Fred R. Haviland Jr.

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Fred R. Haviland Jr.
FredRHaviland.jpg
Born(1915-03-24)March 24, 1915
Tampa, Florida, U.S.
DiedMarch 17, 1989(1989-03-17) (aged 73)
Winter Park, Florida, U.S.
Buried
Orange Grove Cemetery
Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States of America
Service / branch United States Army Air Forces
Years of service1941–1945
Rank US Air Force O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major
Unit 357th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group
Battles / wars World War II
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross (5)
Air Medal (7)

Fred Russ Haviland Jr. (March 24, 1915 – March 17, 1989) was an American flying ace in the 355th Fighter Group during World War II, who was credited with 6 aerial victories. [1]

Contents

Early life

Haviland was born in 1915 in Tampa. [2]

Military career

On November 5, 1941, he entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces and on May 20, 1942, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings on May 20, 1942. [2]

World War II

Haviland's P-51D Mustang 'Barbara' P-51D 'Barbara' 01.jpg
Haviland's P-51D Mustang 'Barbara'

After receiving his pilot wings, he was assigned as an instructor pilot with the Army Air Forces Training Command from 1942 to 1943. After completing his training in the North American P-51 Mustang, he was deployed as a P-51 pilot with 357th Fighter Squadron of the 355th Fighter Group in RAF Steeple Morden in England, in May 1944. Flying missions in the European theater of World War II, he was credited with his first aerial victory, when he shot a Messerschmitt Bf 109 north of Magdeburg, Germany on June 21, 1944. On June 24, he received his first Distinguished Flying Cross, when he led a flight of P-51s to attack a German airfield in east of Angers, France, where he destroyed three aircraft on the ground and other vital ground targets. [1] [3] [4]

On July 7, 1944, Haviland shot down two Messerschmitt Bf 110s, while en route to Halle, Germany and on August 3, he shot down another Fw 190, his fourth aerial victory. On September 12, he led the 357th FS in attacking a German airfield in Brüx, Czechoslovakia, where he personally destroyed three enemy aircraft on the ground. He finally became a flying ace on November 26, 1944, when he shot down a Fw 190 and Bf 109, while defending 2nd Air Division's B-24 Liberator bombers over Hanover and Gardelegen from German aerial attacks, which were also his last aerial victories of the war. [3] [1]

In February 1945, he was transferred to the 65th Fighter Wing, before returning to the United States on the same month. Following the end of World War II, he left active duty on August 31, 1945. [1] [2]

During World War II, Haviland was credited with the destruction of 6 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 2 damaged, and 6 destroyed plus 3 damaged on the ground while strafing enemy airfields. While serving with the 355th FG, he flew P-51s bearing the name "Barbara". [1]

Later life

After leaving military service, he worked as a lecturer and adjunct professor at Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, Rollins College and University of Central Florida. He later worked as an executive vice president of Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company in Wisconsin. After his retirement in 1975, he resided at Winter Park, Florida. [5] He was an Episcopalian. [6]

He died on March 17, 1989, and was buried at Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles, Louisiana. [2]

Aerial victory credits

Date#TypeLocationAircraft flownUnit Assigned
June 21, 19441 Messerschmitt Bf 109 Magdeburg, Germany P-51B Mustang 357 FS, 355 FG
July 7, 19442 Messerschmitt Bf 110 Halle, GermanyP-51B357 FS, 355 FG
August 3, 19441 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Saarburg, GermanyP-51B357 FS, 355 FG
November 26, 19441Fw 190 Gardelegen, Germany P-51D Mustang 357 FS, 355 FG
November 26, 19441Bf 109Gardelegen, GermanyP-51D357 FS, 355 FG
SOURCES: Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II

Awards and decorations

USAAF Wings.png    United States Army Air Forces pilot badge
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross with four bronze oak leaf clusters [2]
Silver oakleaf-3d.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Air Medal ribbon.svg
Air Medal with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters [2]
American Defense Service ribbon.svg American Defense Service Medal [2]
American Campaign Medal ribbon.svg American Campaign Medal [2]
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars [2]
World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg World War II Victory Medal [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Fred R. Haviland". Warbirds Resource Group. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Fred R. Haviland Jr". Veteran Tributes. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Fred R. Haviland Jr". Ciel De Gloire. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Valor Awards for Fred R. Haviland". Military Times. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Fred R. Haviland Jr., 73, 500 Osceola..." Orlando Sentinel. 1989-03-19. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ "FRED R. HAVILAND JR., 73, 500 Osceola…". Orlando Sentinel. 1989-03-19. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
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