Bodiford’s Brown County Histories: Jack T. Bradley, World War II Fighter Ace

“Heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary.”
(Gerard Way)

Written by Carl Bodiford – A basic tendency of history is that greatness often begins in obscurity. One example to support my point is Jack Tarelton Bradley. Born in Brownwood on June 6, 1918, young Jack lived an ordinary childhood, raised by parents who lived an unnoticeable existence in pre – war Brownwood.

The City Directory for 1941 showed Jack Bradley living at 2505 Austin Street and employed by the Walker Smith Company.  We know also that he was enrolled at Hardin Simmons College between 1936 and 1938 and that he came back to Brownwood and attended Howard Payne College where he graduated in 1941. It seems that Bradley was a rather unnoticeable youth. But despite his prosaic beginnings, in the crucible of war, Bradley became recognized for his ability, courage and leadership and distinguished himself as one of the most effective fighter pilots among the thousands of aviators who flew in the European Theater of Operations. 

Jack Bradley while commander of the 353^rd Squadron

On September 1, 1939, German forces attacked Poland. Essential to the success of their blitzkrieg (lightning war)  was the use of aerial bombing. This extensive implementation of aviation in warfare did not surprise world military leaders. Soon after the end of World War I in 1918, men such as Italian general Giulio Douhet and American General Billy Mitchell predicted the decisive role that the airplane would play in the next war. Then in the fascist aggressions of the 1930s in Ethiopia, Spain and China, the world viewed in movie newsreels the devastation wrought from the air to far- away places such as Addis Abba, Guernica and Shanghai. Fortunately for our nation, even before we experienced the disastrous attack from the air at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, American leaders were in the process of training an elite corps of “pursuit” pilots who when given the opportunity established air superiority in all theaters where American forces were in combat. 

German Heinkel HE 111 bombing Warsaw, Poland in September 1939 

Realizing the potential threat posed by aerial bombing, Franklin Roosevelt signed the Civilian Pilot Training Act that had been passed by Congress in June 1939. Under the provisions of the Act, the federal government provided funds to qualified institutions and opened up pilot training to many who would otherwise never have had an opportunity to learn to fly. For a basic cost of forty dollars, students received seventy – two hours of ground school training and a minimum of thirty – five hours of in – flight practice. Between 1939 and 1946, the Civilian Pilot Training Program provided the basics of aviation to 435,165 students at over 2,500 colleges and flying schools. Bradley joined the C.P.T.P., graduating from the program at Howard Payne and then the Air Corps Cadet Program in Dallas in 1941. Then a week after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he formally enlisted in the Army Air Corps.  

Swearing In Ceremony of Army Air Corps Pilots (1942)

At some early point in this odyssey, Bradley distinguished himself as having potential for leadership. His first assignment in October 1942, was as flight leader in the 328^th Fighter Group stationed at Hamilton, Field in San Francisco flying obsolete P-39 Air Cobras. But Bradley had barely settled into this position when he was transferred to become Operations Officer of the newly created 353^rd squadron of the 354^th Fighter Group. The unit continued training in Tonapah, Nevada, Santa Rosa California and Portland, Oregon before finally leaving for England in the fall of 1943.    

Bell P-39 Air Cobra – Plane flown by Bradley during advanced pilot training in the U.S.

The 354th Fighter Group began combat operations stationed at Boxted Airfield in Essex, England as part of the newly created Ninth Air Force. The unit was fortunate to be the first to receive the newly arrived North American P-51 B. The “Mustang” easily outclassed their old Air Cobras, but also proved to be the better of every other aircraft in the European Theater with the possible exception of the British Spitfire. Proudly taking the name “Pioneer Mustang Group,” during its time in combat between December 1943 and May 1945, the 354^th destroyed 701 enemy aircraft in aerial combat – more than any other American group in Europe. Of the three squadrons in the 354^th, Bradley’s squadron garnered a score of 320.5 aerial kills. By the end of the war, twenty flyers of the 353^rd squadron had at least five confirmed kills which qualified them to be given the status of “ace.”  Among this elite group, Bradley was third highest on the list with fifteen confirmed kills, nine probable and twelve enemy planes damaged.   

P-51 B Mustang in flight over France (1944)

Because of the Mustang’s superb air combat capabilities at high altitudes and even more importantly its long – range, the 353^rd “Fighting Cobras” were assigned with the rest of the 354^th Group to escort bombers of the Eighth Air Force deep into Germany. These escort missions, which sometimes lasted up to ten hours, greatly reduced the losses of the lumbering and vulnerable B-17 and B-24 bombers. On these missions, Bradley consistently demonstrated courage and leadership as the Distinguished Service Cross citation for bravery in a mission on May 28, 1944 indicates.

“…while leading his squadron of fighter airplanes in escort of a large bomber formation attacking a highly important and exceedingly well defended target deep within Germany, Major Bradley observed a large group of enemy fighters about to attack the bombers. Without hesitation he directed his forces to give maximum protection to the bombers and, although under repeated attack himself, dived fearlessly into the midst of the enemy formation and personally destroyed two enemy airplanes while his squadron accounted for ten. The enemy attack was so completely disorganized, that not a single enemy airplane reached the bombers. The outstanding heroism and skill displayed by Major Bradley on this occasion reflect highest credit upon himself, the 9th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.”

Bradley’s unit also participated in low – level bombing missions prior to D-DAY, support for the Market – Garden Offensive and missions supporting the First Army during the Battle of the Bulge. In the final months of the war, the 353^rd participated in ground – support sorties supporting Patton’s Third Army through France, Germany and Czechoslovakia.  

Bradley in his P – 51 B (c. February 1944)

Bradley third from right with some other members of the 353^rd Squadron in front of his P – 51 B nicknamed “Margie Maru.”

Bradley in the chow hall

Photo taken late in the war – Bradley standing in front of his P- 51 D. There are 16 crosses on the plane, but two must have been ground kills and only counted as 1.

Limitations of space prevent mentioning other citations, so I will simply list other decorations he received: Distinguished Flying Cross, British Distinguished Flying Cross, French Croix De Guerre, Silver Star and the Air Medal. During his time in combat, he rose in position from Squadron Operations Officer, to Squadron Commander, then Deputy Group Commander and finally Group Commander. Bradley began the war as a 2^nd Lieutenant and by V.E. day had attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

After the war, Bradley helped to establish the Air Force as a separate branch and build a Cold War fighter defense in Europe with our N.A.T.O. allies. He retired from the service in 1962, and ultimately settled in Brown County. He died on July 4, 2000 and is buried in Early, Texas. 

I have only been able to find one comment about the war directly attributed to Bradley. When mentioning  his best memory of the war he said:  “My best memory was when the war was over. It was pretty costly.” “I was very patriotic, Our main concern was winning the war.”

We are indeed fortunate to have those citizens like Jack T. Bradley, who in times of need, sacrifice their own interests for the benefit of their nation. So, I will close with a thank you to all of you military veterans. We truly appreciate your service. 

Visit the Brown County Museum of History if you would like to see artifacts from Colonel Bradley’s service.