Lieutenant Jack Lee
Distinguished Flying Cross / Silver Star / Air Medal
Jack Lee was born Jan 14, 1917, the youngest son of Oliver and Ollie Lee of Dog Canyon, outside Alamogordo NM. He attended grade school in Alamogordo and graduated from Alamogordo HS, where he was class president. The vice president and his closest friend was Harold Lane. Both Jack and Harold would give their life to their country in B-17s during the war. Jack then attended NMMI before entering NMAMC in the fall of 1938. In 1940 he graduated with his degree in Civil Engineering. Shortly after graduation he joined the USAAF and in December 1941 was commissioned with his pilot wings. He was assigned to the 26th Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group shortly before the outbreak of hostilities. Stationed in the south west pacific they were the initial force of heavy long range bombers sent to brunt the Japanese advance across the pacific. During the battle of the Coral Sea, Lt Lee was flying as copilot for Major Edmundson when they engaged 9 Japanese fighters in aerial combat, eliminating all. For this action Major Edmunson was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Flying out of the Solomon Islands the 26th Bomb Squadron was central to the initial allied offensive at Guadalcanal.
On November 18, 1942 Lt Lee was copilot on B-17 #41-24531 piloted by Major Sewart, commanding officer of the 26th BS, on a bombing mission over Tonolei harbor of Bougainville. Head on attacks by Japanese A6M Zero fighters killed Major Sewart and mortally wounded Lt Lee. The controls were taken over by Col “Blondie” Saunders, 11th Bomb Group Commander who was flying as observer. The plane was ditched in shallow water off Buga Island near Vella Lavella. Lt Lee was alive when placed on the life raft but died while being rowed ashore. His body was buried in the black sand near the water edge to avoid detection by passing Japanese patrols. Lt Jack Lee would receive the DFC and Silver Star for his actions to retain control of his ship after being mortally wounded. With the aid of a Coastwatcher, the remaining crew members were eventually carried to safety by natives. After the war, Lt Lee’s body was recovered and reinterred at Monte Vista Cemetery in Alamogordo. Lt Jack Lee was 25 years of age at the time of his death in defense of his nation.