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First Name: Jack

Last Name: Weatherby

Birthplace: Fort Worth, TX, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Air Force (1947 - present)



Home of Record: Fort Worth, TX
Middle Name: Wilton



Date of Birth: 07 August 1935

Date of Death: 29 July 1965

Rank: Captain

Years Served: 1955 - 1965
Jack Wilton Weatherby

   
Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)

Biography:

Jack Wilton Weatherby
Captain, U.S. Air Force

Jack Wilton Weatherby entered the Aviation Cadet Program in April 1956. Upon completion of flight training at Luke AFB, AZ, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and awarded the rating of Pilot in April 1957.

On 29 July 1965, Captain Jack Wilton Weatherby was serving as Pilot of an RF-101C Voodoo aircraft of the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, during the Vietnam War.

On that date, Capt Weatherby voluntarily flew an unarmed aircraft at extremely low altitude deep into heavily-defended hostile territory in North Vietnam to photograph a target of vital significance to the U.S. Air Force and Republic of Vietnam Air Force. As Capt Weatherby approached the target area, his aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. Ignoring his personal safety, Capt Weatherby elected to press on to the target until his badly damaged aircraft exploded and crashed. Capt Weatherby's extraordinary heroism and superb airmanship that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Air Force's second highest award for valor, the Air Force Cross.

Capt Weatherby was listed as Missing in Action and then presumed Killed in Action until his remains were recovered, identified and returned to the United States on 28 August 1978.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Force Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Combat Readiness Medal
Army Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star
Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star
Air Force Longevity Service Award with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Force Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Air Force Pilot Badge

Air Force Cross Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, United States Code, takes pride in presenting the Air Force Cross (Posthumously) to Captain Jack Wilton Weatherby, United States Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as Pilot of an RF-101 aircraft of the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, in action over North Vietnam on 29 July 1965. On that date, Captain Weatherby voluntarily flew an unarmed aircraft at extremely low altitude deep into hostile territory which was heavily defended, to photograph a target of vital significance to the United States Air Force and Republic of Vietnam Air Force. As he approached the target area, his aircraft was severely damaged by accurate ground fire. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Captain Weatherby elected to press on to the target until his badly damaged aircraft exploded and crashed. Captain Weatherby's courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the American fighting man under attack by an opposing armed force. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, and aggressiveness in the face of hostile forces, Captain Weatherby reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

Honors

The name Jack W Weatherby is located on Panel 2E Line 45 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Burial

Captain Jack Wilton Weatherby is buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Bexar County, TX, in Section 3, Site 1004.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14659463/jack-wilton-weatherby



Honoree ID: 284670   Created by: MHOH

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