John J. Pitchford, Jr.

John Pitchford enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces on August 23, 1944, and served as an airplane and engine mechanic until receiving an honorable discharge on December 22, 1946. Pitchford served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army Reserve while in college, from November 8, 1949, to February 13, 1951, and he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at Louisiana State University on May 26, 1952. Lieutenant Pitchford went on active duty beginning August 11, 1952, and then completed flight training, receiving his pilot wings at James Connally AFB, Texas, in September 1953. After completing F-84 Thunderjet Combat Crew Training, he was assigned to the 8th Fighter Bomber Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, from March 1954 to March 1956, followed by service as a gunnery instructor pilot at Luke AFB, Arizona, from March 1956 to January 1963. Captain Pitchford served as air operations officer with Detachment 2 of the 39th Air Division at Osan and Kunsan AB, South Korea, from January 1963 to March 1964, and then served as air operations officer for the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, from March 1964 to September 1965. His next assignment was as an F-100 Super Sabre pilot with the 524th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Cannon AFB from September to November 1965, followed by service as a Wild Weasel pilot flying the F-100F with the 6234th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from November 1965 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on December 20, 1965.