Colonel Jack T. Bradley

Colonel Jack T. Bradley was Brownwood most decorated war veteran. He was born in Brownwood on June 6, 1918. After attending Howard Payne for two years. He entered the Army Air Corps Flying Cadet Program in 1941. After extensive training, his unit was sent to England in November, 1943. He was a member of the 353rd Fighter Squadron of the famous 354th Pioneer (P-51) Mustang Fighter group that flew long range P-51 (above left) escorts for the Eighth Air Force bombers until the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944. They then moved to France and supported General Patton's Third Army through France and Germany to the conclusion of the war in May, 1945. Jack was a friend of General George Patton. As 353rd Squadron and 354th Group Comander Jack was credited with 15 enemy aircraft destroyed, 9 more probably destroyed, and 12 damaged - all in air combat. He once shot down two Messerschmitt 109 German fighters in 10 seconds. Jack was triple fighter ace (five enemy planes destroyed required to become a ace), first President and Chairman of the Board of the American Fighter Ace Association, and designed the logo for the American Fighter Ace Association (above center). Colonel Bradley was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (above right - the second highest award for valor after the Congressional Medal of Honor) when his bomber escort squadron of 16 P-51 Mustangs was attacked by over 60 Focke-Wulf 190 and Messerschmitt 109 German fighters. Jack's extraordinary heroism broke the enemy attack and saved the bomber formation. He was awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross (for exemplary gallantry) for leading his squadron of 16 P-51 Mustang's in an attack on 100+ enemy fighters while escorting Eighth Air Force bombers deep into Germany. He was also awarded 2 Silver Stars, 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 22 air medals, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, 3 Presidential Unit Citations, and is a member of the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame and the Legion of Valor. His most exciting experience was when he was flying through the clouds and accidentally joined a formation of German Messerschmitt 109s that he initially thought was his own squadron after being discovered, he dove into the clouds and miraculously escaped. After World War II, Jack commanded the 1st fighter group which was equipped with the first P 80 and F 86 jets in the US Air Force. He retired from the Air Force on December 31, 1962. Colonel Jack T. Bradley died in Brownwood on July 4, 2000