Add Content
First Name
Julius
Middle Name
S.
Last Name
Jayroe
Birthdate
Hometown
Georgetown, SC
Rank
Colonel
Service Branch
Air Force
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Julius Jayroe enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in August, 1950, was trained in Accounting and Finance, and served at Goodfellow AFB, Texas and then at Clark AB, in the Philippines. His last enlisted assignment was at Stewart AFB, New York. He next entered the Aviation Cadet Program and received his commission as a 2d Lt and his pilot wings at Bryan AFB, Texas. Jayroe's next assignment was as an instructor pilot with the 3560th Pilot Training Squadron at Webb AFB, Texas. He then served as a flight instructor with the 3565th Instrument Pilot Instructor School at James Connally AFB, Texas, before transferring to the 3511th Flying Training Squadron at Randolph AFB, Texas. Captain Jayroe next flew F-101A and C Voodoo and F-4C Phantom II fighters with the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at RAF Woodbridge, England. After completing survival training, he began flying combat missions in Southeast Asia with the 390th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, at DaNang AB in the Republic of Vietnam in November 1966. While flying his 32nd combat mission, Captain Jayroe was forced to eject from his F-4 after it was hit by a surface-to-air missile and was taken as a Prisoner of War on January 19, 1967.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Colonel Jayroe released during “Operation Homecoming” on March 4, 1973. He then entered pilot re-qualification at Randolph AFB, Texas, in October 1973. Colonel Jayroe then served as Organizational Maintenance Squadron Commander and later as Deputy Commander for Operations of the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB. His was then assigned as Commander of the Air Force Section of the U.S. Military Group in Caracas, Venezuela, where he served as the Senior USAF Advisor to the Commander of the Venezuelan Air Force. Colonel Jayroe then served with the Directorate of International Programs at Headquarters USAF in the Pentagon, where he helped plan and implement USAF Foreign Military Sales programs throughout Asia and Latin America, until his retirement from the Air Force on September 30, 1982. After his retirement from the Air Force, Julius joined General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas, where he served as an F-16 International Marketing Manager. He remained with the company after it was acquired by Lockheed, and retired from Lockheed Martin on January 31, 1998.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Silver Star (2)
- Legion of Merit (2)
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Bronze Star (3)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release