Retires fighter ace's visit reminds 22nd AS of unit, military history

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ryan Hart
  • 22nd Airlift Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, CA. --  In 1943, J.D. Collinsworth became a fighter ace while serving in World War II. In December, the 22nd Airlift Squadron honored retired Col. Collinsworth’s place in Air Force history.

The brief ceremony unveiled a limited-edition lithograph by Roy Grinnell, celebrating Mr. Collinsworth’s achievements while serving in North Africa.

Mr. Collinsworth attended with his family and spoke briefly with the men and women of the 22nd AS.

The visit and presentation are part of an effort to highlight the squadron’s military heritage.

The lithograph depicts Mr. Collinsworth’s fourth victory, which happened south of Tunis, Algeria, May 6, 1943.

After spotting two German FW-190 fighter planes, Mr. Collinsworth’s flight lead cleared him to engage.

“I pulled up behind the number two man,” said Mr. Collinsworth. “I fired a short burst and when I did, the canopy came off the FW-190. I quit firing as I assumed he was getting ready to bail out, and sure enough, out he came.”

After he downed the enemy fighter, Mr. Collinsworth turned around to go look at him. “As I passed him, for some reason I thumbed my nose at the old boy. It seems kinda silly now, I know, but I still think it was a lot better than shooting him [in the parachute]. I’m sure he thought so, too.”

The lithograph hangs in the 22nd AS’s atrium, immediately below a battle-damaged C-5 engine cowling.

The cowling is a memento of the 22nd AS’s combat history, as the aircrew landed the airplane safely after a missile attack over Iraq in January 2004.

Also displayed are the squadron’s two Tunner Awards, given annually for the most outstanding strategic airlift crew in the Air Force.

The squadron Commander Lt. Col. John Payne hopes that these displays will serve as a reminder of the Air Force’s legacy.

“These links to the past help young Airmen appreciate the rich history of our squadron and our service,” said Colonel Payne. “The opportunity to meet and remember a living legend allows the squadron to pass our appreciation to those who have gone before us.”