John F. Bolt
Encyclopedia
John Franklin Bolt was an aviator
in the United States Marine Corps
and a decorated flying ace
during World War II
and the Korean War
. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant colonel
and was the only US Marine to become an ace in two wars and the only Marine to be an ace in a jet engine
-powered fighter aircraft
.
Born to a poor family in Laurens, South Carolina
, Bolt was a self-described "workaholic
" and was involved in numerous groups and social activities throughout his life. After dropping out of the University of Florida
for financial reasons in 1941, Bolt joined the Marine Corps at the height of World War II. Sent to the Pacific Theatre of Operations he flew an F4U Corsair
in the Marshall Islands campaign and the New Guinea campaign
, claiming six victories against A6M Zero
es of the Empire of Japan
.
Bolt continued his service through the Korean War, entering combat through an exchange program with the United States Air Force
in late 1952. Over a period of several weeks in mid 1953, Bolt led flights of F-86 Sabre
s into combat with MiG-15s of the Chinese
Air Force, scoring six victories in fights along the northern border of North Korea
, commonly known as "MiG alley
," giving him 12 victories over his career.
Bolt stayed in the Marine Corps through 1962 as an analyst and instructor, before retiring and gaining a Juris Doctor
degree from the University of Florida. Bolt subsequently settled down in Florida
and began a private real estate law practice. He continued to be active in law until his death of leukemia
in 2004.
, to Thomas Crews Bolt. He was the older of two siblings with a brother, Bruce Bolt. In 1924 the family moved to Sanford, Florida
. In his youth, John Bolt gained the nickname "Jack" from his friends and family. His family was poor and he was for the most part responsible for providing his own clothes and social expenses from the time he was ten years old. Bolt worked several part time jobs to cover this, and at one point he was working 30 to 40 hours a weak at a local creamery
in addition to school. In addition to these obligations, Bolt enrolled in the Boy Scouts
, eventually attaining the rank of Star Scout in the organization.
Bolt attended Seminole High School
in June 1939. He was elected Class President
his final two years in school. During this time he admitted to being "powerfully motivated" by an English teacher at the school named Margaret Lawson. High school classmates described Bolt as modest and hardworking.
Bolt then attended the University of Florida
, with his parents paying some of his tuition money and supplementing the rest with what he had saved working through high school. Bolt majored in accounting and joined Phi Eta Sigma
, an honor society
and Professional fraternity. He also joined Alpha Tau Omega
, a social fraternity. In 1941, Bruce Bolt also enrolled in Florida, straining the family's expenses. John Bolt chose to drop out after his second year so his brother could complete his degree. Bolt enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in April 1941 to train as a pilot. The Marine Corps offered to pay him 500 a year and give him the chance to finish college and attend law school
.
with the United States Navy
in June 1941. Though he intended to join the US Marine Corps, he signed up for the Navy Flight Training Program, which would allow him to fly for the Marines. He was selected to be a pilot in November 1941, and moved to Atlanta Naval Air Station in Atlanta, Georgia
. For this, he was moved to active duty
that month, just before the attack on Pearl Harbor
. He then moved to the duty station in February 1942, at which point the United States had entered World War II
. At this point, Bolt began dating Dorothy E. Wiggins, whom he knew from Sanford. The two would marry after two years of dating. They would subsequently have two children together, Robert and Barbara. After completing his initial training, Bolt was moved to Jacksonville Naval Air Station for the next phase, where he started flight training in the AT-6 Texan
. He also qualified to fly in the N3N Canary trainer aircraft. After this training, his final phase of training occurred in Opa Locka Naval Air Station in Miami, Florida
where he trained on the Grumman F3F
, a biplane
which was the Navy's most advanced trainer at the time. Bolt completed this training on July 18, 1942 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
in the US Marine Corps, with his Aviator wings
pinned that day as well.
After commissioning, Bolt was assigned as a Cadet Training Instructor, training other aviation cadets at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
in Green Cove, Florida until December 1942, at which time the unit was deactivated. From that time until May 1943 he was trained on the F4F Wildcat, a Carrier-based aircraft
, in preparation for movement to a front-line combat unit. Over the next few months, Bolt was stationed in Glencoe, Illinois
where he trained for 60 hours aboard the USS Wolverine (IX-64)
. After qualifying to operate carrier-based aircraft, Bolt was assigned to Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, California
until June 1943. At this point, Bolt and his class departed aboard the USS Rochambeau (AP-63)
for the Pacific Theatre
.
and New Hebrides
, avoiding submarines of the Empire of Japan
. Bolt was part of a pool of new officers intending to replace casualties resulting from several military events, but as casualties were light in several key operations, this pool was formed into a squadron
. The new squadron was designated VMF-214, known as the "Black Sheep" because of their status as officers without other units. Under the command of Major Pappy Boyington
, the unit was equipped with F4U Corsairs and organized over several months, moved to the Russell Islands
and ready for combat by September 13. Although new to the war in the Pacific, Bolt had over 700 hours flying in the F4U Corsair
which was more than many combat pilot had accrued in two combat tours.
The next day the squadron began flying escort missions of B-24 Liberator
bombers. The first several missions were relatively quiet, until September 16. During another escort mission, VMF-214 was attacked by a group of 35 Japanese A6M Zeroes. The squadron successfully defended from the strike, destroying 11 Japanese aircraft and losing only one of their own. Japanese forces had 200 aircraft at Kahili Airfield
and Balalae Island
, and was opposed by only 50 aircraft from the US squadrons in the area. Consequently, several costly engagements followed, though Bolt himseld did not score any victories during these first battles. However, Bolt was promoted to First Lieutenant
.
s back from a raid on Kahili. The bombers had been followed by 20–30 A6M Zero
s and the fight was soon on. During the course of the ensuing dogfight
over Bougainville
, Bolt scored two victories. His wingman Ed Harper claimed one. For the next several weeks, the squadron operated out of Munda.
A self-described "workaholic
" Bolt was considered by the other pilots to be the most energetic member of the squadron. He and two other pilots were known as the "Quartermaster Kids" because they collected so many souvenirs and shipped them home. He could often be found in the harbor near their airstrip dynamiting fish and was known to organize many of the squadron's pig roast
s and beer parties. Bolt also took it upon himself to test out many different ammunition configurations for the .50 cal guns on the F4U during his free time. His research was conducted by firing rounds into 50-gallon drums
partially filled with gasoline
and at abandoned aircraft in the Espiritu Santo
boneyard. His findings were that incendiary rounds were the true Zero killers leading to the squadron, and later most aircraft squadrons in the Pacific Theater, changing to an ammo configuration of six incendiary round
s for every one armor-piercing
or tracer round
. This differed from the standard method of one of each.
Bolt became well known and at the same time drew the ire of his squadron's commanding officer during what began as an escort mission for B-24 Liberators. The bombers were lost in the clouds and the flight ran into poor weather, causing them to turn for home. During the flight home, the US pilots noticed much Japanese surface traffic but did not engage because of the weather. On their way back to Munda one of the aircraft had maintenance issues and a group, of which Bolt was a part, had to land at Vella Lavella
. Bolt tried to convince others to go with him to attack the ships they had seen but they refused. He refueled and took off, against Boyington's orders, and engaged Japanese barges in the vicinity of Tonolei Harbor, finally making his way back to Munda. He destroyed four enemy barges and strafed several ground concentrations but drew Boyington' wrath for disobeying a direct order. This anger abated quickly though when the next day a telegram was received from Admiral
William "Bull" Halsey stating, "THAT ONE MAN WAR...CONDUCTED BY LIEUT BOLT AGAINST JAP STUFF IN TONOLEI, WARM HEART (STOP) HALSEY."
On October 17, during a mission over Kahlili Airfield, Bolt's squadron was ambushed by Japanese fighters. Bolt downed one of the Japanese aircraft in his last mission before a scheduled R&R
in Sydney, Australia.
, the center of Japanese activity in New Britain
, and was the squadron's next primary target. The island was of great strategic importance as a harbor and had 98,000 Japanese troops on it in addition to several airfields, which were in striking distance of the Marshall Islands
and which were manned by 400 Japanese aircraft. Strikes against Rabaul began in December.
On December 23, 16 Corsairs from VMF-214 were part of a force of 120 US fighters and bombers on a mission over Rabaul. The bombing mission against the city and harbor areas was countered by a large force of Japanese aircraft. While defending the bombers, Bolt shot down two more Japanese aircraft, making him the squadron's sixth flying ace
. He was part of another mission on December 25 where his squadron mates claimed four victories, though Bolt himself claimed none of them. At this point, VMF-214 had 76 confirmed victories.
On January 3, 1944, VMF-214 was part of a formation of 75 US aircraft conducting a raid around Rabaul. In a surprise attack, 300 Japanese aircraft engaged them. In the ensuing fight, Boyington was shot down and parachuted into the St. George's Channel. The next day, Bolt led a flight of four Corsairs of VMF-214 in search of Boyington. Despite hazy weather and indirect routes to avoid Japanese radar, Bolt managed to lead the flight to the area of the battle the day before. Though they did not spot Boyington, they engaged a flotilla of Japanese barges they spotted, destroying six of them. Bolt also claimed his sixth victory over a Japanese aircraft which had attempted to defend the barges. VMF-214 and Bolt's tour ended on January 8, 1944, five days after Boyington was shot down and captured by the Japanese. VMF-214 was disbanded and its pilots assigned to other units. In his time with VMF-214, Bolt had been seen as a leader and accomplished pilot by the others in his unit. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
twice, and scored 6 confirmed victories and 3 probable victories in his 92 missions with the squadron.
in the Green Islands, 75 miles (120.7 km) north of Bougainville and 100 miles (160.9 km) west of Rabaul. The aircraft here were primarily concerned with the destruction of convoys and ships. The missions earned the nickname "Truck Busters" and though they were very successful at these missions, ground attack often damaged aircraft and wounded pilots, including Bolt's wingman. This tour lasted until May 1944.
Bolt returned with his squadron to Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara
. In May, Bolt was assigned duty in the United States. He flew to Hawaii
, then to Long Beach, California
. He reunited with Wiggins in San Francisco, California
and the two married on May 23, 1944 in Oakland, California
before going on a one-month honeymoon
. His next assignment would be with the newly formed VMF-471 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
. While with his new squadron, Bolt attended the Aviation Ground Officer's School at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico, Virginia
from November 1944 through February 1945. He saw no combat for the rest of the war, but did manage to break the Corsair endurance record by keeping an aircraft aloft for 14 hours and 9 seconds. After briefly returning to VMF-471, Bolt was reassigned to VMF-215
, training pilots for new carrier-based aircraft, in March 1945. He remained in this capacity until V-J Day at the end of World War II.
, and Marine Aircraft Group 12
(MAG-12) between the end of the war and November 1949. In November 1949, he was sent to Quantico again to attend the Aircraft Maintenance Course. While on leave in between the two wars, Bolt, then a captain, set a world spearfishing
record when he caught an Atlantic goliath grouper weighing hundreds of pounds, while diving in Florida's Tampa Bay.
In May 1950, Bolt was reassigned to VMF-224 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
, North Carolina
and he remained there until May 1951. The squadron flew the F2H Banshee
and within three months of joining the unit he had flown more hours on the aircraft than any other pilot in the squadron. This was followed by a quick four month tour on the staff at the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
. During this time, the US Air Force was operating its first squadron of F-86 Sabre
aircraft. The Sabres were the only US aircraft which performed well against the MiG-15s operated by China
and North Korea
in the Korean War
. Bolt used his connections to enter an exchange program with the USAF in September 1951, becoming an exchange officer with the 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
at McChord Air Force Base in Washington flying the F-94 Starfire
. Soon after, he began piloting the F-86F Sabre which had been transferred to the squadron. He continued training with the squadron and was promoted to Major in December 1951.
in South Korea
. The squadron flew the F9F Panther
fighter-bomber
aircraft. Bolt flew 94 combat missions with the squadron, all of them in bombing runs and close air support
and air strike missions against ground targets. However, Bolt did not enjoy this duty, preferring instead to fly the Sabre in air-to-air combat. As his squadron headed to Japan for R&R, Bolt traveled to Seoul
to visit the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Kimpo Airfield.
At the 4th Wing, Bolt met with commander Colonel Royal N. Baker
. Baker understood Bolt's desire to fly in combat units, but he would not allow this to happen. Bolt subsequently went to the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Suwon Airfield to observe its operations. There he met with George I. Ruddell, an acquaintance from El Toro, who was commanding the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Ruddell agreed to let Bolt join his unit as part of another officer exchange. This apparently angered some of his commanders in VMF-115, and Bolt completed a requisite six weeks of duty with the wing prior to its next R&R.
, who would be the top ace in the war. Bolt and McConnell quickly established a close friendship in spite of Bolt's superior rank, and Bolt attributed his success in Korea to McConnell's guidance. Ruddell sent a request to Lieutenant General Glenn C. Barcus, commander of the Fifth United States Air Force, that Bolt's tour with the squadron be extended. The request was granted, and McConnell and Bolt began going on combat missions together as wingmen in MiG alley
, the area in northwestern Korea where air-to-air combat was most frequent. Bolt's Sabre, tail number
52-2582, was named Darling Dottie.
By May, McConnell was rotated back to the United States and Bolt was given charge of the flight; in 16 combat missions and 27 combat hours, his flight had never engaged any MiG fighters. This changed on May 16, when the flight was attacked by a group of MiG fighters at 45000 feet (13,716 m). Bolt was quickly tailed by one of the aircraft, but managed to avoid its fire and tail another MiG himself. With several well placed shots, Bolt forced its pilot to bail out. Six days later on May 22, MiG aircraft attacked again, and Bolt managed to outmaneuver an individual which had been attacking his wingman and shoot it down at 7000 feet (2,133.6 m).
On June 24, Bolt flew his 31st combat mission, in which he engaged a single MiG and shot it down after a quick battle in the vicinity of the Yalu River. A week later on June 30 he was flying another mission in the same area when he spotted and quickly shot down another MiG. By the end of the month, Bolt had credit for four victories and two aircraft "damaged."
On July 11 he led another flight of four fighters in a reconnaissance mission above Sinuiju
, his 37th combat mission in Korea. In the midst of this patrol two of the aircraft departed after their fuel tanks were depleted, leaving Bolt and one wingman to continue the patrol. The two pilots soon after spotted a formation of four MiGs taking off from an airstrip on the Chinese side of the Yalu River. In spite of low fuel, Bolt ordered an attack. He made a head-on dive toward the formation, which was attempting to gain altitude, and hit the leading airplane with four machine gun bursts, causing it to crash. Bolt then banked his aircraft and aimed for the second aircraft in the formation, continuing the attack and scoring hits on its fuselage, eventually causing its pilot to bail out and prompting the remaining two MiGs to flee. Within five minutes of the engagement, Bolt shot down two of the MiGs after firing 1,200 rounds of ammunition, a relatively difficult feat. He became the 37th of 40 US flying aces in the war, and the last of the seven aces who were double aces from World War II. For these actions Bolt became the final Marine aviator to be awarded the Navy Cross
during the war. Bolt is only non-United States Air Force
pilot to become an ace in the F-86 and the only naval aviator to become an ace in two wars.
Shortly after this final mission, Bolt's tour of duty ended and he was rotated back to the United States for an extended rest and vacation, which he spent with his family.
in Washington, D.C.
as an aircraft design engineer. In this duty, he was detailed to The Pentagon
and a board which reported on aircraft performance and tactics. A press conference was held in September 1953 to welcome Bolt to the position, and there he told his stories in Korea for the first time to local newspapers. Bolt's experiences in World War II and the Korean War were used to help shape air combat doctrine. Bolt worked in this assignment for around a year, until 1954 when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and moved to the Naval Pilot Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River
, in St. Mary's County, Maryland. During this time, he took evening classes at the University of Maryland
, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science
in Military History
In 1957, Bolt was ordered to Marine Corps Base Quantico to attend a one-year instruction in the Senior School of Amphibious Warfare in a program which would later be incorporated into the accredited curriculum of the Marine Corps University
. After this one-year stint, Bolt was assigned to command VMF-214, his World War II squadron, at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay
on the Hawaiian Islands
from November 5, 1957 to August 14, 1959. The squadron, which was part of Marine Aircraft Group 13
, flew the FJ-4 Fury
. His final assignment as an instructor at the Senior School of Amphibious Warfare, again at Quantico. He taught at this school for the final three years of his career, and retired from the Marine Corps on March 31, 1962.
's mercantile division. Bolt worked in finance for five years, until 1967.
In 1967, Bolt decided to return to his original career aspirations to be a lawyer. He enrolled in the law school
at the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law, where his son Robert was also in attendance. The two formed an American handball
team during their spare time, and would won several tournaments. Bolt's program had a 3-year curriculum, but he completed the degree in 27 months, graduating with a Juris Doctor
degree in December 1969. For two years after graduation, Bolt stayed with the university to teach, and from 1969 to 1971 he was a law instructor as well as the president of the Board of Trustees of Alpha Tau Omega, the fraternity he had joined while an undergraduate at the university.
After this stint as an instructor, Bolt and his wife moved to New Smyrna Beach, a place both of them had enjoyed in their childhood. Bolt then began a private law practice and became a local property owner. During this time he was described as a "softspoken, kind, gentle person who would go out of his way to help a friend or a stranger." He specialized in real estate law and was the attorney for the city's utilities commission for 13 years. He retired from law in 1991.
Bolt subsequently lived a quiet life and kept frequent contact with his children, Robert became a lawyer in Tampa, Florida
and Barbara wrote for Reader's Digest
. In May 1993, Bolt attended the 50th reunion of the original "Black Sheep" squadron in New Orleans, Louisiana
and gave the toast at the beginning of the festivities. In 2003, he was inducted into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame at the American Airpower Heritage Museum
in Midland, Texas
.
Bolt died of acute leukemia
in Tampa, Florida on September 8, 2004 after fleeing the approaching Hurricane Frances
. At the time of his death, Bolt was the last surviving American double ace. He was survived by his wife and children, as well as two grandchildren.
Bolt is one of seven US pilots who achieved ace status as both a piston-engined pilot in World War II and as a jet pilot in a later conflict. The others are all USAF pilots; Francis S. Gabreski, James P. Hagerstrom, William T. Whisner, Vermont Garrison
and Harrison Thyng
, as well as George A. Davis, Jr..
Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and a decorated flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
and was the only US Marine to become an ace in two wars and the only Marine to be an ace in a jet engine
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
-powered fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
.
Born to a poor family in Laurens, South Carolina
Laurens, South Carolina
Laurens is a city in Laurens County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 9,916 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Laurens County.-History:...
, Bolt was a self-described "workaholic
Workaholic
A workaholic is a person who is addicted to work.The term generally implies that the person enjoys their work; it can also imply that they simply feel compelled to do it...
" and was involved in numerous groups and social activities throughout his life. After dropping out of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
for financial reasons in 1941, Bolt joined the Marine Corps at the height of World War II. Sent to the Pacific Theatre of Operations he flew an F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
in the Marshall Islands campaign and the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
, claiming six victories against A6M Zero
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
es of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
.
Bolt continued his service through the Korean War, entering combat through an exchange program with 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...
in late 1952. Over a period of several weeks in mid 1953, Bolt led flights of 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...
s into combat with MiG-15s of the Chinese
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
Air Force, scoring six victories in fights along the northern border of North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, commonly known as "MiG alley
MiG Alley
"MIG Alley" is the name given by U.S. Air Force pilots to the northwestern portion of North Korea, where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea. During the Korean War, it was the site of numerous dogfights between U.S. fighter jets and those of the Communist forces, particularly the Soviet...
," giving him 12 victories over his career.
Bolt stayed in the Marine Corps through 1962 as an analyst and instructor, before retiring and gaining a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from the University of Florida. Bolt subsequently settled down in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and began a private real estate law practice. He continued to be active in law until his death of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 2004.
Early years
John Bolt was born on May 19, 1921 in Laurens, South CarolinaLaurens, South Carolina
Laurens is a city in Laurens County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 9,916 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Laurens County.-History:...
, to Thomas Crews Bolt. He was the older of two siblings with a brother, Bruce Bolt. In 1924 the family moved to Sanford, Florida
Sanford, Florida
Sanford is a city in, and the county seat of, Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 38,291 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 50,998...
. In his youth, John Bolt gained the nickname "Jack" from his friends and family. His family was poor and he was for the most part responsible for providing his own clothes and social expenses from the time he was ten years old. Bolt worked several part time jobs to cover this, and at one point he was working 30 to 40 hours a weak at a local creamery
Creamery
In a dairy, the creamery is the location of cream processing. Cream is separated from whole milk; pasteurization is done to the skimmed milk and cream separately. Whole milk for sale has had some cream returned to the skimmed milk....
in addition to school. In addition to these obligations, Bolt enrolled in the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts
A Boy Scout is a member of a Scouting organization. There are thousands of national Scouting organizations or federations; these are grouped into six international Scouting associations with some non-aligned organizations....
, eventually attaining the rank of Star Scout in the organization.
Bolt attended Seminole High School
Seminole High School (Seminole County, Florida)
Seminole High School is a public high school located in Sanford, Florida operated by Seminole County Public Schools. In February 2007 Mike Gaudreau, a Seminole High School alumnus, became principal....
in June 1939. He was elected Class President
Class President
A class president is usually the leader of a student body class, and presides over its class cabinet or organization within a student council, in a grade school class presidents are generally elected by the class, a constituency composed of all students in a grade level.The practice of electing a...
his final two years in school. During this time he admitted to being "powerfully motivated" by an English teacher at the school named Margaret Lawson. High school classmates described Bolt as modest and hardworking.
Bolt then attended the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, with his parents paying some of his tuition money and supplementing the rest with what he had saved working through high school. Bolt majored in accounting and joined Phi Eta Sigma
Phi Eta Sigma
Phi Eta Sigma is an American freshman honor society. Founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923, is the oldest and largest freshman honor society and now has more than three hundred chapters throughout the United States and more than 1 million members.-Eligibility:Any first-year...
, an honor society
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is a rank organization that recognizes excellence among peers. Numerous societies recognize various fields and circumstances. The Order of the Arrow, for example, is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America...
and Professional fraternity. He also joined Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
, a social fraternity. In 1941, Bruce Bolt also enrolled in Florida, straining the family's expenses. John Bolt chose to drop out after his second year so his brother could complete his degree. Bolt enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in April 1941 to train as a pilot. The Marine Corps offered to pay him 500 a year and give him the chance to finish college and attend law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
.
World War II
Bolt left for basic trainingBasic Training
Basic Training may refer to:* Basic Training, a 1971 American documentary directed by Frederick Wiseman* Basic Training , an American sex comedy* Recruit training...
with the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in June 1941. Though he intended to join the US Marine Corps, he signed up for the Navy Flight Training Program, which would allow him to fly for the Marines. He was selected to be a pilot in November 1941, and moved to Atlanta Naval Air Station in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. For this, he was moved to active duty
Active duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
that month, just before the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. He then moved to the duty station in February 1942, at which point the United States had entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At this point, Bolt began dating Dorothy E. Wiggins, whom he knew from Sanford. The two would marry after two years of dating. They would subsequently have two children together, Robert and Barbara. After completing his initial training, Bolt was moved to Jacksonville Naval Air Station for the next phase, where he started flight training in the AT-6 Texan
T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan was a single-engine advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1950s...
. He also qualified to fly in the N3N Canary trainer aircraft. After this training, his final phase of training occurred in Opa Locka Naval Air Station in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
where he trained on the Grumman F3F
Grumman F3F
|-Popular culture:The F3F was featured as an "experimental fighter" in Warner Bros's Wings of the Navy .The F3F-2 was featured in the 1940 film Flight Command, starring Robert Taylor as a pilot whose work developing instrument landing systems helps his lost squadron return to NAS North...
, a biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
which was the Navy's most advanced trainer at the time. Bolt completed this training on July 18, 1942 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the US Marine Corps, with his Aviator wings
United States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
pinned that day as well.
After commissioning, Bolt was assigned as a Cadet Training Instructor, training other aviation cadets at Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville or NAS Jacksonville is a military airport located four miles south of the central business district of Jacksonville...
in Green Cove, Florida until December 1942, at which time the unit was deactivated. From that time until May 1943 he was trained on the F4F Wildcat, a Carrier-based aircraft
Carrier-based aircraft
Carrier-based aircraft are military aircraft designed specifically for operations from aircraft carriers. The term is generally applied only to fixed-wing aircraft, as naval helicopters are able to operate from a wider variety of aviation-capable ships. Carrier-based aircraft must be relatively...
, in preparation for movement to a front-line combat unit. Over the next few months, Bolt was stationed in Glencoe, Illinois
Glencoe, Illinois
Glencoe is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 8,723. Glencoe is located on suburban Chicago's North Shore. Glencoe is located within the New Trier High School District. Glencoe is regarded as one of the most affluent suburbs on...
where he trained for 60 hours aboard the USS Wolverine (IX-64)
USS Wolverine (IX-64)
USS Wolverine was a freshwater aircraft carrier of the United States Navy during World War II. She had been converted from a paddlewheeler coal-burning steamer to be used for advanced training for naval aviators in carrier take-offs and landings....
. After qualifying to operate carrier-based aircraft, Bolt was assigned to Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
until June 1943. At this point, Bolt and his class departed aboard the USS Rochambeau (AP-63)
USS Rochambeau (AP-63)
USS Rochambeau was a transport ship that saw service in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the only U.S. Naval vessel to be named for the French nobleman, Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau , who commanded the French troops in Washington's army during the...
for the Pacific Theatre
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
.
Formation of VMF-214
Bolt traveled to a number of islands on his way to the front lines. The Rochambeau stopped at New CaledoniaNew Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
and New Hebrides
New Hebrides
New Hebrides was the colonial name for an island group in the South Pacific that now forms the nation of Vanuatu. The New Hebrides were colonized by both the British and French in the 18th century shortly after Captain James Cook visited the islands...
, avoiding submarines of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
. Bolt was part of a pool of new officers intending to replace casualties resulting from several military events, but as casualties were light in several key operations, this pool was formed into a squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
. The new squadron was designated VMF-214, known as the "Black Sheep" because of their status as officers without other units. Under the command of Major Pappy Boyington
Pappy Boyington
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was a United States Marine Corps officer who was an American fighter ace during World War II. For his heroic actions, he was awarded both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Boyington flew initially with the American Volunteer Group in the Republic of China Air Force...
, the unit was equipped with F4U Corsairs and organized over several months, moved to the Russell Islands
Russell Islands
The Russell Islands are two small islands, as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of the Solomon Islands. They are located approximately 48 km northwest from Guadalcanal. The islands are partially covered in coconut plantations, and have a copra and oil factory at...
and ready for combat by September 13. Although new to the war in the Pacific, Bolt had over 700 hours flying in the F4U Corsair
F4U Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and...
which was more than many combat pilot had accrued in two combat tours.
The next day the squadron began flying escort missions of B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
bombers. The first several missions were relatively quiet, until September 16. During another escort mission, VMF-214 was attacked by a group of 35 Japanese A6M Zeroes. The squadron successfully defended from the strike, destroying 11 Japanese aircraft and losing only one of their own. Japanese forces had 200 aircraft at Kahili Airfield
Kahili Airfield
Kahili Airfield, also known as Buin Airfield, was an aerodrome located near Buin, Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was constructed by the Imperial Japanese during World War II in November 1942...
and Balalae Island
Balalae Island
Balalae Island is an island of the Shortland Islands Group in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. The island was the scene of a Japanese atrocity during the Second World War. A work party of 517 British prisoners of war from various artillery regiments captured after the Battle of...
, and was opposed by only 50 aircraft from the US squadrons in the area. Consequently, several costly engagements followed, though Bolt himseld did not score any victories during these first battles. However, Bolt was promoted to First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
.
Marshall Islands
Bolt got his first victories of the deployment on September 23 when he was with a flight of 15 VMF-214 aircraft that were escorting B-24 LiberatorB-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s back from a raid on Kahili. The bombers had been followed by 20–30 A6M Zero
A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the...
s and the fight was soon on. During the course of the ensuing dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
over Bougainville
Bougainville
-People:*Louis Antoine de Bougainville , French navigator, explorer and military commander*Hyacinthe de Bougainville , French naval officer and son of Louis Antoine de Bougainville-Places:...
, Bolt scored two victories. His wingman Ed Harper claimed one. For the next several weeks, the squadron operated out of Munda.
A self-described "workaholic
Workaholic
A workaholic is a person who is addicted to work.The term generally implies that the person enjoys their work; it can also imply that they simply feel compelled to do it...
" Bolt was considered by the other pilots to be the most energetic member of the squadron. He and two other pilots were known as the "Quartermaster Kids" because they collected so many souvenirs and shipped them home. He could often be found in the harbor near their airstrip dynamiting fish and was known to organize many of the squadron's pig roast
Pig roast
A pig roast or hog roast is an event or gathering which involves the barbecuing of a whole hog...
s and beer parties. Bolt also took it upon himself to test out many different ammunition configurations for the .50 cal guns on the F4U during his free time. His research was conducted by firing rounds into 50-gallon drums
Drum (container)
A drum is a cylindrical container used for shipping bulk cargo. Drums can be made of steel, dense paperboard , or plastics, and are generally used for the transportation and storage of liquids and powders. Drums are often certified for shipment of dangerous goods...
partially filled with gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
and at abandoned aircraft in the Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of . It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia. It is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu....
boneyard. His findings were that incendiary rounds were the true Zero killers leading to the squadron, and later most aircraft squadrons in the Pacific Theater, changing to an ammo configuration of six incendiary round
Incendiary ammunition
-World War I:One of the first uses of incendiary ammunition occurred in World War I. At the time, phosphorus—the primary ingredient in the incendiary charge—ignited upon firing, leaving a trail of blue smoke. They were also known as 'smoke tracer' for this reason. The effective range of...
s for every one armor-piercing
Armor-piercing shot and shell
An armor-piercing shell is a type of ammunition designed to penetrate armor. From the 1860s to 1950s, a major application of armor-piercing projectiles was to defeat the thick armor carried on many warships. From the 1920s onwards, armor-piercing weapons were required for anti-tank missions...
or tracer round
Tracer ammunition
Tracer ammunition are bullets that are built with a small pyrotechnic charge in their base. Ignited by the burning powder, the phosphorus tail burns very brightly, making the projectile visible to the naked eye...
. This differed from the standard method of one of each.
Bolt became well known and at the same time drew the ire of his squadron's commanding officer during what began as an escort mission for B-24 Liberators. The bombers were lost in the clouds and the flight ran into poor weather, causing them to turn for home. During the flight home, the US pilots noticed much Japanese surface traffic but did not engage because of the weather. On their way back to Munda one of the aircraft had maintenance issues and a group, of which Bolt was a part, had to land at Vella Lavella
Vella Lavella
Vella Lavella is an island in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. It lies to the west of New Georgia, but is considered one of the New Georgia Group...
. Bolt tried to convince others to go with him to attack the ships they had seen but they refused. He refueled and took off, against Boyington's orders, and engaged Japanese barges in the vicinity of Tonolei Harbor, finally making his way back to Munda. He destroyed four enemy barges and strafed several ground concentrations but drew Boyington' wrath for disobeying a direct order. This anger abated quickly though when the next day a telegram was received from Admiral
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
William "Bull" Halsey stating, "THAT ONE MAN WAR...CONDUCTED BY LIEUT BOLT AGAINST JAP STUFF IN TONOLEI, WARM HEART (STOP) HALSEY."
On October 17, during a mission over Kahlili Airfield, Bolt's squadron was ambushed by Japanese fighters. Bolt downed one of the Japanese aircraft in his last mission before a scheduled R&R
R&R
R&R may refer to:* R&R , a music trade magazine* R&R , acronym for Rest and Recuperation* "R&R" , an episode of the science fiction TV show*R&R , a fictional nightclub in EastEnders...
in Sydney, Australia.
Vela Lavella
When the squadron returned from its R&R, Bolt had been promoted to Captain and the squadron had been relocated to Vela Lavella. The new base was within 150 miles (241.4 km) of RabaulRabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
, the center of Japanese activity in New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, and was the squadron's next primary target. The island was of great strategic importance as a harbor and had 98,000 Japanese troops on it in addition to several airfields, which were in striking distance of the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
and which were manned by 400 Japanese aircraft. Strikes against Rabaul began in December.
On December 23, 16 Corsairs from VMF-214 were part of a force of 120 US fighters and bombers on a mission over Rabaul. The bombing mission against the city and harbor areas was countered by a large force of Japanese aircraft. While defending the bombers, Bolt shot down two more Japanese aircraft, making him the squadron's sixth flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
. He was part of another mission on December 25 where his squadron mates claimed four victories, though Bolt himself claimed none of them. At this point, VMF-214 had 76 confirmed victories.
On January 3, 1944, VMF-214 was part of a formation of 75 US aircraft conducting a raid around Rabaul. In a surprise attack, 300 Japanese aircraft engaged them. In the ensuing fight, Boyington was shot down and parachuted into the St. George's Channel. The next day, Bolt led a flight of four Corsairs of VMF-214 in search of Boyington. Despite hazy weather and indirect routes to avoid Japanese radar, Bolt managed to lead the flight to the area of the battle the day before. Though they did not spot Boyington, they engaged a flotilla of Japanese barges they spotted, destroying six of them. Bolt also claimed his sixth victory over a Japanese aircraft which had attempted to defend the barges. VMF-214 and Bolt's tour ended on January 8, 1944, five days after Boyington was shot down and captured by the Japanese. VMF-214 was disbanded and its pilots assigned to other units. In his time with VMF-214, Bolt had been seen as a leader and accomplished pilot by the others in his unit. He was awarded the 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...
twice, and scored 6 confirmed victories and 3 probable victories in his 92 missions with the squadron.
Subsequent assignments
Bolt was reassigned to VMF-211, on an airbase on Nissan IslandNissan Island
Nissan Island is the largest of the Green Islands of Papua New Guinea. It is located at , about 200 km east of Rabaul on New Britain and about 200 km northwest of Bougainville....
in the Green Islands, 75 miles (120.7 km) north of Bougainville and 100 miles (160.9 km) west of Rabaul. The aircraft here were primarily concerned with the destruction of convoys and ships. The missions earned the nickname "Truck Busters" and though they were very successful at these missions, ground attack often damaged aircraft and wounded pilots, including Bolt's wingman. This tour lasted until May 1944.
Bolt returned with his squadron to Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara
Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara
'Marine Corps Air Station Santa Barbara was a United States Marine Corps air station that was located in Goleta, California north of Los Angeles during World War II...
. In May, Bolt was assigned duty in the United States. He flew to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, then to Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. He reunited with Wiggins in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and the two married on May 23, 1944 in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
before going on a one-month honeymoon
Honeymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
. His next assignment would be with the newly formed VMF-471 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
. While with his new squadron, Bolt attended the Aviation Ground Officer's School at Marine Corps Air Station Quantico, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
from November 1944 through February 1945. He saw no combat for the rest of the war, but did manage to break the Corsair endurance record by keeping an aircraft aloft for 14 hours and 9 seconds. After briefly returning to VMF-471, Bolt was reassigned to VMF-215
VMF-215
Marine Fighting Squadron 215 was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was activated and fought during World War II. Known as "The Fighting Corsairs", they fought in many areas of the Pacific War, including the Battle of Bougainville...
, training pilots for new carrier-based aircraft, in March 1945. He remained in this capacity until V-J Day at the end of World War II.
Post-war
Following the war, Bolt served in various units around El Toro. He was at various times assigned to MASG-46, VMF-512, VMF-323, VMF-312, VMF-452VMF-452
Marine Fighting Squadron 452 was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps that was commissioned and fought during World War II. Known as the “Sky Raiders”, they flew the F4U Corsair, and the Grumman TBF Avenger, fell under the command of Marine Carrier Group 5 and fought in the...
, and Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Marine Aircraft Group 12 is an active air group of the United States Marine Corps, tasked with providing assault support aircraft. It is currently part of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , itself an integral part of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, and based at MCAS Iwakuni in Japan.-Mission:The...
(MAG-12) between the end of the war and November 1949. In November 1949, he was sent to Quantico again to attend the Aircraft Maintenance Course. While on leave in between the two wars, Bolt, then a captain, set a world spearfishing
Spearfishing
Spearfishing is an ancient method of fishing that has been used throughout the world for millennia. Early civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks....
record when he caught an Atlantic goliath grouper weighing hundreds of pounds, while diving in Florida's Tampa Bay.
Korean War
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point or MCAS Cherry Point is a United States Marine Corps airfield located in Havelock, North Carolina, USA, in the eastern part of the state...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and he remained there until May 1951. The squadron flew the F2H Banshee
F2H Banshee
The McDonnell F2H Banshee was a single-seat carrier-based jet fighter aircraft deployed by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps from 1948 to 1961. It was one of the primary American fighters used during the Korean War and was the only jet-powered fighter ever deployed by the Royal...
and within three months of joining the unit he had flown more hours on the aircraft than any other pilot in the squadron. This was followed by a quick four month tour on the staff at the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing is the major east coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina...
. During this time, the US Air Force was operating its first squadron of 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...
aircraft. The Sabres were the only US aircraft which performed well against the MiG-15s operated by China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Bolt used his connections to enter an exchange program with the USAF in September 1951, becoming an exchange officer with the 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
The 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 25th Air Division based at McChord AFB, Washington. The squadron was inactivated on December 7, 1989.-World War II:...
at McChord Air Force Base in Washington flying the F-94 Starfire
F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
. Soon after, he began piloting the F-86F Sabre which had been transferred to the squadron. He continued training with the squadron and was promoted to Major in December 1951.
Fighter-bomber missions
In November 1952, Bolt transferred to VMF-115, an element of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing1st Marine Aircraft Wing
The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing is an aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps that serves as the Aviation Combat Element of the III Marine Expeditionary Force. The wing is headquartered at Camp Foster on the island of Okinawa, Japan...
in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. The squadron flew the F9F Panther
F9F Panther
|-Popular culture:The Panther played a prominent role in the 1954 movie Men of the Fighting Lady . The F9F was featured in the flying sequences in the 1954 movie The Bridges at Toko-Ri, although in the 1953 James A...
fighter-bomber
Fighter-bomber
A fighter-bomber is a fixed-wing aircraft with an intended primary role of light tactical bombing and also incorporating certain performance characteristics of a fighter aircraft. This term, although still used, has less significance since the introduction of rockets and guided missiles into aerial...
aircraft. Bolt flew 94 combat missions with the squadron, all of them in bombing runs and close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
and air strike missions against ground targets. However, Bolt did not enjoy this duty, preferring instead to fly the Sabre in air-to-air combat. As his squadron headed to Japan for R&R, Bolt traveled to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
to visit the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Kimpo Airfield.
At the 4th Wing, Bolt met with commander Colonel Royal N. Baker
Royal N. Baker
Royal N. Baker was a United States Air Force flying ace during the Korean War. He accrued 13 victories in the war....
. Baker understood Bolt's desire to fly in combat units, but he would not allow this to happen. Bolt subsequently went to the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Suwon Airfield to observe its operations. There he met with George I. Ruddell, an acquaintance from El Toro, who was commanding the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. Ruddell agreed to let Bolt join his unit as part of another officer exchange. This apparently angered some of his commanders in VMF-115, and Bolt completed a requisite six weeks of duty with the wing prior to its next R&R.
Exchange and combat
Six weeks later, Bolt again turned down his R&R and joined the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, flying the F-86 Sabre. Ruddell assigned Bolt to learn from First Lieutenant Joseph C. McConnellJoseph C. McConnell
Joseph Christopher McConnell, Jr. was the top American flying ace during the Korean War. A native of Dover, New Hampshire, Captain McConnell was credited with shooting down 16 MiG-15s while flying North American F-86 Sabres with the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross...
, who would be the top ace in the war. Bolt and McConnell quickly established a close friendship in spite of Bolt's superior rank, and Bolt attributed his success in Korea to McConnell's guidance. Ruddell sent a request to Lieutenant General Glenn C. Barcus, commander of the Fifth United States Air Force, that Bolt's tour with the squadron be extended. The request was granted, and McConnell and Bolt began going on combat missions together as wingmen in MiG alley
MiG Alley
"MIG Alley" is the name given by U.S. Air Force pilots to the northwestern portion of North Korea, where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea. During the Korean War, it was the site of numerous dogfights between U.S. fighter jets and those of the Communist forces, particularly the Soviet...
, the area in northwestern Korea where air-to-air combat was most frequent. Bolt's Sabre, tail number
Tail number
A tail number refers to an identification number painted on an aircraft, frequently on the tail.Tail numbers can represent:* An aircraft registration number * United States military aircraft serials-See also:...
52-2582, was named Darling Dottie.
On June 24, Bolt flew his 31st combat mission, in which he engaged a single MiG and shot it down after a quick battle in the vicinity of the Yalu River. A week later on June 30 he was flying another mission in the same area when he spotted and quickly shot down another MiG. By the end of the month, Bolt had credit for four victories and two aircraft "damaged."
On July 11 he led another flight of four fighters in a reconnaissance mission above Sinuiju
Sinuiju
Sinŭiju is a city in North Korea, neighboring with Dandong City, China via international border and is the capital of North P'yŏngan Province...
, his 37th combat mission in Korea. In the midst of this patrol two of the aircraft departed after their fuel tanks were depleted, leaving Bolt and one wingman to continue the patrol. The two pilots soon after spotted a formation of four MiGs taking off from an airstrip on the Chinese side of the Yalu River. In spite of low fuel, Bolt ordered an attack. He made a head-on dive toward the formation, which was attempting to gain altitude, and hit the leading airplane with four machine gun bursts, causing it to crash. Bolt then banked his aircraft and aimed for the second aircraft in the formation, continuing the attack and scoring hits on its fuselage, eventually causing its pilot to bail out and prompting the remaining two MiGs to flee. Within five minutes of the engagement, Bolt shot down two of the MiGs after firing 1,200 rounds of ammunition, a relatively difficult feat. He became the 37th of 40 US flying aces in the war, and the last of the seven aces who were double aces from World War II. For these actions Bolt became the final Marine aviator to be awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
during the war. Bolt is only non-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...
pilot to become an ace in the F-86 and the only naval aviator to become an ace in two wars.
Shortly after this final mission, Bolt's tour of duty ended and he was rotated back to the United States for an extended rest and vacation, which he spent with his family.
Later Marine Corps career
Following his return from Korea, Bolt was assigned to the US Navy Bureau of AeronauticsBureau of Aeronautics
The Bureau of Aeronautics was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization for Naval Aviation from 1921 to 1959. The bureau had "cognizance" for the design, procurement, and support of Naval aircraft and related systems...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as an aircraft design engineer. In this duty, he was detailed to 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...
and a board which reported on aircraft performance and tactics. A press conference was held in September 1953 to welcome Bolt to the position, and there he told his stories in Korea for the first time to local newspapers. Bolt's experiences in World War II and the Korean War were used to help shape air combat doctrine. Bolt worked in this assignment for around a year, until 1954 when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and moved to the Naval Pilot Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
"Pax River" redirects here. For the river, see Patuxent River.Naval Air Station Patuxent River , also known as NAS Pax River, is a United States Naval Air Station located in St. Mary's County, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Patuxent River. It is home to the U.S...
, in St. Mary's County, Maryland. During this time, he took evening classes at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Military History
Military history
Military history is a humanities discipline within the scope of general historical recording of armed conflict in the history of humanity, and its impact on the societies, their cultures, economies and changing intra and international relationships....
In 1957, Bolt was ordered to Marine Corps Base Quantico to attend a one-year instruction in the Senior School of Amphibious Warfare in a program which would later be incorporated into the accredited curriculum of the Marine Corps University
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
. After this one-year stint, Bolt was assigned to command VMF-214, his World War II squadron, at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay
Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay
Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay or MCAS Kaneohe Bay is a United States Marine Corps airfield located within the Marine Corps Base Hawaii complex, formerly known as Marine Corps Air Facility Kaneohe Bay or Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay...
on the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
from November 5, 1957 to August 14, 1959. The squadron, which was part of Marine Aircraft Group 13
Marine Aircraft Group 13
Marine Aircraft Group 13 is a United States Marine Corps aviation unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma that is currently composed of four AV-8B Harrier squadrons and a maintenance and logistics squadron...
, flew the FJ-4 Fury
FJ-4 Fury
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Andrade, John. U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9....
. His final assignment as an instructor at the Senior School of Amphibious Warfare, again at Quantico. He taught at this school for the final three years of his career, and retired from the Marine Corps on March 31, 1962.
Later life
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Bolt, then 40 years old, began a new career in finance. He and his wife moved back to Sanford, Florida where Bolt worked for the local Chase BankChase (bank)
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., doing business as Chase, is a national bank that constitutes the consumer and commercial banking subsidiary of financial services firm JPMorgan Chase. The bank was known as Chase Manhattan Bank until it merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2000...
's mercantile division. Bolt worked in finance for five years, until 1967.
In 1967, Bolt decided to return to his original career aspirations to be a lawyer. He enrolled in the law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law, where his son Robert was also in attendance. The two formed an American handball
American handball
American handball is a sport in which players hit a small rubber ball against a wall using their hands.- History :...
team during their spare time, and would won several tournaments. Bolt's program had a 3-year curriculum, but he completed the degree in 27 months, graduating with a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in December 1969. For two years after graduation, Bolt stayed with the university to teach, and from 1969 to 1971 he was a law instructor as well as the president of the Board of Trustees of Alpha Tau Omega, the fraternity he had joined while an undergraduate at the university.
After this stint as an instructor, Bolt and his wife moved to New Smyrna Beach, a place both of them had enjoyed in their childhood. Bolt then began a private law practice and became a local property owner. During this time he was described as a "softspoken, kind, gentle person who would go out of his way to help a friend or a stranger." He specialized in real estate law and was the attorney for the city's utilities commission for 13 years. He retired from law in 1991.
Bolt subsequently lived a quiet life and kept frequent contact with his children, Robert became a lawyer in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and Barbara wrote for Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
. In May 1993, Bolt attended the 50th reunion of the original "Black Sheep" squadron in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and gave the toast at the beginning of the festivities. In 2003, he was inducted into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame at the American Airpower Heritage Museum
American Airpower Heritage Museum
The American Airpower Heritage Museum d.b.a. CAF Airpower Museum, is adjacent to the Commemorative Air Force Headquarters in Midland, Texas. The museum opened in its first building in Mercedes, Texas in 1965 as a location to house and display World War II artifacts as they began to be donated to...
in Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
.
Bolt died of acute leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in Tampa, Florida on September 8, 2004 after fleeing the approaching Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The system crossing the open Atlantic during mid to late August, moving to the north of the Lesser Antilles while strengthening. Its outer bands affected Puerto...
. At the time of his death, Bolt was the last surviving American double ace. He was survived by his wife and children, as well as two grandchildren.
Aerial victory credits
Bolt had a total of 12 victories during his career, with an additional "probable" victory and two aircraft damaged. He was the only US Marine Corps pilot to become an ace in the war, and remains the only US Marine Corps pilot to be an ace in two wars. Bolt was one of 1,297 World War II aces from the United States with six confirmed victories during that war. He later became one of 40 Korean War aces from the United States with six more confirmed victories during that war.Bolt is one of seven US pilots who achieved ace status as both a piston-engined pilot in World War II and as a jet pilot in a later conflict. The others are all USAF pilots; Francis S. Gabreski, James P. Hagerstrom, William T. Whisner, Vermont Garrison
Vermont Garrison
Vermont Garrison was a career officer in the United States Air Force, and an ace with 17.33 credited victories in aerial combat. He was one of only seven Americans to achieve ace status during World War II, then again against jet fighter opposition during the Korean War.Dubbed "the inner seven."...
and Harrison Thyng
Harrison Thyng
Brigadier General Harrison Reed Thyng was a fighter pilot and an officer in the United States Air Force with the rank of general. He is notable as one of only six USAF fighter pilots to be recognized as an ace in two wars...
, as well as George A. Davis, Jr..
| Date | |Type | |Aircraft flown | A6M Zero A6M Zero The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was a long-range fighter aircraft operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service from 1940 to 1945. The A6M was designated as the , and also designated as the Mitsubishi A6M Rei-sen and Mitsubishi Navy 12-shi Carrier Fighter. The A6M was usually referred to by the... | Bougainville Bougainville Island Bougainville Island is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. This region is also known as Bougainville Province or the North Solomons. The population of the province is 175,160 , which includes the adjacent island of Buka and assorted outlying islands... |
F4U Corsair F4U Corsair The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Demand for the aircraft soon overwhelmed Vought's manufacturing capability, resulting in production by Goodyear and Brewster: Goodyear-built Corsairs were designated FG and... |
VMF-214 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 1943 | 1 | A6M Zero | Bougainville | F4U Corsair | VMF-214 | |
| December 23, 1943 | 2 | A6M Zero | New Ireland New Ireland (island) New Ireland is a large island in Papua New Guinea, approximately 7,404 km² in area. It is the largest island of the New Ireland Province, lying northeast of the island of New Britain. Both islands are part of the Bismarck Archipelago, named after Otto von Bismarck, and they are separated by... |
F4U Corsair | VMF-214 | |
| January 4, 1944 | 1 | A6M Zero | Rabaul Rabaul Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the... |
F4U Corsair | VMF-214 | |
| May 16, 1953 | 1 | MiG 15 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in... |
North Korea North Korea The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea... |
F-86E 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... |
39th FIS 39th Flying Training Squadron The 39th Flying Training Squadron is currently part of the 340th Flying Training Group and is the reserve associate to the 12th Flying Training Wing based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.-Mission:... , 51st FIW 51st Fighter Wing The 51st Fighter Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Osan Air Base, South Korea.The 51st Fighter Wing is under Pacific Air Forces' Seventh Air Force... |
|
| June 22, 1953 | 1 | MiG 15 | North Korea | F-86E Sabre | 39th FIS, 51st FIW | |
| June 24, 1953 | 1 | MiG 15 | North Korea | F-86E Sabre | 39th FIS, 51st FIW | |
| June 30, 1953 | 1 | MiG 15 | North Korea | F-86E Sabre | 39th FIS, 51st FIW | |
| July 11, 1953 | 2 | MiG 15 | North Korea | F-86E Sabre | 39th FIS, 51st FIW | |
| Source: | ||||||
Awards and decorations
Bolt was decorated several times during World War II and the Korean War. His decorations included the following medals: |
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| Naval Aviator Badge United States Aviator Badge A United States Aviator Badge refers to three types of aviation badges issued by the United States military, those being for Army, Air Force, and Naval aviation.... |
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| Navy Cross Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all... |
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 2 award star Award star An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force... s |
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 1 award star |
Combat Action Ribbon Combat Action Ribbon The Combat Action Ribbon is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy and Coast Guard , have actively participated in ground or... with 1 award star |
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| Navy Presidential Unit Citation with 1 service star Service star A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service... |
Navy Unit Commendation Navy Unit Commendation The Navy Unit Commendation of the United States Navy is an award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944... |
China Service Medal China Service Medal The China Service Medal was a military medal awarded to U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel. The medal was instituted on August 23, 1940 and featured a yellow ribbon with narrow red edge stripes... |
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... |
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| Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal The Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served in the Pacific Theater from 1941 to 1945 and was created on November 6, 1942 by issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The medal was... with 2 service stars |
World War II Victory Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal The Navy Occupation Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy which was issued to Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel who participated in the European and Asian occupation forces following the close of the World War II. The decoration was also bestowed to personnel who... |
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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| Korean Service Medal Korean Service Medal The Korean Service Medal is an award of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary United States medal for participation in the Korean War and is awarded to any U.S. service member, who... with 3 service stars |
Korean Presidential Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation (Korea) The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is issued by the government of South Korea to both Korean military and foreign units. The last major issuance of the decoration was during the Korean War when the decoration was bestowed to several U.S., U.K., and Commonwealth military units... |
United Nations Korea Medal | Korean War Service Medal Korean War Service Medal The Korean War Service Medal is a decoration of South Korea which was first authorized in December 1950... In 2000 this award was made retroactive to all US military who served in the Korean War. |
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Navy Cross citation
See also
- List of historically important U.S. Marines
- List of World War II aces from the United States
- List of Korean War air aces
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....