John MonahanJohn Monahan

Samantha Enriquez Samantha Enriquez

Esther NguyenEsther Nguyen

David WiestDavid Wiest

Corona Corona

U.S. History P.3U.S. History P.3

General InformationGeneral Information

► Service: Air Service: Air Force Force

► Served in Served in WWIIWWII

► Born in Feb. Born in Feb. 20, 1920 20, 1920 Bisbee Bisbee ArizonaArizona

►Married, Married, daughter daughter and son and son

ChildhoodChildhood► He went to Elementary School in MexicoHe went to Elementary School in Mexico► Graduated with only 6 other students Graduated with only 6 other students ► >John went to High School in Bisbee, AZ for 2 >John went to High School in Bisbee, AZ for 2

years but when his father got a job down deep years but when his father got a job down deep in Mexico he had to board out for his junior in Mexico he had to board out for his junior year in The American School in Mexico City. year in The American School in Mexico City. He went back to Bisbee for his senior year. He went back to Bisbee for his senior year.

►>> He played on the football team, lettered in He played on the football team, lettered in tennis and was on the Track & Field team but tennis and was on the Track & Field team but didn’t enjoy training for Track.didn’t enjoy training for Track.

► >> He attended College in He attended College in Flagstaff, AZ and applied Flagstaff, AZ and applied for Flying Cadet Training for Flying Cadet Training in October 1940 and in October 1940 and ordered to March Air ordered to March Air Base for his physical Base for his physical exam. He hitchhiked from exam. He hitchhiked from Flagstaff to RiversideFlagstaff to Riverside

► Flew steersman, only had Flew steersman, only had nine hours of training and nine hours of training and took first flighttook first flight

► Feb. 11, 1941 called to Feb. 11, 1941 called to Air Force Air Force

““I feel the same I feel the same exhilarating feeling exhilarating feeling

still today”still today”

TrainingTraining► << Feb. 11, 1941 called to Feb. 11, 1941 called to

active duty in the Army Air active duty in the Army Air Corps and assigned to Corps and assigned to Hemet CA for Primary Hemet CA for Primary flight training. There he flight training. There he flew the Pt-17 Stearman flew the Pt-17 Stearman and made his first solo and made his first solo flight after 8 hours of flight after 8 hours of flying time. Of the 120 flying time. Of the 120 cadets at Hemet, 59 cadets at Hemet, 59 completed Primary flight completed Primary flight trainingtraining

► >His next level of flight >His next level of flight training was Basic training training was Basic training at Randolph Field at San at Randolph Field at San Antonio, Texas and Antonio, Texas and Advanced training at Kelly Advanced training at Kelly Field in San Anton- io. In Field in San Anton- io. In September 1941 he September 1941 he graduated as a pilot and graduated as a pilot and commissioned a 2nd Lt.commissioned a 2nd Lt.

First AirplaneFirst Airplane ► His first assignment was His first assignment was

Portland OR as a fighter Portland OR as a fighter pilot and flying the P-43. pilot and flying the P-43.

► February 1942, received February 1942, received P-38 Fighter plane P-38 Fighter plane

► Named his airplane Scotty Named his airplane Scotty II, after his girlfriend who II, after his girlfriend who later became his wife.later became his wife.

► Was a pursuit pilot Was a pursuit pilot (pursue the enemy fight (pursue the enemy fight pilots) pilots)

► This plane was very This plane was very unique and flew 1100 unique and flew 1100 hours in this aircrafthours in this aircraft

Inside AircraftInside Aircraft ► For him, one of the For him, one of the

most interesting things most interesting things about the P-38, and about the P-38, and interesting to us as interesting to us as well, was that instead well, was that instead of a stick to maneuver of a stick to maneuver the aircraft. it had a the aircraft. it had a wheel, similar to that wheel, similar to that in a car,in a car,

► They were always on They were always on alert, and when called alert, and when called they would run to they would run to their airplanes which their airplanes which were warmed were warmed periodically to be periodically to be ready for instant take-ready for instant take-offoff

Career LifeCareer Life

► During one of his During one of his combat missions in combat missions in Ascension Island, Ascension Island, where the Japanese where the Japanese occupied, one of his occupied, one of his Engine was shot and Engine was shot and nearly shot down. nearly shot down. And had to land on And had to land on his own with the his own with the engine that he had engine that he had left. left.

Beginning of the War Beginning of the War ► >> He heard about Pearl harbor when he and He heard about Pearl harbor when he and

fellow pilots were on their way to the Mess fellow pilots were on their way to the Mess Hall and a Captain yelled “Japs bombed Pearl Hall and a Captain yelled “Japs bombed Pearl Harbor!” Harbor!”

►>His Squadron was moved to Olympia >His Squadron was moved to Olympia Washington because a Japanese attack in the Washington because a Japanese attack in the northwest area of the United States was a northwest area of the United States was a possibility.possibility.

►>> In February 1942 he started flying the P-38 In February 1942 he started flying the P-38 Fighter plane which was very unique for a Fighter plane which was very unique for a fighter in that it had two engines. He said this fighter in that it had two engines. He said this was his favorite plane of all those he flew. He was his favorite plane of all those he flew. He had about 1100 hours flying time in the P-38had about 1100 hours flying time in the P-38

► John kept John kept moving up in his moving up in his positions positions quickly. He quickly. He became the became the leader of flight. leader of flight.

►He was always in He was always in charge up to 16 charge up to 16 to 48 airplanes to 48 airplanes up in the air on up in the air on this combat this combat missions. Which missions. Which was a difficult was a difficult task without a task without a doubtdoubt

A Picture of His Flying CrewA Picture of His Flying Crew

Combat Combat ► His first combat mission was over the island of His first combat mission was over the island of

Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, which was occupied Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, which was occupied by the Japanese. They shot out one of histwo by the Japanese. They shot out one of histwo engines but it didn’t catch fire and he returned to engines but it didn’t catch fire and he returned to his base and landed with his one good engine.his base and landed with his one good engine.

► After his tour in the Aleutians he was sent to After his tour in the Aleutians he was sent to Europe. His first mission in Europe was a target in Europe. His first mission in Europe was a target in France and first experience with very heavy anti-France and first experience with very heavy anti-aircraft fire (Flack) and remembers thinking aircraft fire (Flack) and remembers thinking these these guys are trying to kill me.guys are trying to kill me.

► On June 6 1944, D-Day, he flew 3 missions On June 6 1944, D-Day, he flew 3 missions protecting the landings in France. Most of his protecting the landings in France. Most of his missions in Europe were escorting B-17 bombers to missions in Europe were escorting B-17 bombers to targets over Germany. These missions lasted 4 to 6 targets over Germany. These missions lasted 4 to 6 plus hoursplus hours..

P-51 Scotty IIIP-51 Scotty III►P-51 flew to North Africa, Palm Springs, P-51 flew to North Africa, Palm Springs,

Georgia, Puerto Rico, South America, Georgia, Puerto Rico, South America, Casa Blanca landing (show a picture of Casa Blanca landing (show a picture of that plane) that plane)

►Combat P-17 targets over Germany Combat P-17 targets over Germany ►St . France bombers, they stood aside St . France bombers, they stood aside

and what he was thinking was, “Geez and what he was thinking was, “Geez these guys are trying to kill me.” A very these guys are trying to kill me.” A very apprehensive attitude. apprehensive attitude.

Upgrading to P-51Upgrading to P-51►>> About mid-way through his combat tour in About mid-way through his combat tour in

Europe his outfit converted from the P-38 to Europe his outfit converted from the P-38 to the P-51. The P-51 had a longer range than the P-51. The P-51 had a longer range than the P-38 and they could take the bombers the P-38 and they could take the bombers all the way to the targets and back. There all the way to the targets and back. There were times when you couldn’t do that in the were times when you couldn’t do that in the P-38.P-38.

►>For bomber escort missions he preferred >For bomber escort missions he preferred the P-51 and had about 300 hours in that the P-51 and had about 300 hours in that airplane.airplane.

Memorable Moment Memorable Moment

►On one combat mission he was the On one combat mission he was the leader of 48 aircraft crossing into Ger- leader of 48 aircraft crossing into Ger- many. He saw enemy aircraft below many. He saw enemy aircraft below and followed them down and shot and followed them down and shot down a German FW190 airplane. He down a German FW190 airplane. He remembers seeing the enemy pilot remembers seeing the enemy pilot bailing out of the plane. bailing out of the plane.

German Aircraft that he shot German Aircraft that he shot downdown

Meeting his Wife Meeting his Wife ► He met his wife who was a singer He met his wife who was a singer

in a night club in Hollywood, CA in a night club in Hollywood, CA when he was stationed at when he was stationed at Glendale, CA. HeGlendale, CA. He

► Almost lost her when he arranged Almost lost her when he arranged to take her to a tea dance at the to take her to a tea dance at the Coconut Grove and failed to show Coconut Grove and failed to show up. He had to fly a P-38 from Palm up. He had to fly a P-38 from Palm Springs to Casa Blanca in North Springs to Casa Blanca in North Africa via Georgia, Puerto Rico, Africa via Georgia, Puerto Rico, the coast of South America, across the coast of South America, across the south Atlantic to Africa and the south Atlantic to Africa and across the Sahara Desert to Casa across the Sahara Desert to Casa Blanca. . It was hard convincing Blanca. . It was hard convincing her why he was unable to take her her why he was unable to take her to the Coconut Grove to the Coconut Grove

► She later joined the USO as a She later joined the USO as a singer and in England while he singer and in England while he was there. They were married in was there. They were married in England and just celebrated 65 England and just celebrated 65 years of marriage.(:years of marriage.(:

Jobs throughout his time in Jobs throughout his time in the servicethe service►He was a Pilot, Jr. He was a Pilot, Jr.

Pilot, group leader, Pilot, group leader, air base group air base group commander, 2commander, 2ndnd Lieutenant, and Lieutenant, and retired as a retired as a Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant Colonel

MedalsMedals►Distinguished Distinguished

Flying Cross, Flying Cross, seven Air seven Air Medals, Medals, Legion of Legion of Merit, the Merit, the Army and Air Army and Air Force Force CommendatioCommendation medals and n medals and campaign campaign medals. medals.

After war / retirement After war / retirement

►>> He retired in November 1968 as a He retired in November 1968 as a Colonel and had a few jobs after he Colonel and had a few jobs after he retired; One with Computer Graphics retired; One with Computer Graphics as part of General Dynamics in San as part of General Dynamics in San Diego for four years and with a real Diego for four years and with a real estate office for 12 yrs. He then estate office for 12 yrs. He then completely retired and played a lot of completely retired and played a lot of golf which he plays to this day but golf which he plays to this day but not quite as often (nor as well). not quite as often (nor as well).

He was in Australia with his family He was in Australia with his family while the Korean War was going on while the Korean War was going on and so he was not involved in this and so he was not involved in this

war.war.

Prayer From MotherPrayer From Mother►He Carried a prayer that his mother He Carried a prayer that his mother

gave him for good luck and still gave him for good luck and still carries it todaycarries it today

After War After War

►>> He Lived at Rancho Bernardo in San He Lived at Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, for 30 years and now lives in Air Diego, for 30 years and now lives in Air Force Village West in Riverside.Force Village West in Riverside.

► >> He made a lot of good friends and He made a lot of good friends and lost a lot of friends but still maintains lost a lot of friends but still maintains contact with a few of those that are contact with a few of those that are left. Every year there is a reunion with left. Every year there is a reunion with his flying school class mates but it’s his flying school class mates but it’s sad to see fewer and fewer of them.sad to see fewer and fewer of them.

► In the service he accomplished a lot things In the service he accomplished a lot things he never thought he would ever have been he never thought he would ever have been able to do. Importantly he learned the true able to do. Importantly he learned the true meaning of patriotism, leadership, respect meaning of patriotism, leadership, respect and human values all of which are with him and human values all of which are with him to this day. In retrospect he has no regrets to this day. In retrospect he has no regrets about his exciting military career. He about his exciting military career. He feels very fortunate and privileged to have feels very fortunate and privileged to have served with so many fine officers and men served with so many fine officers and men in the United States Air Force.in the United States Air Force.

► He wrote his autobiography for his wife He wrote his autobiography for his wife and children. His daughter, after reading it, and children. His daughter, after reading it, said:” you are my hero”said:” you are my hero”

•Motivated to do a job Motivated to do a job that he has trained to do that he has trained to do nothing will change that.nothing will change that. Exciting career and has Exciting career and has no regrets. He said he no regrets. He said he had no time to think or had no time to think or

worry about himself worry about himself while up in the air while up in the air

because he was worried because he was worried about all of the other about all of the other airplanes and making airplanes and making sure the mission was sure the mission was

accomplished. accomplished.

He is our hero(:He is our hero(: