Andrew J. Evans Jr.

Andrew Julius Evans Jr. (November 11, 1918 – December 25, 2001) was a United States Air Force major general and a flying ace, who was credited in destroying six enemy aircraft in aerial combat and two enemy aircraft on the ground during World War II. He also served in the Korean War, where he flew combat missions before he was shot down and taken prisoner. After his release, he flew missions during the Vietnam War before retiring in 1973.

Early life Evans was born on November 11, 1918, in Charleston, South Carolina. After graduating from Columbus High School in Columbus, Georgia, he attended The Citadel in Charleston. In 1937, he attended the United States Military Academy in West Point and graduated in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

Military career World War II

Upon graduation from West Point, Evans attended United States Army Air Corps pilot training at Randolph Field, Texas. After the completion of his flight training, he served as a P-39 Airacobra pilot in Iceland. After his return to the United States, he commanded the 533d and 448th Fighter Squadrons, flying P-47 Thunderbolts. He attended the Command and General Staff School in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, before being assigned to the 357th Fighter Group at RAF Leiston in England in the European Theater of Operations in the autumn of 1944. Flying P-51 Mustangs in aerial combat, he shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 over Magdeburg, Germany, on November 27, 1944, his first aerial victory. His biggest day came on January 14, 1945, when he shot down four Fw 190s over Berlin, Germany, with overall 57½ German fighters shot down by fighter pilots of the 357th FG. His last aerial victory of the war was a Messerschmitt Bf 109 over Gütersloh, Germany, on March 24, 1945, his sixth overall aerial victory.

Post war After Evans's return to the United States in September 1953, he became a member of the faculty at the Air War College. In January 1956, he became commander of the 414th Fighter Group at Oxnard, California, which was equipped with F-89 Scorpions. From January 1957 to September 1959, he served as vice commander of the New York Air Defense Sector at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, where he flew both F-89s and F-101 Voodoos. His next assignment was in July 1960 as commander of the 65th Air Division at Torrejon Air Base in Spain, where he flew F-102 Delta Daggers. In this position, he was responsible for conducting the joint air defense and training mission with the Spanish air defense commander.

Silver Star citation

Evans Jr., Andrew J. Colonel, U.S. Air Force 49th Fighter-Bomber Group, Fifth Air Force Date of Action: March 14, 1953

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