Fletcher Eugene Adams (2 August 1921 in Ida, Louisiana - executed 30 May 1944) was an American Captain in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Early life[]
Fletcher was born in Ida, Louisiana to Noel and Blanche Adams. His other siblings included his brother Noel Jr. and his sister Kathryn. From 1938 to 1940 he attended Southern Arkansas College.
Military Service[]
Branches[]
- 1940 - 1941: Louisiana National Guard
- 1941 - 1942: United States Army Reserve
- 1942 - 1944: United States Army Air Forces
Enlisted status and Assignments[]
- December 23, 1940: Enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard from Rodessa, Louisiana (ASN: 20740991). Discharged in 1941 after one year of service
- 1941: Enlisted in the Army Reserve for one year.
- 1942: Transferred to the Army Air Forces; commissioned a fighter pilot with the rank of Second Lieutenant on March 10, 1943 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona (ASN: 0-740324).
- November 1943 - May 30, 1944: Served with the 362nd Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force; flew 685 hours, 472 of those were in frontline combat; 10 aerial victories confirmed.
Dates of rank[]
- 1943: Second Lieutenant
- 1944: First Lieutenant
- 1944: Captain
Death[]
On May 30, 1944, he was shot down in aerial combat near Bernburg, Germany by a Messerschmitt Bf 109. He was able to exit his aircraft, but he was captured and was executed by the leader of a local militia. The latter, first sentenced to death, had his sentence reduced to 25 years imprisonment. He was first buried in Germany in 1945 and was re buried in the Bethsaida Cemetery in Ida, Louisiana.
Personal life[]
He married Mary A. Yancy and together a son named Gerald. Mary died on April 14, 2018.
Awards[]
- Pilot Badge
- Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster
- Air Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
- Purple Heart
- Prisoner of War Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with campaign star
- American Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Presidential Unit Citation
The 357th Fighter Group Museum in Ida, Louisiana is named in his honor.
References[]
- http://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=307083
- http://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/63415
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/51768641/fletcher-eugene-adams
- https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=165821
- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=3&cat=WR26&tf=F&q=Fletcher+E.+Adams&bc=sl&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=2049041&rlst=1193907,2049041,5329451
- https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/389851
- http://www.cebudanderson.com/357museum_dedication_ceremony.htm
- http://www.americanfighteraces.org/wwllusaf_a-b.html
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/189162585/mary-aline-adams
- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYRV-QNW
- https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XM22-HK4
The original article can be found at Fletcher E. Adams and the edit history here.