in the marriage area. That was almost 60 years ago, married to that young lady until she died in 1972 from cancer.

Keywords: MSgt Howard was NCOIC Operations then relieved by MSgt Ed Fees I recall Lt Jack Miller, Lt Robert White (later to become X15 pilot at Edwards) Major Bailey and Lt Col Chalek were the comdrs during my stay.

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William Campbell wrote on October 9, 2009

Send Email To WILLIAM CAMPBELL

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City and State: JACKSONVILLE FL

Unit: 40TH FIS

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Stumbled across this site recently. Glad to see some of us are still kicking.

Keywords: F51D 4474901 Crew Chief

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Cecil Sims wrote on July 3, 2007

Send Email To CECIL SIMS

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City and State: PAYSON AZ

Unit: 339TH FIGHTER INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: Thanks to Gene Kershner for bringing this organization to my attention. I welcome hearing from anywho I might have crossed trails with at that time.

Keywords: Aircraft armorer on radar equiped F94's

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Patty Frank wrote on March 4, 2007

Email Update Needed

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City and State: CARMICHAEL CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I am his daughter and was 4 yrs. old at the time of his death.

Keywords: Ralph Engroff, Capt. was piloting an F86D over Yokota, AFB on January 23, 1956 and was killed when the plane malfunctioned. Looking for any personal friends who may have known him.

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Marvin Bessinger wrote on August 24, 2005

Send Email To MARVIN BESSINGER

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City and State:

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran

Comments: I arrived at Johnson AB in June in 54 along with about 36 other troops fresh out of E4 Fire Control School. We were just some of the new troops sent to work on the F86D. We were transfered to Yokota in Aug. I think and I was assigned to the 41st. FIS. They were ,if I remember correctly, called the SKY RIPPERS. I still have the large patch that I had put on a jacket I bought there at Yokota. It shows a large buzz saw cutting through clouds and I think there is also a king corba showing through the opening of the clouds. I was only assigned to the 41st for about two months. When the 4th FIS started receiving their F86Ds there was about seven of the Fire Control troops that was reassigned to Misawa. That is the extent of my 41st. Assignment. I retired in 1973.

Keywords: troops I remember: George C Anderson,Ralph P. Tharpe, Charles Bowers. William F. Bobo,Dale E. Lillard,JohnH.Smith,Earl V. Wood. They were all E4 Fire Control.

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Bob Allen wrote on April 11, 2005

Email Update Needed

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City and State: HOPKINS SC

Unit: 35TH FIS - 40TH SQ

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: http://eshare.hpphoto.com/start.asp?JobID=d0b3108a-9202-4a71-aea2-ef0e76db7f34

I have posted 10 pictures of 35th FIS - 40th Squadron personnel which were taken by my father. They are available until 5/09/05.

Keywords: Posted Pictures

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Karl Budesa wrote on February 2, 2005

Send Email To KARL BUDESA

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City and State: WHITEFISH MT

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments:

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Robert Zahirniak wrote on June 10, 2004

Email Update Needed

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City and State: WEST TX

Unit: 41ST FTR, 1948 TO 1951

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea

Comments: i arrived in japan in oct of 1948 and was assigned to the 41st, as radio mech. i remember june 25 real well.we were playing slow pitch soft ball behind our quarters, when the cq came running out to tell us we were to report to the flight line. this was at yokota afb and we were expecting an ori. major krouse was our commander at thia time. i think he retired a jeneral. most
of the men who were there are almost all gone.

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Reginald Cooper wrote on March 10, 2001

Deceased

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City and State: PLANTATION FL

Unit: 40TH. FIGHTER SQUADRON, 35TH. FTR. GROUP

Service or Relationship: Air Force Veteran - Korea

Comments: I was Crew Chief on F-51's in Korea. At that time 1st.Lt. Aleck Holet was my pilot. He was assigned to my plane at Johnson AFB, Japan and we were a team. He retired from the AF as Col. He is at present, President of the 35th.Ftr.Gp./Wing Assoc. and I am the membership chairman. Still a team.

Keywords: 40th. Ftr. Sqdn. arrived in Pohang, Korea July 13th.1950 from Yokota,Japan The 40th. was at Yonpo Airbase,North Korea when the Chinese entered the war.

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Reginald Cooper wrote on November 7, 1999

Deceased

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City and State: SUNRISE FL

Unit: 40TH FTR. SQDN, 35TH FTR GROUP

Service or Relationship:

Comments: We are looking for formers members of the 35th and the 40th for a group association and to form a reunion of all 40th members, Officers and Enlisted mem. Ret. Col. Alex Holet is working to have a reunion possibly in the year 2000. You can E-Mail me if you are a former member of the 35th Ftr. Gp. or the 40th Ftr. Sqdn. and I will forward your name and address/E-Mail or home address. I repeat my E-Mail address, Regcoop@aol.com. Hope to find some of you guys alive and kicking. Kick on the afterburner and get in touch asap. Sayonara!!

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