Capt. Lonnie R Moore

Source: JetPilotOverseas

"Billie" Moore via Steve Moore

Captain Lonnie R. Moore standing in his F-86F Sabre named after his wife "Billie"

51-2803 or possibly 51-2975

(The 4th Fighter Wing in the Korean War - Larry Davis)


It was the April of 1953 and the Ace’s voice was clear and strong as it rang out over the radio. “Billie” had been hit and she was going down into the freezing Yalu River located at the border of North Korea and China. The Ace bailed out of the jet and had but a few minutes of survival in the frozen Yalu. The rescue team, with only minutes to spare, plucked the 33rd Jet Ace from the icy waters.

source:
CAPTAIN LONNIE MOORE, 10 JET ACE - THE STORY OF A CHIEF AND HIS DANCER
by
Joyce C. Fuller, Esq. © 2005

 

(4th Fighter Interceptor Wing yearbook - 1953)

"Fourth But First" was the motto of the Fourth Fighter Interceptor Wing, the most famous United States Air Force outfit during the Korean conflict. They remained top of their game from December 15, 1950, when the "Fourth" first went into action, until July 27, 1953, when the Truce was signed. The MiG-Killers of the "Fourth" destroyed more enemy aircraft than any other Air Force unit in Korea.

On July 10, 1953, MiG mark 700 was passed and once again it was a "Fourth" pilot who made the kill. But at the time the exact pilot is not known because kills #699 and #700 came so close together that they could not be separated. Capt. Lonnie R. Moore and his wingman, 2 nd Lt. William F. Schrimsher, of the Chiefs Sq., made the two kills.

Capt. Lonnie R. Moore went home to Florida to his beautiful loving wife Billie and their growing family as a 'Double Ace' with 10 confirmed kills. Of the 1700 fighter pilots in Korea only a few elite pilots held this honor of being called a America's "Double Ace." On Jan. 10, 1956, while on the first operational test run of the new F101 Voodoo Supersonic Jet at Eglin Air Force Base, in NW Florida, the Double Ace’s plane crashed right after takeoff. - DoubleAce website

On January 10, 1956, Major Lonnie R. Moore, a Korean War ace with 10 kills to his credit, was killed in a F-101A pitch-up mishap at Eglin AFB, Florida.

Source: http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/PROJECT/Biographies/M/Moore_Lonnie/Moore_Lonnie.htm

(The 4th Fighter Wing in the Korean War - Larry Davis)

(The 4th Fighter Wing in the Korean War - Larry Davis)