WWII hero, wing supporter dies

  • Published
  • By Capt. Candice Allen
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  A WWII hero and long-time wing supporter passed away recently at the age of 93.
Lt. Col. (ret.) Jack Rice, a fighter pilot who escorted bombers during WWII with the 506th Fighter Group over Iwo Jima, Japan, died July 19, 2015.

After joining the Army Air Corps, Rice began his training in 1943 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. During his 32-year Air Force career, Rice flew 27 different aircraft.

"I flew the four different models of the P-47 Thunderbolt," said Rice during a 2014 interview. "So, I guess when you add it up, I flew 27 different kinds."

Rice flew in the P-39 Airacobra, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, T-6 Texan and L-1 Vigilant.

But, he said the best aircraft he flew was the P-51 by far. He has at least 500 flying hours in the P-51 alone.

With a rich legacy as a fighter pilot, the 301st Fighter Wing commanders over the past five years invited the hero to their events. The invitation is in large part to Rice's connection with the 457th Fighter Squadron as the unit was assigned to the 506th Fighter Group during the WWII campaign. 

Last year, Rice attended the 301FW's annual Family Day, which coincidentally coincided with the wing and fighter squadrons' 70th anniversaries. Pilots from the fighter squadron performed a two-ship formation flight with their former aircraft, the P-51, and the current F-16 Fighting Falcon. Rice attended this historic event and even stood in formation in the squadron photo with a P-51 and F-16 within the backdrop. That year would be the final time the WWII pilot came to the wing.

Though Rice was never assigned to the 301 FW, Airmen here will always remember him and the legacy he left behind.