475th's Aces
Lt. Colonel John S. Loisel
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| John Simon Loisel, born on 21 May 1920 in Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho, entered Army Air Corps flight training on 10 March 1941, and received his
wings on 31 October. In September 1942 he was assigned to 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th
Fighter Group in New Guinea, where he flew 83 combat missions in P-39s. In July 1943 Lieutenant Loisel was selected to join the cadre of the newly established 475th Fighter Group then forming at Amberley Field, Australia. Moving to Dobodura, New Guinea in August. Loisel shot down two Tonys on a bomber escort mission to Wewak on 21 August 1943, a Zeke near Finschafen on 22 September and two mote Zekes over Oro Bay on 15 October to gain ace status. Three days later he was promoted to captain. He downed two mote Zekes in December, one on the 13th and the other on the 21st. Taking command of the 432nd Fighter Squadron on 22 January, Loisel destroyed another Zeke the next day. Over the next few weeks the 475th flew numerous strike missions against targets in New Guinea and the Halmaharas. On 3 April loisel shot down an Oscar and a Hamp on a Low level bomber escort mission against enemy airfields at Hollandia, New Guinea. He returned to the U.S. in August as a Major. Loisel returned to the Pacific in January 1945 to become group operations officer. Flying from the Philippines on 28 March 1945, he destroyed a Frank near Tree Island, Indochina. Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 15 May, Loisel assumed command of the 475th on 15 July and led the group to Ie Shima and on to Kimpo, Korea. He relinquished command on 18 April 1946 and returned home. During the Korean War, Loisel commanded the 47th Fighter-Bomber Group flying ground attack missions in the F-84. He retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 1970. |
