Landers, John Dave

Colonel John Dave Landers
Colonel John Dave Landers



Landers was born June 23, 1920 in Rexroat, Oklahoma. After the outbreak of World War II, he enrolled in the Ryan School of Aeronautics pilot school in San Diego, California. He was knocked out at the rank of Lieutenant in the USAAF on 12.12.1941.


He entered service in P-40 fighters with the 9th Fighter Squadron 49. Pursuit Group and immediately joined the fighting in the South Pacific as part of the 5th. The 49th Fighter Group was the first American air unit to be stationed in Australia. By September 1942 it had destroyed 64 enemy aircraft in the fighting at Darwin, followed by a move to Port Moresby, New Guinea. In December 1942, it was shot down near Dobudara, New Guinea, successfully parachuted to safety and made it to its own units. On 15 January 1943, the 9th FS was rearmed to P-38. In combat against the Japanese, he achieved 6 air victories, while his colleague Richard I. Bong serving in the same unit became the US top ace with 40 air victories.


After his withdrawal to the US, he served as a flight instructor. He reenlisted for combat and was assigned to the 38th Bn. Fighter Squadron operating as part of the 55th. Fighter Group out of Duxford Airfield, UK. On the European battlefield he flew fighters, first P-38s and then P-51, all of which he named "Big Beutiful Doll". Landers himself received the nicknames "Firewall" and "Big Ass".


In mid-1944, he became commander of the 38th Fighter Squadron and achieved a total of 5 more aerial victories within its ranks. In the fall of 1944, he became executive officer of 357. Fighter Group and in February 1945 took over as commander of 78. Fighter Group, where he achieved his last 3.5 aerial victories.
In May 1945 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and in June 1945 assumed command of 361. Fighter Group.


During WWII, Colonel Landers achieved 14.5 aerial victories and destroyed 20 enemy aircraft on the ground (due to the different rules of 8. Air Force, pilots operating there were credited with planes destroyed on the ground in their overall score, and so in accordance with this practice, Colonel Landers' overall score appears in some sources as 34.5).


After retiring to civilian life he worked in the construction industry. He died 12.9.1989.



Source:
www.granburydepot.org
https://www.flyingknights.net/humpty/humpty_2.htm

Sestřely Johna D. Landerse


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