George I. Ruddell

George Inkerman Ruddell
Born	(1919-01-21)21 January 1919 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Died	27 February 2015(2015-02-27) (aged 96) The Dalles, Oregon
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Army Air Forces  United States Air Force
Years of service	1941-1970
Rank	Colonel
Commands	39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron 479th Tactical Fighter Wing 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing
Battles / wars	World War II Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Soldier's Medal

Colonel George Inkerman Ruddell (21 January 1919 – 27 February 2015) was a United States Air Force officer who served in World War II, the Korean War where he achieved Flying ace status and in the Vietnam War.

Military career

He joined the United States Army Air Force in 1941 and during World War II he served in the 514th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and shot down one enemy aircraft.

In 1948, he was part of an exchange program with the United States Navy on the USS Leyte and flew the F8F Bearcat making 45 carrier landings.^[1][2]

During the Korean War he commanded the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron based at Suwon Air Base. His usual F-86 Sabre was marked as “Mig Mad Mavis”. In late 1952 Ruddell allowed United States Marine Corps aviator John F. Bolt to join the 39th as an exchange pilot, Bolt became the only Marine Corps ace of the war.^[3] On 18 May 1953 he became an ace shooting down his fifth MiG-15. He shot down a total of eight MiG-15s during the war.^[4]

He commanded the 4th Fighter Wing from 4 May 1955 to 22 August 1956.^[5]

He commanded the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing from 1 August 1959 to 19 June 1961.^[6]

In 1963 during the early stages of the Vietnam War he served as deputy to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam J-3 (Operations) advising on the expansion of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.^[7]

He commanded the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing from 1 October 1965 to 29 August 1966.^[8]

Later life

Ruddell died on 27 February 2015.

References

1. "Naval Aviation News". Naval Aviation News. February 1949. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
2. Beres, Tony (Spring 2022). "USAF Joins the Navy" (PDF). The Hook, Journal of Carrier Aviation. 50 (1): 33–35. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
3. Lorenz, William E.; Oliver, Dwight L. (1999). The Inner Seven: The History of Seven Unique American Combat 'Aces' of World War II and Korea. Nashville, Tennessee: Turner Publishing Company. pp. 17–20. ISBN 978-1-56311-504-2.
4. Thompson, Warren (2012). F-86 Sabre Aces of the 51st Fighter Wing. Osprey Publishing. p. 94. ISBN 9781782007432.
5. Maurer, Maurer (1961). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. USAF Historical Division. p. 35.
6. Chronology of the 833d Air Division, Tactical Training, Holloman, 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, 479th Tactical Training Wing, 4449th Mobility Support Squadron, from 1973 Thru 1983. Office of History, Headquarters, 833d Air Division. 1985. p. D-5-5.
7. Futrell, Robert (1981). The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia: The Advisory Years to 1965 (PDF). Office of Air Force History. p. 213. LCCN 80024547. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 July 2020.
8. Bailey, Carl E. (28 November 2007). "Factsheet 33 Fighter Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 December 2020.