The Ultimate Fighter Pilot

[Jack Cook]

Who's the best of the best? I doubt that will be settled but here's a front runner. M/G John E. Taylor USAFR ret. former CO of the Texas ANG.
WWII 364th FG P-51D 32 missions 3 ground kills
Korea 39th FIS F-51D 136 missions
Korea 49th FW F-84 105 missions
Korea 335th FIS F-86E 52 missions 2.5 MIG-15s
SVN F-100 38 missions between ferry flight delivering a/c.
John was kicked out of korea by the regular AF because he was embarassing the regulars.

After a 37mm AA hit on his F-51D

John & Ernie Wakehouse 39th FIS Korea 1951

John preparing to mount up for a mission. He wearing his famous survival pack with included a cut down carbine, sawed-off shotgun, grenades and lots of ammo.

Greg James mounting up John's F-51D. note the cobra painted underneeth the stang. It ran the whole lenght of the a/c
has John wanted the enemy to know who was killing them!

Ernie Wakehouse, John Taylor, Rock Brett & Fred Rockmaker 39th FIS 18th FIW Korea 1951

Last edited by Jack Cook on Tue Oct 16, 2007 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mlenoch]

Is he still with us? Might he have ANG photos?
I am always looking for TEX & MINN ANG P-51 photos.
(Moonbeam is a veteran of those units.)
Thx,
VL

[Jack Cook]

I'll give him a call and ask!
BTW he's reputed to be the only pilot ever to qualify in air-ground gunnery while inverted!!

[Alan Brooks]

Hello Vlado! Yes, Gen JET is still with us...... He got a back seat ride in a 51 just a few months ago.... Alan

[Jack Cook]

Gen T. was also trapped in New Orleans during Katrina with his wife in that hospital that was cut-off and became an island. He stayed with her and they ended up on a bridge overpass for 6-7 days before they were evacuated. Unfortunately she didn't survive but he wouldn't cut and run refusing to leave her. I'm glad to hear he got a 51 ride(any photos??). He was pretty depressed after this happended and I got him hooked up with Ernie and Rocky Brett his old buds from the 39th. I recommend to GML that all 3 of these guys be legends but they only invitied Ernie.

[Jack Cook]

Vlado,
John Taylor called me tonight and we talked for 2 1/2 hours.
He's been in the hospital getting some heart issues taken care
of (he's back up to 100 push-ups a day!) and expects to be 100%
by mid November. He's going to dig out photos for me and thinks
he may have some TEX ANG P-51s. He also flew them in the
CONN ANG before Korea. BTW his WWII sqd was the 384th FS
364th FG and in Korea he flew in the 39th FIS, 8th FBS & the 335th FIS.
He remember every detail about every mission he flew I swear.
Awesome guy!

[sdennison]

Hey Jack,

What can you do to get his Memoirs on tape or some other sort of record. He is a priceless part of our history that should be saved and revered for many years to come. Wow! Please extend my thanks, at least, to him. I am in awe.

[Jack Cook]

He has a Bonanza and talked about coming out here has 5 of his 39th FIS friends live within a 100 miles of me. But, other than that Texas is a long ways away. This sounds like a job for Tim Landers. So Tim, how far are
you from Bluffdale ??

[Dan Johnson II]

Is he still with us? Might he have ANG photos?
I am always looking for TEX & MINN ANG P-51 photos.
(Moonbeam is a veteran of those units.)
Thx,
VL

Vlado, do you have any images of Moonbeam from it's Minn ANG days?

I might have to sneak down to the Minn ANG museum and check.

[mlenoch]

Dan:
I may have one in MN livery. (I need to organize that part of my files).
I have a few more in TX colors. Very much appreciated!
Thx,
VL

[Curtis Block]

Jack,

If he comes out this way (NW), maybe something could be set up at the OFM. I'm sure someone could at least get him the full tour.Contact Brian or somthing. Let us know.