Bud Mahurin

Walker Melville Mahurin
Colonel Walker Mahurin in July 1953
Nickname(s)	"Bud"
Born	(1918-12-05)December 5, 1918 Benton Harbor, Michigan,U.S.
Died	May 11, 2010(2010-05-11)(aged 91) Newport Beach, California,U.S.
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/ branch	United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force
Years of service	1941–1956
Rank	Colonel
Unit	56th Fighter Group 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing
Commands	3rd Air Commando Group 1st Fighter Group 4th Fighter-Interceptor Group 27th Air Division
Battles / wars	World War II Korean War
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross(8) Purple Heart Air Medal(7)

ColonelWalker Melville"Bud"Mahurin(December 5, 1918 – May 11, 2010) was aUnited States Air Forceofficer and aviator.DuringWorld War II,while serving in theUnited States Army Air Forces,he was aflying ace.

Mahurin was the first American pilot to become a double ace in theEuropean Theater.He was the onlyUnited States Air Forcepilot to shoot down enemy planes in both the European andPacific Theatersand theKorean War.During World War II he was credited with 20.75 aerial victories, making him the sixth-highest American P-47 ace. He was credited with shooting down 3.5MiG-15sin Korea, giving him a total of 24.25 aircraft destroyed in aerial combat.

Early life

Born inBenton Harbor, Michigan,Mahurin joined theUnited States Army Air Forcesas an aviation cadet on September 29, 1941, after several years as an engineering student atPurdue University.He graduated from pilot training on April 29, 1942.

World War II

Captain Mahurin of the 56th Fighter Group standing on the port wing of his P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, conversing with its crew chief, Staff Sergeant John E. Barnes

Mahurin was assigned to the63d Fighter Squadron,56th Fighter Group,and deployed to England with them in January 1943. Based atHalesworth,England,then-Captain Mahurin became a flight leader in the 63rd FS and began flying missions in May 1943. His first plane was P-47C-5-RE serial number 41-6334, that bore the squadron code UN:M.

The first aircraft he downed was unfortunately his own P-47 fighter. On a mission on August 12, 1943, he decided to inch closer and closer to within feet of aB-24bomber that was nearby. He was caught in the B-24's prop wash and sucked under its wing, and when he tried to pull away, the tail and fuselage of his airplane was shredded by one of the B-24's propellers, forcing him to bail out. The B-24 had to crash-land.

On August 17, 1943, he scored his first aerial victories while flying a temporary replacement plane, P-47C-2-RE 41-6259, coded UN:V(normally assigned to Capt. Glen Schiltz) by shooting down a pair of GermanFocke-WulfFw 190swhile escortingB-17 bombersas part of theSchweinfurt-Regensburg mission.One of these fighters was flown byMajorWilhelm "Wutz" Galland,Gruppenkommandeurof II/JG 26,and an ace with some 55 claims to his credit. The next plane that Mahurin received was the third P-47 of his career, and one that would become his primary aircraft; P-47D-5-RE 42-8487. It again bore the squadron codes UN:M and was nicknamedThe Spirit ofAtlantic City,N.J.(The aircraft had been "bought" courtesy of war bonds purchased (to a value approximately equivalent to the cost of a fighter) by the citizens of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Consequently, the name painted on the aircraft was chosen by Atlantic City.) Mahurin became an ace on October 4 after shooting down threeMesserschmittBf 110s.Mahurin had his best mission on November 26, 1943, shooting down three Bf 110s, presumably shooting down another, and damaging a fourth to become the first American pilot in the European Theater of Operations to score 10 aerial victories. Mahurin scored two more victories in another aircraft, (P-47D-11-RE 42-75278, coded UN:B) on November 29, 1943. On March 8, 1944, he destroyed three Fw 190s. He eventually went on to score 19.75 confirmed victories in combat in Europe, with three more enemy planes probably destroyed, and one damaged, before being shot down himself.

Mahurin was promoted tomajoron March 21, 1944. On March 27, his P-47 was heavily damaged by aGermanDornierDo 217bomber he helped shoot down, forcing him to bail out. He was picked up byFrench Resistanceforces. On the night of 3–4 May 1944, an RAFWestland Lysanderattempted to retrieve Mahurin from France and fly him back to Britain. Before he could be picked up, the aircraft was shot down, and its pilot killed. The event was watched by Mahurin. The next attempt, again by a Lysander, on the night of May 6–7, was successful.Because of his knowledge of the French Resistance, he was grounded and sent home.

In October, he again shipped overseas as commander of the 3rd Fighter Squadron, the combat element of the composite 3rd Air Commando Group in thePhilippines.While based atMangaldan,Luzon,in January 1945 he was credited with destroying a Japanese bomber while flying aP-51 Mustang.Mahurin was promoted tolieutenant colonelon May 28, 1945, and became commander of the 3rd Air Commando Group in September 1945. He was downed by defensive fire, this time from the ground, but was rescued from his life-raft in the ocean. He ended the war with 20.75 confirmed aerial victories and he had the unique distinction of being forced to bail out in both theaters.

Korean War

At the start of the Korean War in 1950, Mahurin was serving in the Office of theSecretary of the Air Force.In July 1951, he became commander of the1st Fighter Group,training in theNorth AmericanF-86 Sabre.In December, he began a 90-day tour of temporary duty with the51st Fighter-Interceptor WingatSuwon Air Base,serving as special assistant to the wing commander, ColonelFrancis S. Gabreski.

Col. Mahurin helped Gabreski develop tactics and solve logistics problems. He was credited with destroying 3.5MiG-15swhile TDY with 51st FIW, bringing his total to 24.25 in both World War II and Korea.Mahurin transferred to the4th Fighter-Interceptor Wingon March 18, 1952, to command its4th Fighter-Interceptor GroupatKimpo AB.

He flew a F-86E named "Honest John" while serving with both fighter wings in Korea.

Prisoner of war

On May 13, 1952, while strafing a truck, his F-86 was shot down byNorth Koreanground fire and after crash-landing and breaking his arm, he was captured by enemy forces.Mahurin spent 16 months in a North Koreanprisoner of war(POW) camp.

During his time as a prisoner of war, he was confined to a small cell, fed only enough water and food to keep him alive, and subjected tobrainwashing.He was forced to endure sub-freezing conditions with minimal clothing, interrogations sometimes lasting all night, and being deprived of sleep and threatened with execution if he did not answer questions.

The North Koreans were adamant that he sign a confession that he and theUS had waged germ warfare.After weeks of psychological and physical torture, Col. Mahurin, believing he was losing control, attempted suicide. He was discovered before he was able to complete the act and barely survived a tremendous loss of blood.

The interrogators finally gave up, to be replaced by a well-educated Chinese officer who spoke fluent English, brought Mahurin books, arranged for better food, and generally improved his conditions. Eventually, the Chinese officer's real purpose emerged – to get aconfession of germ warfareby persuasion rather than threats.

He reminded Mahurin that the allies did not know he was a prisoner of war, so he could be held until his death, never to see his wife and children again. Bud Mahurin, at last, agreed to write a "confession." Unknown to him, the war had already ended.

His experience in enduring brainwashing techniques provided the U.S. with invaluable material to develop survival training courses. Nevertheless, he and other returning prisoners of war were condemned bySenatorRichard Russell, Jr.and others because of their confessions. He was subsequently promoted to full colonel.

Civilian life

After his release, Colonel Mahurin was assigned as vice commander of the27th Air Division.Because of his position on the promotion list, it seemed unlikely that he would be promoted to full colonel and be considered for a star and a higher command in his remaining years of service. He therefore resigned his commission in 1956 to accept a senior position with the aircraft industry. Later he joined the Air Force Reserve, subsequently retiring as a Colonel.While the Air Force attributed this to his own choice, stating he was low on the promotion list to colonel and unlikely to make general, a pilot under his command in Korea, Robert Smith, asserts that the Air Force dishonored itself by pressuring Mahurin to resign from the service as a result of political infighting over the confessions, four years short of becoming eligible for retirement benefits.

Mahurin died of "complications from a stroke"at his home inNewport Beach, California,on May 11, 2010, and is buried atArlington National Cemetery.

He married twice. His first marriage, to Patricia (née Sweet), ended in a divorce. His second wife was Joan (née Gill). He had two sons and a daughter from his first marriage.

Aerial combat credits

Chronicle of aerial victories
Date	#	Type	Location	Aircraft flown	Unit Assigned
August 17, 1943	2	Fw 190	Liège,Belgium	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
September 9, 1943	1	Fw 190	Beauvais,France	P-47D	63 FS, 56FG
October 4, 1943	3	Bf 110	Düren,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
November 3, 1943	0.5	Bf 109	Esens,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
November 3, 1943	1	Bf 110	Juist,East Frisian Islands	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
November 26, 1943	2	Bf 110	Oldenburg,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
November 29, 1943	2	Bf 109	Papenburg,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
December 22, 1943	2	Bf 109	Hesepe,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
January 30, 1944	1.1	Ju 88	Quakenbrück,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
February 3, 1944	1	Bf 109	Rühlertwist,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
March 6, 1944	1.1	Fw 190	Wesendorf,Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
March 8, 1944	3	Fw 190	Wesendorf, Germany	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
March 27, 1944	0.25	Do 217	Chartres,France	P-47D	63 FS, 56 FG
January 14, 1945	1	Ki-46 Dinah	Luzon,Philippines	P-51D	3 FS, 3 ACG
January 6, 1952	1	MiG-15	North Korea	North American F-86E Sabre	51 FIW
February 17, 1952	1	MiG-15	North Korea	F-86E	25 FIS, 51 FIW
March 10, 1952	1	MiG-15	North Korea	F-86E	25 FIS, 51 FIW

SOURCES:Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War IIandAir Force Historical Study 81: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, Korean War,Freeman,The Mighty Eighth

Awards and decorations

Mahurin in Korea

Command pilot

	Distinguished Service Cross
	Silver Star
	Distinguished Flying Crosswith silver and two bronzeoak leaf clusters
	Purple Heart
	Air Medalwith silver and bronze oak leaf clusters
	Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
	Prisoner of War Medal
	American Defense Service Medal
	American Campaign Medal
	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith four bronzecampaign stars
	European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medalwith two bronze campaign stars
	World War II Victory Medal
	Army of Occupation Medalwith 'Japan' clasp
	National Defense Service Medalwith one bronzeservice star
	Korean War Service Medalwith two bronze campaign stars

Air Force Longevity Service Awardwith silver and bronze oak leaf clusters

Philippine Liberation Medal

Philippine Independence Medal

Armed Forces Reserve Medalwith silverhourglass device

Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)

Croix de Guerrewith Palm (France)

Croix de Guerre,with Palm (Belgium)

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation

United Nations Service Medal

Korean War Service Medal

Distinguished Service Cross citation

Mahurin, Walker

Captain, U.S Army Air Corps

63d Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force

Date of Action: October 4, 1943

Headquarters, European Theater of Operations: General Orders No. 96 (December 16, 1943)

Citation:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished SERVICE Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Walker M. Mahurin, United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a P-47 Fighter Airplane in the 63d Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, EIGHTH Air Force, over enemy occupied continental Europe on 4 October 1943, while serving as flight leader on a mission escorting withdrawing bombers. Though confronted with superior numbers of enemy aircraft and at a disadvantage because of altitude, he vigorously and aggressively attacked the enemy, destroying two planes and assisted in the dispersal of the enemy formation. Immediately thereafter Captain Mahurin chased an enemy fighter far into Germany, where he destroyed it. The heroism displayed by Captain Mahurin on this occasion reflects the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.

References

• Frisbee, John. "Honest John",Air Force Magazine,February 1997
• Layton, Andrew.Wolverines in the Sky: Michigan's Fighter Aces of WWI, WWII and Korea(2005), Virtualbookworm Publishing.
• Scutts, Jerry.P-47 Aces of the Eighth Air Force(1998), Osprey Publishing
• Dorr, Robert F., Davey, Chris.Korean War Aces(1994), Osprey Publishing