Clifford Jolley

Clifford Dale Jolley (May 4, 1921 – July 13, 1995) was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force and the first Air National Guard pilot to become a flying ace during the Korean War.

Early life Jolley was born on May 4, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Military career In 1941, Jolley enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. In 1942, after completion of flight training, Jolley received his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces. He was then assigned as a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and Lockheed P-38 Lightning pilot with the 18th Fighter Squadron of the 343rd Fighter Group in Alaska, where he flew combat missions in the Aleutian Islands campaign during World War II.

Upon his return home after completion of his combat duty, Jolley served as an airplane mechanic and flight instructor in California. He briefly served in the California Air National Guard, where he completed his training in jet aircraft and served as gunnery instructor. In 1948, he began flying the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars and North American F-86 Sabres. He then moved to Utah, where he joined the Utah Air National Guard in 1949. He toured with Utah Air National Guard in air demonstrations across the United States until 1952, when the Utah Air National Guard was activated for the Korean War.

Jolley continued to fly further missions after his rescue. On August 7, Jolley downed two MiG-15s in a single mission and on the following day, during aerial patrol over MiG Alley, he shot down his fifth MiG-15, becoming the 18th American jet ace of the Korean War and the first from the National Guard. On September 15 and October 11, Jolley shot down his sixth and seventh MiG-15s, his final aerial victories.

Post war After his service in Korea, Jolley became the operations officer for the 191st Fighter Squadron in the Utah National Guard. He later became a test pilot for Northrop Corporation. His flying career came to an end after he was diagnosed with diabetes at the age 33. Jolley remained in the Air National Guard until 1966, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Following his military career, Jolley worked as an architect and designer. Later he owned a construction company, worked as a director of design for Boise Cascade and for the architecture department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Awards

USAF Command Pilot Badge Silver Star Distinguished Flying Crosswith three bronze oak leaf clusters Purple HeartAir Medalwith two bronze oak leaf clusters American Campaign MedalAsiatic–Pacific Campaign Medalwith bronze campaign starWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service MedalKorean Service Medalwith bronze campaign starAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith three bronze oak leaf clustersArmed Forces Reserve Medalwith bronze hourglass deviceRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationUnited Nations Service Medal for KoreaKorean War Service Medal

Silver Star citation

Jolley, Clifford D. Captain, U.S. Air Force 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Fifth Air Force Date of Action: July 4, 1952

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