John C. Egan

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John C. Egan
File:John Egan.jpg
Nickname(s)Bucky
Born(1915-09-08)September 8, 1915
Manitowoc, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedApril 16, 1961(1961-04-16) (aged 45)
McLean, Virginia, U.S.
Buried
Arlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branch
Years of service1940–1961
RankColonel
Service numberO-399510
Unit100th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
Commands47th Reconnaissance Group
Battles / warsWorld War II
Korean War
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
Legion of Merit
Purple Heart
Air Medal (4)
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1946)​
Children2

John Clarence "Bucky" Egan (September 8, 1915 – April 16, 1961) was an American pilot who served with the 100th Bomb Group of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and later with the United States Air Force in the Korean War.[1][2][3]

Early life and military career

Born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, Egan attended school there and later went on to St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota.[4] On October 10, 1943, Egan's plane was shot down during a raid on Münster, Germany. He survived and was captured after evading capture for four days, and held as a prisoner of war until May 1945.[4][5] In June 1946, he was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel.[4] At the beginning of the Korean War, Egan was in command of the 47th Reconnaissance Group and was promoted to colonel in 1951. He flew several air support missions against Chinese and North Korean ground forces in an A-26 Invader.[4] After the war, he served as deputy chief of staff for operations of the Fifth Air Force in Japan before being appointed director of operations for the Pacific Air Force in Hawaii in 1956.[6] In 1958, he was assigned to The Pentagon in Washington, D.C..[4]

Personal life

During flight school he gave the nickname Buck to fellow airman and best friend Gale "Buck" Cleven, as Cleven reminded him of a Wisconsin friend named Buck.[7] In 1945, Egan was engaged to the former Josephine Pitz, also of Manitowoc, and they married on December 26, 1946. Pitz was the first female pilot to be licensed in Manitowoc in 1930 and served for twenty-one months as a Women Airforce Service Pilot during World War II.[8] John C. Egan died on April 16, 1961, while on active duty after suffering a heart attack at his home in McLean, Virginia. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, two sisters, and his mother; his father predeceased him.[4] In 1962, he was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit.[9]

In popular culture

Egan is portrayed by British actor Callum Turner in Apple TV+'s miniseries Masters of the Air.[1]

Awards and honors

His awards include:

File:COMMAND PILOT WINGS.png  USAF Command pilot badge
Width-44 crimson ribbon with a pair of width-2 white stripes on the edges Legion of Merit
File:Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Distinguished Flying Cross
File:Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart
Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Army Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with bronze oak leaf cluster
File:Prisoner of War ribbon.svg Prisoner of War Medal
File:American Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal with bronze service star
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze campaign stars
File:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War II Victory Medal
Width=44 scarlet ribbon with a central width-4 golden yellow stripe, flanked by pairs of width-1 scarlet, white, Old Glory blue, and white stripes National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal with bronze campaign star
Air Force Longevity Service Award with four bronze oak leaf clusters
File:United Nations Service Medal for Korea Ribbon.svg United Nations Service Medal for Korea

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jonny Wilkes (January 26, 2024). "The real John Egan: who was Bucky in Masters of the Air?". History Extra. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Major tells story of first shuttle raid on Germany". The Pasadena Post. United Press. 24 August 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ↑ "Col. Egan, USAF, dies; Served in two wars". Evening Star. 18 April 1961. p. 26. Retrieved 28 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Heart attack claims life of Col. J. C. Egan". Manitowoc Herald-Times. 17 April 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 28 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  5. ↑ Murphy, Frank (2023). Luck of the Draw: My Story of the Air War in Europe. New York: St Martins Griffin. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-250-28415-0.
  6. ↑ "Egan Director of Air Base Operations". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. February 5, 1956. p. 10. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  7. ↑ Solly, Meilan (23 January 2024). "The Real History Behind 'Masters of the Air' and the 100th Bomb Group". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  8. ↑ "Josephine (Dodi) Pitz Egan". Manitowoc Hearld-Times. April 25, 2006. p. 3. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Deceased air ace awarded Legion of Merit". Manitowoc Herald-Times. 5 December 1962. p. 4. Retrieved 28 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon

External links

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