Harold E. Comstock
Encyclopedia
Harold Elwood “Bunny” Comstock (20 December 1920 – 3 April 2009) was a World War II fighter ace
in the 56th Fighter Group and a career fighter pilot in the United States Air Force
. After a test flight of the P-47 Thunderbolt
on 13 November 1942, Republic Aviation issued a press release on 1 December 1942, claiming that he and fellow pilot Lt. Roger Dyar had exceeded the speed of sound
.
in the Boy Scouts of America
and started flying at fifteen. After graduation from Theodore Roosevelt High School (Fresno)
, he attended Fresno State College for two years to complete the requirements to apply to the United States Army Air Corps
. On 1 October 1941, he was ordered to report to Kelly Field, Texas for aviation cadet training.
He then attended primary flying school at Sikeston, Missouri
, basic flying school at Randolph AFB
and he graduated from advanced flying school at Foster Field, Texas on 3 July 1942. He received his commission and pilot wings and then returned to Fresno, California
to marry Barbara L. Joint. He reported for duty with the 56th Fighter Group at Bridgeport, Connecticut on 20 July 1942. His wife gave him the nickname “Bunny Nose” and when the other pilots found out, the nickname of “Bunny” stayed with him.
, questioned Lt. Comstock at length and made numerous calculations. Republic Aviation soon issued a press release claiming that Lts. Comstock and Dyar had exceeded the speed of sound
. This was picked up in the national media and also drawn in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
. Soon after the press release, the 56th Fighter Group received a telegram from Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold that “there would be no more discussion about the dive”. The actual speed attained was probably less than the speed of sound but this speed which caused the flight controls to lock up was referred to as “compressibility”. This effect was encountered by many pilots flying in combat but training and proper procedures allowed them to recover from it. In 1959, the Air Force published "A Chronology of American Aerospace Events" and included an entry for 15 November 1942 which stated "Lts. Harold Comstock and Roger Dyar set a new speed record for airplanes when they power-dived their P-47 fighters at 725 mph from 35,000 feet over an east coast air base." While the Air Force acknowledged the speed of 725 miles per hour, it is not known whether the P-47 could actually exceed the speed of sound in a dive. Capt. Roger Dyar was killed in action on 26 June 1943.
, and flew their first operational mission on 13 April 1943. Lieutenant Comstock was promoted to 1st Lt on 29 May 1943 and got his first aerial victory on 17 August 1943, when he shot down an Me-109. He had additional confirmed victories on 4 October 1943, and 26 November 1943. After a long engagement with enemy aircraft on 3 February 1944, he did not have enough fuel to make it to a runway and was injured in a crash landing near Halesworth, England
. He was promoted to Captain on 12 March 1944 and following recovery from his crash landing, he returned to flying combat missions. He returned to the U.S. for thirty days of leave in late May following completion of his first combat tour. After he returned to the 56th Fighter Group for a second combat tour, he took command of the 63d Fighter Squadron
on 19 July 1944. He was promoted to Major
on 17 September 1944. In support of Operation Market Garden
, Major Comstock led the 56th Fighter Group on a disastrous mission that had been ordered to go “at all costs” to provide flak suppression.
Numerous anti-aircraft batteries were destroyed and the 56th Fighter Group received a Presidential Unit Citation
for this mission but 16 of 39 planes were lost and 15 of the returning aircraft were damaged.
His last two victories were on 23 December 1944. After two combat tours and 136 missions, he returned to the U.S. in January, 1945.
Following World War II, Major Comstock had the following assignments:
April 1945 – July 1945 Peterson Field
, Colorado Springs, Colorado – Standardization/Evaluation pilot, 72nd Fighter Wing.
July 1945 - October 1945 La Junta, Colorado
Commander, 10th Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group.
October 1945 - August 1946 Headquarters, United States Air Force, the The Pentagon
. Assigned to the Manpower Branch.
August 1946 - January 1947 P-51 Mustang
Acrobatic Team Leader, Hamilton Air Force Base
, Novato, California.
January 1947 - June 1947 Plans Branch, Hamilton Air Force Base
, Novato, California.
June 1947 - July 1949 Chief of Training, 13th Air Force and 2d Air Division, and Pilot, 301st Fighter Wing
, Kadena Air Base
, Okinawa.
July 1949 – November 1950 Williams Air Force Base
, Chandler, Arizona – Squadron Commander of the Jet Training Squadron, Instructor Pilot
November 1950 – August 1953 Florennes Air Base
, Belgium – Liaison duty and advisor to the Belgian Air Force
where he flew the F-84F Thunderstreak
.
September 1953 – October 1954 England Air Force Base
, Alexandria, Louisiana – Commander of the 390th Fighter Squadron
where he again flew the F-84F Thunderstreak
and then the F-86 Sabre
. Promoted to LtCol 0n 14 April 1954.
November 1954 - August 1956 England Air Force Base
, Alexandria, Louisiana – Assumed command of the 389th Fighter Squadron
following the death of LtCol John B. England
.
August 1956 – August 1957 Maxwell Air Force Base
, Montgomery, Alabama – Attended the Air War College
August 1957 – June 1960 Newport, Rhode Island
, – Instructor at the Naval War College
June 1960 – June 1963 Camp Smith, Hawaii – Director of Reconnaissance CINCPAC. Responsible for all reconnaissance in the "western" half of the world. Completed his B.S. in Psychology at the University of Hawaii
.
July 1963 – June 1966 Cannon Air Force Base
, Clovis, New Mexico – Commander of the 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron
.
July 1966 – July 1969 Hickam Air Force Base
, Hawaii – Promoted to Colonel
. Director of Counter Offensive Operations for PACAF until 1968 and then Director of Training for Pacific Air Forces.
July 1969 – September 1971 Bergstrom Air Force Base
, Austin, Texas – Commander, 602nd Tactical Air Control Group.
30 September 1971 - Retired after thirty years of service.
While assigned to Cannon AFB, Lt. Col Comstock commanded the 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron
which was deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base
, Vietnam, in June, 1965. On this tour, Comstock completed 132 combat missions and the squadron flew numerous combat sorties in support of the besieged troops at Plei Me
and the Battle of Ia Drang Valley. On 15 November 1965, Comstock was flying the second of two F-100 Super Sabre
jets that approached Landing Zone X-Ray with instructions to drop napalm. The napalm from the first aircraft landed too close to American lines and resulted in American casualties. Comstock was about to release his load of napalm on the assigned area when a quick call instructed him to break off. If he had dropped the napalm on the target as instructed, it would have killed Hal Moore
, Joe Galloway, Basil Plumley, and numerous other soldiers of the 7th Cavalry.
This battle, in the Ia Drang Valley, is detailed in the book and movie We Were Soldiers Once...And Young.
During the Spring of 1968, he had another tour in Vietnam as the 7th ABCCC
“Cricket” commander and directed numerous missions in support of the Battle of Khe Sanh
.
. Harold took an active interest in genealogy and became a member of the Mayflower Society. He was also a Freemason
and a Shriner. Harold Comstock died on 3 April 2009.
Command pilot
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
in the 56th Fighter Group and a career fighter pilot in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. After a test flight of the P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
on 13 November 1942, Republic Aviation issued a press release on 1 December 1942, claiming that he and fellow pilot Lt. Roger Dyar had exceeded the speed of sound
Speed of sound
The speed of sound is the distance travelled during a unit of time by a sound wave propagating through an elastic medium. In dry air at , the speed of sound is . This is , or about one kilometer in three seconds or approximately one mile in five seconds....
.
Biography
Harold Comstock was the eldest son of Clinton E. Comstock and Millie L. Daw. He was an Eagle ScoutEagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
in the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and started flying at fifteen. After graduation from Theodore Roosevelt High School (Fresno)
Theodore Roosevelt High School (Fresno)
Theodore Roosevelt High School , is located in Fresno, California. It is a high school established within the Fresno Unified School District. The high school mascot is the Rough Rider named after the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Theodore Roosevelt organized and helped command during the...
, he attended Fresno State College for two years to complete the requirements to apply to the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
. On 1 October 1941, he was ordered to report to Kelly Field, Texas for aviation cadet training.
He then attended primary flying school at Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston, Missouri
Sikeston is a city located both in southern Scott County and northern New Madrid County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It is geographically situated just north of the "Missouri Bootheel", although many locals consider Sikeston a part of it. By way of Interstate 55, Sikeston is close to the...
, basic flying school at Randolph AFB
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
and he graduated from advanced flying school at Foster Field, Texas on 3 July 1942. He received his commission and pilot wings and then returned to Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
to marry Barbara L. Joint. He reported for duty with the 56th Fighter Group at Bridgeport, Connecticut on 20 July 1942. His wife gave him the nickname “Bunny Nose” and when the other pilots found out, the nickname of “Bunny” stayed with him.
The Dive
Because of the need to manufacture airplanes quickly and the close proximity to the Republic Aviation factory, active duty pilots were used for some of the test flights of the new P-47. On 13 November 1942, Lts. Comstock and Dyar were ordered to test a new type of radio antenna on the P-47C. Lt. Comstock climbed to an indicated altitude of 49,600 feet (15,118 meters) while trying to reach 50,000 feet. Due to poor response from the controls, he decided to let the aircraft fall off rather than risk a spin. He started to dive straight down and after passing below 40,000 feet he found that his controls had frozen. He then felt a bump and was unable to move the controls as the aircraft continued to dive. Even with maximum exertion, he was unable to move the control stick so he started to roll the trim tab back and after passing below 30,000 feet, the aircraft started to pull out of the dive and he recovered between 20,000 and 25,000 feet. Lt. Dyar started his dive and encountered the same conditions. After landing, Lt. Comstock reported what happened and the chief designer of the P-47 Thunderbolt, Alexander KartveliAlexander Kartveli
Alexander Kartveli 1896–1974, born Kartvelishvili) was a famous and influential aircraft engineer and a pioneer of American aviation history. Kartveli achieved important breakthroughs in military aviation in the time of turbojet fighters...
, questioned Lt. Comstock at length and made numerous calculations. Republic Aviation soon issued a press release claiming that Lts. Comstock and Dyar had exceeded the speed of sound
Speed of sound
The speed of sound is the distance travelled during a unit of time by a sound wave propagating through an elastic medium. In dry air at , the speed of sound is . This is , or about one kilometer in three seconds or approximately one mile in five seconds....
. This was picked up in the national media and also drawn in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Ripley's Believe It or Not! is a franchise, founded by Robert Ripley, which deals in bizarre events and items so strange and unusual that readers might question the claims...
. Soon after the press release, the 56th Fighter Group received a telegram from Gen. Henry “Hap” Arnold that “there would be no more discussion about the dive”. The actual speed attained was probably less than the speed of sound but this speed which caused the flight controls to lock up was referred to as “compressibility”. This effect was encountered by many pilots flying in combat but training and proper procedures allowed them to recover from it. In 1959, the Air Force published "A Chronology of American Aerospace Events" and included an entry for 15 November 1942 which stated "Lts. Harold Comstock and Roger Dyar set a new speed record for airplanes when they power-dived their P-47 fighters at 725 mph from 35,000 feet over an east coast air base." While the Air Force acknowledged the speed of 725 miles per hour, it is not known whether the P-47 could actually exceed the speed of sound in a dive. Capt. Roger Dyar was killed in action on 26 June 1943.
World War II
On 6 January 1943, the 56th Fighter Group sailed for England on the RMS Queen ElizabethRMS Queen Elizabeth
RMS Queen Elizabeth was an ocean liner operated by the Cunard Line. Plying with her running mate Queen Mary as a luxury liner between Southampton, UK and New York City, USA via Cherbourg, France, she was also contracted for over twenty years to carry the Royal Mail as the second half of the two...
, and flew their first operational mission on 13 April 1943. Lieutenant Comstock was promoted to 1st Lt on 29 May 1943 and got his first aerial victory on 17 August 1943, when he shot down an Me-109. He had additional confirmed victories on 4 October 1943, and 26 November 1943. After a long engagement with enemy aircraft on 3 February 1944, he did not have enough fuel to make it to a runway and was injured in a crash landing near Halesworth, England
Halesworth
Halesworth is a small market town in the northeastern corner of Suffolk, England. It is located south west of Lowestoft, and straddles the River Blyth, 9 miles upstream from Southwold. The town is served by Halesworth railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line...
. He was promoted to Captain on 12 March 1944 and following recovery from his crash landing, he returned to flying combat missions. He returned to the U.S. for thirty days of leave in late May following completion of his first combat tour. After he returned to the 56th Fighter Group for a second combat tour, he took command of the 63d Fighter Squadron
63d Fighter Squadron
The 63d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the 56th Operations Group, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona...
on 19 July 1944. He was promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
on 17 September 1944. In support of Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
, Major Comstock led the 56th Fighter Group on a disastrous mission that had been ordered to go “at all costs” to provide flak suppression.
Numerous anti-aircraft batteries were destroyed and the 56th Fighter Group received a Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy...
for this mission but 16 of 39 planes were lost and 15 of the returning aircraft were damaged.
His last two victories were on 23 December 1944. After two combat tours and 136 missions, he returned to the U.S. in January, 1945.
Summary of Enemy Aircraft Damaged/Destroyed
| Date | |Air/Ground | |Type | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 October 1943 | Bruhl, Germany | Air | 1 | Me-110 | Destroyed |
| 4 October 1943 | Bruhl, Germany | Air | 1 | Me-109 | Damaged/Probably Destroyed |
| 4 October 1943 | Bruhl, Germany | Ground | 1 | Ju-88 | Destroyed |
| 26 November 1943 | Friesoythe, Germany | Air | 1 | Me-110 | Destroyed |
| 26 November 1943 | Friesoythe, Germany | Air | 1 | Me-110 | Damaged |
| 26 November 1943 | Friesoythe, Germany | Air | 1 | FW-190 | Damaged |
| 29 November 1943 | Papenburg, Germany | Air | 1 | Me-109 | Damaged/Probably Destroyed |
| 29 January 1944 | South of Bonn, Germany | Air | 1 | FW-190 | Damaged |
| 24 February 1944 | Peterhagen, Germany | Air | 1 | FW-190 | Damaged |
| 16 September 1944 | Ahlhorn Aerodrome, Germany | Ground | 1 | He-177 | Destroyed |
| 18 November 1944 | Gross Ostheim Aerodrome, Germany | Ground | 1 | He-111 | Destroyed |
| 23 December 1944 | Southwest of Bonn, Germany | Air | 2 | FW-190 | Damaged |
| 23 December 1944 | Southwest of Bonn, Germany | Air | 2 | FW-190 | Destroyed |
Following World War II, Major Comstock had the following assignments:
April 1945 – July 1945 Peterson Field
Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
, Colorado Springs, Colorado – Standardization/Evaluation pilot, 72nd Fighter Wing.
July 1945 - October 1945 La Junta, Colorado
La Junta, Colorado
The City of La Junta is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Otero County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 7,568 at the U.S. Census 2000. La Junta is located on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado east of Pueblo.-History:During...
Commander, 10th Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group.
October 1945 - August 1946 Headquarters, United States Air Force, the The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
. Assigned to the Manpower Branch.
August 1946 - January 1947 P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
Acrobatic Team Leader, Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
, Novato, California.
January 1947 - June 1947 Plans Branch, Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base
Hamilton Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located along the western shore of San Pablo Bay, south of Novato, California.-History:...
, Novato, California.
June 1947 - July 1949 Chief of Training, 13th Air Force and 2d Air Division, and Pilot, 301st Fighter Wing
301st Fighter Wing
The 301st Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve fighter wing, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Carswell Field, Texas. It is equipped with the F-16C+ Fighting Falcon...
, Kadena Air Base
Kadena Air Base
, is a United States Air Force base in the towns of Kadena and Chatan and the city of Okinawa, in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Kadena Air Base is the hub of U.S. airpower in the Pacific, and home to the USAF's 18th Wing and a variety of associate units.-Units:The 18th Wing is the host unit at Kadena...
, Okinawa.
July 1949 – November 1950 Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base, located in Mesa, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona.It was active as a training base for both the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the USAF from 1941 until its closure in 1993...
, Chandler, Arizona – Squadron Commander of the Jet Training Squadron, Instructor Pilot
November 1950 – August 1953 Florennes Air Base
Florennes Air Base
Florennes Air Base is a Belgian Air Component military airfield located in Florennes, a municipality of Belgium. It is home to the 2nd Tactical Wing, operating F-16 Fighting Falcons. It also used to be the home to the Tactical Leadership Programme , a joint training program formed by 10 NATO members...
, Belgium – Liaison duty and advisor to the Belgian Air Force
Belgian Air Force
The Air Component, formerly the Belgian Air Force, is the air arm of the Belgian Armed Forces. Originally founded in 1909, it is one of the world's first air forces, and was a pioneer in aerial combat during the First World War...
where he flew the F-84F Thunderstreak
F-84F Thunderstreak
The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
.
September 1953 – October 1954 England Air Force Base
England Air Force Base
England Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Louisiana, located Northwest of Alexandria and about Northwest of New Orleans....
, Alexandria, Louisiana – Commander of the 390th Fighter Squadron
390th Fighter Squadron
The 390th Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It operates F-15C Eagle aircraft conducting an air superiority mission.-History:...
where he again flew the F-84F Thunderstreak
F-84F Thunderstreak
The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
and then the F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
. Promoted to LtCol 0n 14 April 1954.
November 1954 - August 1956 England Air Force Base
England Air Force Base
England Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Louisiana, located Northwest of Alexandria and about Northwest of New Orleans....
, Alexandria, Louisiana – Assumed command of the 389th Fighter Squadron
389th Fighter Squadron
The 389th Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. It operates F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft conducting close air support missions.-Mission:...
following the death of LtCol John B. England
John B. England
John Brooke England was a World War II fighter ace in the 357th Fighter Group and a career fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.-Biography:...
.
August 1956 – August 1957 Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base
Maxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
, Montgomery, Alabama – Attended the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
August 1957 – June 1960 Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, – Instructor at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
June 1960 – June 1963 Camp Smith, Hawaii – Director of Reconnaissance CINCPAC. Responsible for all reconnaissance in the "western" half of the world. Completed his B.S. in Psychology at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.
July 1963 – June 1966 Cannon Air Force Base
Cannon Air Force Base
Cannon Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base, located approximately southwest of Clovis, New Mexico. It is under the jurisdiction of Air Force Special Operations Command ....
, Clovis, New Mexico – Commander of the 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron
481st Tactical Fighter Squadron
-History:In 1957, the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing was assigned to Bergstrom Air Force Base near Austin, Texas and at that time it was part of the Strategic Air Command. In the summer of 1957, it was re-named as the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing and transferred to the Tactical Air Command...
.
July 1966 – July 1969 Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Field, re-named Hickam Air Force Base in 1948, was a United States Air Force facility now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lt Col Horace Meek Hickam.- History :...
, Hawaii – Promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Director of Counter Offensive Operations for PACAF until 1968 and then Director of Training for Pacific Air Forces.
July 1969 – September 1971 Bergstrom Air Force Base
Bergstrom Air Force Base
Bergstrom Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located seven miles southeast of downtown Austin, Texas. It was activated during World War II as a troop carrier training airfield, and was a front-line Strategic Air Command base during the Cold War...
, Austin, Texas – Commander, 602nd Tactical Air Control Group.
30 September 1971 - Retired after thirty years of service.
Vietnam
LtCol Harold E. Comstock on F-100While assigned to Cannon AFB, Lt. Col Comstock commanded the 481st Tactical Fighter Squadron
481st Tactical Fighter Squadron
-History:In 1957, the 27th Fighter-Escort Wing was assigned to Bergstrom Air Force Base near Austin, Texas and at that time it was part of the Strategic Air Command. In the summer of 1957, it was re-named as the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing and transferred to the Tactical Air Command...
which was deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base
Tan Son Nhut Air Base
Tan Son Nhut Air Base was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force facility. It is located near the city of Saigon in southern Vietnam. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War , stationing Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine units there...
, Vietnam, in June, 1965. On this tour, Comstock completed 132 combat missions and the squadron flew numerous combat sorties in support of the besieged troops at Plei Me
Siege of Plei Me
The Siege of Plei Me was a battle during the Vietnam War, which led up to the Battle of Ia Drang. The repulsion of the North Vietnamese assault immediately set the stage for the offensive in Ia Drang.-Background:...
and the Battle of Ia Drang Valley. On 15 November 1965, Comstock was flying the second of two F-100 Super Sabre
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...
jets that approached Landing Zone X-Ray with instructions to drop napalm. The napalm from the first aircraft landed too close to American lines and resulted in American casualties. Comstock was about to release his load of napalm on the assigned area when a quick call instructed him to break off. If he had dropped the napalm on the target as instructed, it would have killed Hal Moore
Hal Moore
Harold Gregory "Hal" Moore, Jr. is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army and author. Moore is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, which is the second highest military decoration of the United States Army, and was the first of his West Point class to be promoted to...
, Joe Galloway, Basil Plumley, and numerous other soldiers of the 7th Cavalry.
This battle, in the Ia Drang Valley, is detailed in the book and movie We Were Soldiers Once...And Young.
During the Spring of 1968, he had another tour in Vietnam as the 7th ABCCC
7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
The 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron is part of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. It operates the E-8 Joint STARS aircraft, conducting airborne command and control missions.-History:...
“Cricket” commander and directed numerous missions in support of the Battle of Khe Sanh
Battle of Khe Sanh
The Battle of Khe Sanh was conducted in northwestern Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam , between 21 January and 9 July 1968 during the Vietnam War...
.
Retirement
After retirement, he and Barbara returned to Fresno, California and then built a home in Auberry, CaliforniaAuberry, California
Auberry is a census-designated place in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 2,369 at the 2010 census, up from 2,053 at the 2000 census...
. Harold took an active interest in genealogy and became a member of the Mayflower Society. He was also a Freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and a Shriner. Harold Comstock died on 3 April 2009.
Awards and decorations
Command pilot| Legion of Merit Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements... With 1 oak leaf cluster |
|
| Distinguished Flying Cross Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The... , With 6 oak leaf clusters. |
|
 |
Purple Heart Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York... |
| Air Medal Air Medal The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:... With 16 oak leaf clusters |
|
 |
Joint Service Commendation Medal |
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Air Force Commendation Medal |
| Presidential Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation is a senior unit award granted to military units which have performed an extremely meritorious or heroic act, usually in the face of an armed enemy... Emblem with 1 oak leaf cluster |
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| Army Meritorious Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions.... Emblem with 1 oak leaf cluster |
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| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award With 2 oak leaf clusters | |
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American Defense Service Medal American Defense Service Medal The American Defense Service Medal is a decoration of the United States military, recognizing service before America’s entry into the Second World War but during the initial years of the European conflict.-Criteria:... |
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American Campaign Medal American Campaign Medal The American Campaign Medal was a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt... |
| European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal The European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which was first created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt... With 5 battle stars |
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World War II Victory Medal World War II Victory Medal The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of... |
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Army of Occupation Army of Occupation Army of Occupation is a term for an army occupying conquered territory, and has been used for many armies in many eras including:*The Army of Occupation of the U.S... |
| National Defense Service Medal National Defense Service Medal The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower... With 1 service star |
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| Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy... With 1 oak leaf cluster |
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| Vietnam Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal The Vietnam Service Medal is a military award which was created in 1965 by order of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The distinctive design was the creation of sculptor Thomas Hudson Jones, a former employee of the Army Institute of Heraldry. The medal is issued to recognize military service during... With 2 oak leaf clusters |
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| Air Force Longevity Service Award Air Force Longevity Service Award The Air Force Longevity Service Award is a military award of the United States Air Force which was first issued in 1957 by order of General Thomas D. White, Air Force Chief of Staff... , With 5 oak leaf clusters |
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Vietnam Campaign Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal The Vietnam Campaign Medal is a military recognition awarded by the Republic of Vietnam, , to any member of the United States, Australian, New Zealand and allied military forces serving six months or more in support of Republic of Vietnam military operations.Established in 1966, the decoration is... |
External links
- http://www.airportjournals.com/Display.cfm?varID=0607010