Foss, Joseph J.
Joe Foss “the Flying Marine” was truly a Proud American! Born near Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1915, he graduated from the University of South Dakota. He soon joined the Marine Corps, became a Naval Aviator and received his commission in March 1941. After a tour as an instructor at NAS Pensacola, Florida, he joined Marine Fighter Squadron (VMF) 121. In late 1942, VMF-121 shipped out to Guadalcanal, where Foss, in less than three months of combat, flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat, tied Rickenbackers World War I record of 26 aerial victories.
For his extraordinary combat record, on 18 May 1943, he received the Medal of Honor from President Roosevelt in the White House and was featured on the cover of the 7 June 1943 issue of Life magazine. In 1944, he returned to combat in the south Pacific for the Bougainville and Emirau campaigns. He commanded VMF-115 while flying the Vought F4U Corsair. After World War II, he resigned from the Marine Corps Reserve and accepted a commission as a lieutenant colonel in the South Dakota National Guard. In 1946, he formed and commanded an Air National Guard (ANG) unit that would become the 175th Fighter Squadron equipped with the North American P-51 Mustang.
Elected in 1948, he served two terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives. During the Korean War, Foss was called to active duty. He became Director of Operations and Training at the Central Air Defense Command, which covered a 20-state area. In 1952, the 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), returned to State control and Foss became Chief of Staff for the South Dakota ANG. In 1954, Foss was promoted to Brigadier General and the 175th FIS converted to jets, flying the Lockheed F-94 Starfire. Still a gung-ho fighter pilot, he was elected Governor of South Dakota in 1954 and reelected in 1956.
From 1956 to 1961, he served as President of the National Society of Crippled Children and Adults. From 1960 to 1966, he was Commissioner of the newly established American Football League. Foss has had a lifetime full of service and accolades in many fields. He was a member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton, Ohio and the author of two books, “Joe Foss, Flying Marine”, and “A Proud American: The Autobiography of Joe Foss.”
Gen Foss was first selected as an Eagle by Air Command and Staff College’s Gather of Eagles in 1982 and subsequently honored in 1985, 1990, 1997, 2000, and 2002 respectively. Gen Foss passed away on January 1, 2003 and was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery at the age of 87.
Years Honored: 1982, 1985, 1990, 1997, 2000, 2002
Aircraft/Specialty: F-94 Starfire, Grumman F4F Wildcat, Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat, Grumman J2F Duck
Lithograph Setting(s):
The painting shows General Foss in his F4F Wildcat shooting down a Japanese Zero over Guadalcanal. In the 63 days that General Foss shot down 26 enemy aircraft, he was forced to make three dead-stick landings on Henderson Field and was himself shot down over the island of Malaila.
All but three of Joe Foss' 26 kills came in the incredibly short span of 42 days. On 23 October 1942, he bagged four Japanese Zeros, a 1-day tally that he would surpass only 2 days later. On the morning of the 25th, Foss got his First Zero of the day when it pulled up right in front of him. Realizing his error, the enemy pilot judiciously bailed out just as Foss began to fire. He destroyed his second Zero in a head-on attack. That afternoon the Wildcats scrambled again, and Foss quickly knocked two more "Zekes" out of the sky. He then nailed his fifth aircraft of the day in the middle of the Japanese pilot's ill-timed victory roll. No one could claim that "the Flying Marine" was too old for fighters!
On 15 January 1943, while escorting dive bombers on a mission against an enemy transport and destroyer, Foss' flight of F4Fs and Army P-39 Airacobras were attacked by a flight of new square-winged Zeros. He destroyed the first Zero with a single short burst and then quickly shot down a wingman. His final kill of the day was a Zero dueling nose-to-nose with him. As the Zero descended, Foss climbed "into him" and fired a burst into the side of the cockpit as the pilot tried to turn right and away from Foss' Wildcat. The Zero crashed in flames, and this victory made Foss the second E1:E7ne ace of World War II.
During the Korean War, it became clear that the air force of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was fast becoming a nuclear threat to the continental United States as it unveiled long-range jet bombers over Moscow in the annual military parade on May Day. In June 1953, Air National Guard (ANG) squadrons began to receive jets to help counter the threat. Under Joe Foss as Chief of Staff, the South Dakota ANG received the Lockheed F-94 Starfire in July 1954. The 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron began runway alert in August!
During the Korean War, it became clear that the air force of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was fast becoming a nuclear threat to the continental United States as it unveiled long-range jet bombers over Moscow in the annual military parade on May Day. In June 1953, Air National Guard (ANG) squadrons began to receive jets to help counter the threat. Under Joe Foss as Chief of Staff, the South Dakota ANG received the Lockheed F-94 Starfire in July 1954. The 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron began runway alert in August!
All but three of Joe Foss' 26 "kills" came in the incredibly short span of 42 days. On 23 October 1942, he bagged four Japanese Zeros, a single-day tally he would surpass just 2 days later. On the morning of the 25th, Foss got his first Zero of the day when it pulled up in front of him and destroyed his second in a head-on attack. That afternoon the Wildcats scrambled again, and Foss quickly knocked two more "Zekes" out of the sky. He then nailed his fifth aircraft of the day in the middle of the Japanese pilot's ill-timed victory roll!
