Joseph J. Kruzel

Joseph John Kruzel (February 17, 1918 – July 10, 2002) was a United States Air Force major general and a flying ace during World War II.

Early life Kruzel was born on 1918 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He attended Scranton University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1938 and bachelor's degree in education in 1939.

Military career On May 13, 1940, he joined the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps and was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field in Texas, on December 20, 1940.

On February 17, 1942, flying P-40s, Kruzel scored his first aerial victory when he shot down a Nakajima Ki-27 over Palembang. From February 19 to February 20, 1942, he shot down two A6M Zeroes. In March 1942, he joined the 9th Fighter Squadron in Australia and flew combat missions until returning to the U.S. in December 1942. He was promoted to captain on April 1, 1942, and logged over 175 combat hours.

After his return to the United States, he was promoted to major on July 23, 1943, and assigned as commander of the 323d Fighter Squadron at Richmond Army Air Base in Virginia. Kruzel became Executive Officer of the 361st Fighter Group in March 1943. In November 1943, the group was deployed to England, where it was stationed at RAF Bottisham and received the P-47 Thunderbolts. The 361st FG began flying combat missions on January 21, 1944, and on February 22, Kruzel scored his first aerial victory over Europe and his fourth overall, when he shot down a Focke-Wulf Fw 190. He scored a shared aerial victory on April 29 and in May 1944, the 361st FG converted to P-51 Mustangs.

Kruzel became a flying ace on June 13, when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109, his fifth aerial victory. He shot down a Fw 190 on June 25, his sixth and final aerial victory.

During World War II, Kruzel was credited with the destruction of 6.5 enemy aircraft with 1 damaged in the air and 1 shared destruction. While serving with the 361st FG, he flew P-51s bearing the name "Vi".

Later life Kruzel died on July 10, 2002, at the age of 84. After memorial services held for him at West Chapel in Eglin Air Force Base, he was buried with full military honors alongside his first wife and son at Arlington National Cemetery. Silver Star with two bronze oak leaf clusters Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze oak leaf cluster Bronze Star Medal Air Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze oak leaf clusters American Defense Service Medal with service star American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three bronze campaign stars European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze campaign stars World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with 'Japan' clasp National Defense Service Medal with service star Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver and bronze oak leaf clusters Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon