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    HistoryUpdated Aug 25, 2009 6:42 PM by REDWARDS…

    John Voll Goshen WWII Fighter Ace

    CAPTAIN JOHN VOLL


    John Voll a Goshen resident remains one of the United States top fighter Aces.

    Captain Voll flies lead in this formation of Mustangs over Italy in 1944

    Captain Voll flew Mustangs with the 308th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force. John Voll was the third highest scoring Mustang ace of the war, and the top U.S.A.A.F. ace of the MTO, with 21 victories. He graduated from pilot training on Jan. 7, 1944 and joined the 308th FS, 31st FG in May of 1944, his first mission was as a bomber escort over Italy. He opened his score on June 23 on a mission over Ploesti.

    As Lieutenant Voll arrived in Italy in the spring of 1944, the veteran pilots of the 31 FG were skeptically transitioning from their beloved British Spitfires to the North American P-51B. Voll, a 21-year-old rookie, would combine his skills with the capabilities of the P-51 to convince the veterans that the new Mustang was a superior fighter. He scored his fifth victory in July 1944, and left the theater just 4 months later with 21 confirmed kills, 3 probables, and 4 damaged enemy aircraft to his credit.

    ~06-23-44 Ploesti, Romania- FW-190, first victory ( The images below each kill are the types of aircraft destroyed )

    ~06-26-44 Vienna, Austria- Escort mission- 30 Me 210's and 30 Bf-109's attacked the B-24's. Voll responded by downing an Me-210 and an Bf-109.


    ~ 06-27-44 Budapest, Hungary- Escort mission- Bf-109 Victory


    ~07-02-44 Budapest, Hungary- Escort mission- Bf-109 Victory


    ~07-18-44 Memmingem Aerodrome- FW-190 Victory


    ~ 08-17-44 Ploesti Romania-While escorting B-24s on a bombing mission against the Ploesti oil refineries on 17 August 1944, a squadron mate of Lieutenant Voll was forced to bail out near the Danube River. After covering his friend until he safely reached the ground, Voll pulled away from the crash site and spotted three Me-109s. The Fierce air battle that ensued became "sweet revenge" for Lieutenant Voll. With a tally of two enemy fighters destroyed and one probable, he more than evened the score for his downed friend. These two victories, his last in the P-51B, brought VollÂ’s total to eight confirmed enemy kills

    ~ 08-25-44 Czechoslovakia- Escort mission- Fi-156 Storch, 1 damaged, 1 destroyed


    ~ 08-29-44 Czechoslovakia- Escort mission- FW-190 Victory


    ~ 08-31-44 Czechoslovakia- Escort mission- (2) Ju 52 transports Italy-Macchi 202


    ~ 10-17-44 Blechhammer, Germany- Escort mission- Voll aborted because of engine trouble. On return home, he saw (6) Bf-109's and attacked. He dove through them at 15,000' firing and headed for the deck. While pursuing him, 2 of the Bf-109's collided with each other and went down. Once back at altitude, Voll spotted a Do-217 5,000' below. He slipped in behind and destroyed it.


    ~11-06-44 Vienna, Austria- Bf-109 Victory


    ~11-16-44 Northern Italy- Flying a P-51D named "American Beauty," his final victories occurred during a spectacular, individual effort. While leading an escort mission to Munich on 16 November 1944, Captain Voll experienced electrical problems and left the formation. As he returned alone, he spotted a single Ju-88 over Udine, Italy. Chasing the German aircraft as it attempted to return to its base, Voll was suddenly jumped by 12 Me-109s and FW-190s. He quickly dispatched the Ju-88 and turned into the enemy fighters. In a swirling, 5-minute battle, John Voll destroyed two FW-190s, one Me-109, had two probables, and two damaged--an impressive feat of courage and stamina. When his commander learned of Captain VollÂ’s exploits, he decided that time was against Voll and made it his last combat mission.


    ( I have somehow failed to account for one of Captain VollÂ’s victories I am working to correct the error )

    Flying only 57 combat missions in 7 months, John Voll became the highest scoring ace in the Fifteenth Air Force during World War II.

    After leaving the Mediterranean Theater of Operations Captain Voll was sent to China as a headquarters staff officer in the Chinese-American Composite Wing. When the war ended, he was discharged from the military.

    Captain Voll returned to Goshen where he taught in the Goshen School System for two years.

    He was, however, recalled to active duty in October 1948. Voll continued his military service primarily in the Tactical Air Command, but he also served in the Korean War, and in 1968 he was the Chief of Tactical Plans for the Seventh Air Force in Vietnam. Voll was instrumental in implementing Opperation "Rolling Thunder" in Vietnam. Colonel Voll was Base Commander of McClellan AFB, California, when he retired in 1974.


    Captain Voll flying his P-51D Mustang over Italy. Voll is in the rear Mustang.

    Captain Voll In Italy during 1944 and a picture of his plane "American Beauty / Lovely Lila" with his crew chief Bob Hendery


    THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN BEAUTY

    AMERICAN BEAUTY
    P-51D Mustang N151MC

    American Beauty was built as a P-51D - 25NA Mustang that left the Inglewood, California production line in 1944. Upon leaving the American military service, this aircraft was transferred to the Bolivian Air Force, where it served as a front line fighter. In the late 1960's it was sent to Cavalier Aircraft Corporation in Sarasota, Florida for conversion to the Mk. II Mustang standards. After a complete overhaul and upgrade package, the aircraft was returned to the Bolivian service in 1968. After an uneventful peacekeeping career, the aircraft was purchased by Arnie Carnegie in 1977 and soon afterwards ownership passed on to Ross Grady, who registered the Mustang in the Canadian registry as C-GMUS. After 20 years of ownership, Gardner Capital purchased the aircraft in 1998 and immediately started having it disassembled and a complete restoration began by Fort Wayne Air Service in Fort Wayne, IN. After approximately three years, and thousands of man hours, this Mustang "American Beauty", was restored to tribute Captain John J. Voll and the entire 31st Fighter Group. It wears the authentic paint scheme of the 308th Fighter Squadron, and Fifteenth Air Force with the red spinner and narrow red nose band, and red striped tail which made these Mustangs distinctive!


    Above Images of Captain Voll’s P-51D Mustang “American Beauty / Lovely Lila” as she appears today restored to her original glory. Below a picture inside the wing gun bay showing 3 of 6 Browning 50 cal. machine guns which gave the Mustang its tremendous fire power.

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