John Francis Jackson
Encyclopedia
John Francis Jackson DFC
(23 February 1908 – 28 April 1942) was an Australian fighter ace
of World War II, credited with eight aerial victories. Born in Brisbane
, he was a grazier
and businessman when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Reserve in 1936. Called up for active service following the outbreak of war in September 1939, he served with No. 23 Squadron
in Australia before posting to the Middle East
in November 1940. As a fighter pilot with No. 3 Squadron
he flew Gloster Gladiator
s, Hawker Hurricane
s and P-40 Tomahawks during the North African
and Syria-Lebanon campaign
s. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
for his actions. Posted to the South West Pacific theatre
in March 1942, Jackson was promoted to Squadron Leader
and given command of No. 75 Squadron
at Port Moresby
, New Guinea, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. Described as "rugged, simple" and "true as steel", he earned praise for his leadership during the Battle of Port Moresby
before his death in combat on 28 April 1942. His younger brother Les
took over No. 75 Squadron, and also became a fighter ace. Jacksons International Airport
, Port Moresby, is named in John Jackson's honour.
suburb of New Farm
, Queensland, the eldest son of businessman William Jackson and his wife Edith. Educated at Brisbane Grammar School
and The Scots College, Warwick
, Jackson joined the Young Australia League
and visited Europe with the organisation. After leaving school he ran a grazing property
in St George
. In the early 1930s he went into business managing engineering and financial concerns. He subsequently took up flying, purchasing a Klemm Swallow
low-wing monoplane.
In August 1936, Jackson joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Reserve, known as the Citizen Air Force. He also competed in the 1936 South Australia
n centenary air race, flying from Brisbane to Adelaide
. On 17 February 1938, he married Elisabeth Thompson at Christ Church, North Adelaide
; the couple had a son and a daughter. Following the outbreak of World War II
, Jackson was called up for active duty as a Pilot Officer
in the RAAF on 2 October 1939. His younger brother Les
joined the Air Force the following month. Jackson served initially with No. 23 Squadron
at Archerfield
, Queensland, gaining promotion to Flying Officer
in April 1940. He was posted to the Middle East
in October 1940 to join No. 3 (Army Cooperation) Squadron
, disembarking a month later.
was at the controls of a Gloster Gladiator
. Soon after he arrived, he had an accident taking off that finished with the biplane on its nose. Once the unit converted to Hawker Hurricane
s, however, he began to score victories in quick succession. He shot down three Junkers Ju 87s in a single sortie near Mersa Matruh on 18 February 1941, the same action in which Gordon Steege
claimed three. On 5 April, Jackson fired several bursts at a Ju 87 before his guns jammed; he then made two more dummy attacks and succeeded in forcing the German plane to crash land in a wadi
, thus claiming his fourth aerial victory.
After converting to P-40 Tomahawks, No. 3 Squadron took part in the Syria-Lebanon campaign
. Jackson became a flying ace
on 25 June 1941, when he destroyed a Potez 630
light bomber (possibly a misidentified LeO 451) of the Vichy French
air force. He followed this up by claiming a Dewoitine D.520
fighter on 10 July. The next day Jackson shared in the destruction of another D.520 with Bobby Gibbes
; the pair tossed a coin to take full credit for it, which Gibbes won to claim his first "kill". Jackson was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
in July 1941, and returned to Australia that November to serve in the South West Pacific
.Garrisson gives Jackson credit for destroying a Macchi C.200
fighter on 8 January 1942, but this is contradicted by his Record of Service and the Australian Dictionary of Biography, both sources stating that Jackson returned from the Middle East in November the previous year. He was Mentioned in Despatches, and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC) for his "marked keeness and determination" during operations with No. 3 Squadron in the Middle East. The former award was promulgated in the London Gazette
on 1 January 1942 and the latter, which listed him as "John Henry Jackson", on 7 April. The DFC was presented to Jackson's widow Elisabeth, after his death.
at RAAF Station Point Cook, Victoria, and No. 4 Squadron
in Canberra
, Jackson was promoted to acting Squadron Leader
. He was appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of No. 75 Squadron
, barely two weeks after the unit was formed at Townsville, Queensland, on 4 March 1942. On 21 March he led its main force to Seven Mile Aerodrome to take part in the defence of Port Moresby
, one of the crucial early battles in the New Guinea campaign
, and described as "one of the most gallant episodes in the history of the RAAF". The squadron was equipped with P-40 Kittyhawks, whose long-awaited delivery to the Air Force had seen them irreverently dubbed "Tomorrowhawks", "Neverhawks", and "Mythhawks" by the beleaguered garrison at Moresby. Jackson's age of thirty-four was considered advanced for a fighter pilot, and he was affectionately known as "Old John" to his men, one of whom was his younger brother Les, now a Flight Lieutenant. As CO, Jackson's leadership was to prove inspirational to his pilots, many of whom had received only nine days of training in fighter tactics, and fired their guns just once.
On 22 March, the day after he arrived in New Guinea, Jackson took No. 75 Squadron on a surprise raid against Lae
airfield, claiming a dozen Japanese planes destroyed on the ground and five more damaged, for the loss of two Kittyhawks. The Japanese struck back the next day, destroying two Kittyhawks on Seven Mile Aerodrome. With his losses already mounting, Jackson was given permission to withdraw the squadron to Horn Island in Far North Queensland, but refused. On 4 April, he was hit by anti-aircraft fire while leading a strafing attack on enemy positions. Forced to ditch his aircraft on a coral reef, he made it to shore with the aid of a life jacket that Les dropped to him. Jackson had to crash land again six days later, when he was shot down after being surprised by three Zeros during a solo reconnaissance mission near Lae. After playing dead beside his crashed plane to discourage the Japanese fighters from machine-gunning him, he had to make his way through jungle for over a week to Wau, with the help of two New Guinea natives. When he arrived back at Port Moresby by plane on 23 April, it was during a Japanese air raid and a bullet cut off the tip of his right index finger. Five days later he led No. 75 Squadron's five remaining serviceable aircraft to intercept a force of Japanese bombers and their escort. He destroyed an enemy fighter before he himself was shot down and killed.Gillison (1962), Newton (1996) and Garrisson (1999) express doubt as to whether responsibility for the destruction of the Japanese fighter on 28 April 1942 belonged to Jackson or to another Australian shot down in the same battle. However the most recent works cited, Stephens (2001/2006) and Thomas (2005), both unequivocally ascribe this last victory to Jackson.
Les Jackson took over command of No. 75 Squadron the day after his brother was killed. John Jackson was survived by his wife and children, and interred in Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby. He was credited with a total of eight aerial victories during the war. His name appears on panel 104 of the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial
, Canberra. Port Moresby's Seven Mile Aerodrome was renamed Jackson's Strip in his honour; it later became Jacksons International Airport
. In a 1989 interview, fellow No. 75 Squadron member Flight Lieutenant Albert Tucker commented, "I would say that had John F. Jackson not existed, the squadron would not have been effective in that defence role for as long as it was ... So the whole spirit of John F's leadership, and I suppose his final sacrifice, was the thing that made 75 Squadron."
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(23 February 1908 – 28 April 1942) was an Australian fighter 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...
of World War II, credited with eight aerial victories. Born in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, he was a grazier
Pastoral farming
Pastoral farming is farming aimed at producing livestock, rather than growing crops. Examples include dairy farming, raising beef cattle, and raising sheep for wool. In contrast, mixed farming is growing of both crops and livestock on the same farm. Pastoral farmers are also known as graziers...
and businessman when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
Reserve in 1936. Called up for active service following the outbreak of war in September 1939, he served with No. 23 Squadron
No. 23 Squadron RAAF
No. 23 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force is a non-flying base operations and training squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland. The Squadron was formed in 1937 and saw action during World War II as a bomber squadron.-History:No...
in Australia before posting to the Middle East
Middle East Theatre of World War II
The Middle East Theatre of World War II is defined largely by reference to the British Middle East Command, which controlled Allied forces in both Southwest Asia and eastern North Africa...
in November 1940. As a fighter pilot with No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
he flew Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
s, Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s and P-40 Tomahawks during the North African
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and Syria-Lebanon campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
s. He was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
for his actions. Posted to the South West Pacific theatre
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
in March 1942, Jackson was promoted to Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
and given command of No. 75 Squadron
No. 75 Squadron RAAF
No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
at Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, New Guinea, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. Described as "rugged, simple" and "true as steel", he earned praise for his leadership during the Battle of Port Moresby
Battle of Port Moresby
The Battle of Port Moresby was an aerial battle fought between aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force , United States Army Air Force and aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy between 3 February 1942 and 17 August 1943 over Port Moresby, New Guinea.-References:**...
before his death in combat on 28 April 1942. His younger brother Les
Leslie Douglas Jackson
Leslie Douglas Jackson DFC & Bar was an Australian fighter ace of World War II, credited with five aerial victories. Born in Brisbane, he was a businessman when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve in 1937...
took over No. 75 Squadron, and also became a fighter ace. Jacksons International Airport
Jacksons International Airport
Jacksons International Airport , also known as Port Moresby Airport, is located 5 miles outside Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea...
, Port Moresby, is named in John Jackson's honour.
Early career
John Jackson was born on 23 February 1908 in the BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
suburb of New Farm
New Farm, Queensland
New Farm is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 2 km east of the Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River. New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through...
, Queensland, the eldest son of businessman William Jackson and his wife Edith. Educated at Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
and The Scots College, Warwick
The Scots PGC College
The Scots PGC College is an independent, co-educational, Uniting Church, day and boarding school, located in Warwick, Queensland, Australia.The College currently caters for approximately 450 international and Australian students from Prep to year 12, including 180 boarders.Located on two campuses,...
, Jackson joined the Young Australia League
Young Australia League
The Young Australia League is an Australian youth organisation which was formed in Perth, Western Australia in 1905 by Jack Simons and Lionel Boas...
and visited Europe with the organisation. After leaving school he ran a grazing property
Station (Australian agriculture)
Station is the term for a large Australian landholding used for livestock production. It corresponds to the North American term ranch or South American estancia...
in St George
St George, Queensland
St George is a town of approximately 2400 people in south-western Queensland, Australia. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Balonne. It was named by Major Thomas Mitchell who crossed the Balonne River on St George's Day, 23 April 1846. At the 2006 census, St George had a population of...
. In the early 1930s he went into business managing engineering and financial concerns. He subsequently took up flying, purchasing a Klemm Swallow
British Aircraft Swallow
|-See also:-References:*Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.* Scholefield, R.A. Manchester Airport. Stroud: Sutton Publishing Ltd, 1998. ISBN 0-7509-1954-X....
low-wing monoplane.
In August 1936, Jackson joined the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
Reserve, known as the Citizen Air Force. He also competed in the 1936 South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n centenary air race, flying from Brisbane to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
. On 17 February 1938, he married Elisabeth Thompson at Christ Church, North Adelaide
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.-History:...
; the couple had a son and a daughter. Following the outbreak of 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...
, Jackson was called up for active duty as a Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot officer is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks immediately below flying officer...
in the RAAF on 2 October 1939. His younger brother Les
Leslie Douglas Jackson
Leslie Douglas Jackson DFC & Bar was an Australian fighter ace of World War II, credited with five aerial victories. Born in Brisbane, he was a businessman when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve in 1937...
joined the Air Force the following month. Jackson served initially with No. 23 Squadron
No. 23 Squadron RAAF
No. 23 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force is a non-flying base operations and training squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland. The Squadron was formed in 1937 and saw action during World War II as a bomber squadron.-History:No...
at Archerfield
Archerfield, Queensland
Archerfield is an outer suburb of Brisbane, Australia. Archerfield is a sparsely populated suburb, with most of the land being occupied by Archerfield Airport.-Airport:...
, Queensland, gaining promotion to Flying Officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
in April 1940. He was posted to the Middle East
Middle East Theatre of World War II
The Middle East Theatre of World War II is defined largely by reference to the British Middle East Command, which controlled Allied forces in both Southwest Asia and eastern North Africa...
in October 1940 to join No. 3 (Army Cooperation) Squadron
No. 3 Squadron RAAF
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
, disembarking a month later.
Middle East
Jackson's first taste of action with No. 3 Squadron in the North African campaignNorth African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
was at the controls of a Gloster Gladiator
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter. It was used by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy and was exported to a number of other air forces during the late 1930s. It was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and was rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs even as it...
. Soon after he arrived, he had an accident taking off that finished with the biplane on its nose. Once the unit converted to Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
s, however, he began to score victories in quick succession. He shot down three Junkers Ju 87s in a single sortie near Mersa Matruh on 18 February 1941, the same action in which Gordon Steege
Gordon Steege
Air Commodore Gordon Henry Steege DSO, DFC is a retired senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force . He became a fighter ace in World War II, credited with eight aerial victories...
claimed three. On 5 April, Jackson fired several bursts at a Ju 87 before his guns jammed; he then made two more dummy attacks and succeeded in forcing the German plane to crash land in a wadi
Wadi
Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some cases, it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.-Variant names:...
, thus claiming his fourth aerial victory.
After converting to P-40 Tomahawks, No. 3 Squadron took part in the Syria-Lebanon campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
. Jackson became a 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...
on 25 June 1941, when he destroyed a Potez 630
Potez 630
The Potez 630 and its derivatives were a family of twin-engined aircraft developed for the Armée de l'Air in the late 1930s. The design was a contemporary of the British Bristol Blenheim and the German Messerschmitt Bf 110.-Design and development :...
light bomber (possibly a misidentified LeO 451) of the Vichy French
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
air force. He followed this up by claiming a Dewoitine D.520
Dewoitine D.520
The Dewoitine D.520 was a French fighter aircraft that entered service in early 1940, shortly after the opening of World War II. Unlike the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406, which was at that time the Armée de l'Airs most numerous fighter, the Dewoitine D.520 came close to being a match for the latest...
fighter on 10 July. The next day Jackson shared in the destruction of another D.520 with Bobby Gibbes
Bobby Gibbes
Robert Henry Maxwell Gibbes DSO, DFC & Bar, OAM was a leading Australian fighter ace of World War II. He was officially credited with shooting down 10¼ enemy aircraft, although his score is often reported as 12 destroyed...
; the pair tossed a coin to take full credit for it, which Gibbes won to claim his first "kill". Jackson was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
in July 1941, and returned to Australia that November to serve in the South West Pacific
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
.Garrisson gives Jackson credit for destroying a Macchi C.200
Macchi C.200
The Macchi C.200 Saetta was a World War II fighter aircraft built by Aeronautica Macchi in Italy, and used in various forms throughout the Regia Aeronautica . The MC.200 had excellent manoeuvrability and general flying characteristics left little to be desired...
fighter on 8 January 1942, but this is contradicted by his Record of Service and the Australian Dictionary of Biography, both sources stating that Jackson returned from the Middle East in November the previous year. He was Mentioned in Despatches, and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(DFC) for his "marked keeness and determination" during operations with No. 3 Squadron in the Middle East. The former award was promulgated in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 1 January 1942 and the latter, which listed him as "John Henry Jackson", on 7 April. The DFC was presented to Jackson's widow Elisabeth, after his death.
South West Pacific
Following brief postings to No. 1 Service Flying Training SchoolNo. 1 Flying Training School RAAF
No. 1 Flying Training School was a flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . It was one of the Air Force's original units, dating back to the service's formation in 1921, when it was based at RAAF Point Cook, Victoria. The school underwent a number of reorganisations during its...
at RAAF Station Point Cook, Victoria, and No. 4 Squadron
No. 4 Squadron RAAF
No. 4 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron responsible for training forward air controllers. The squadron was previously a fighter and army co-operation unit active in both World War I and World War II.-World War I:...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Jackson was promoted to acting Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
. He was appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of No. 75 Squadron
No. 75 Squadron RAAF
No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
, barely two weeks after the unit was formed at Townsville, Queensland, on 4 March 1942. On 21 March he led its main force to Seven Mile Aerodrome to take part in the defence of Port Moresby
Battle of Port Moresby
The Battle of Port Moresby was an aerial battle fought between aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force , United States Army Air Force and aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy between 3 February 1942 and 17 August 1943 over Port Moresby, New Guinea.-References:**...
, one of the crucial early battles in 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:...
, and described as "one of the most gallant episodes in the history of the RAAF". The squadron was equipped with P-40 Kittyhawks, whose long-awaited delivery to the Air Force had seen them irreverently dubbed "Tomorrowhawks", "Neverhawks", and "Mythhawks" by the beleaguered garrison at Moresby. Jackson's age of thirty-four was considered advanced for a fighter pilot, and he was affectionately known as "Old John" to his men, one of whom was his younger brother Les, now a Flight Lieutenant. As CO, Jackson's leadership was to prove inspirational to his pilots, many of whom had received only nine days of training in fighter tactics, and fired their guns just once.
On 22 March, the day after he arrived in New Guinea, Jackson took No. 75 Squadron on a surprise raid against Lae
Lae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
airfield, claiming a dozen Japanese planes destroyed on the ground and five more damaged, for the loss of two Kittyhawks. The Japanese struck back the next day, destroying two Kittyhawks on Seven Mile Aerodrome. With his losses already mounting, Jackson was given permission to withdraw the squadron to Horn Island in Far North Queensland, but refused. On 4 April, he was hit by anti-aircraft fire while leading a strafing attack on enemy positions. Forced to ditch his aircraft on a coral reef, he made it to shore with the aid of a life jacket that Les dropped to him. Jackson had to crash land again six days later, when he was shot down after being surprised by three Zeros during a solo reconnaissance mission near Lae. After playing dead beside his crashed plane to discourage the Japanese fighters from machine-gunning him, he had to make his way through jungle for over a week to Wau, with the help of two New Guinea natives. When he arrived back at Port Moresby by plane on 23 April, it was during a Japanese air raid and a bullet cut off the tip of his right index finger. Five days later he led No. 75 Squadron's five remaining serviceable aircraft to intercept a force of Japanese bombers and their escort. He destroyed an enemy fighter before he himself was shot down and killed.Gillison (1962), Newton (1996) and Garrisson (1999) express doubt as to whether responsibility for the destruction of the Japanese fighter on 28 April 1942 belonged to Jackson or to another Australian shot down in the same battle. However the most recent works cited, Stephens (2001/2006) and Thomas (2005), both unequivocally ascribe this last victory to Jackson.
Les Jackson took over command of No. 75 Squadron the day after his brother was killed. John Jackson was survived by his wife and children, and interred in Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby. He was credited with a total of eight aerial victories during the war. His name appears on panel 104 of the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
, Canberra. Port Moresby's Seven Mile Aerodrome was renamed Jackson's Strip in his honour; it later became Jacksons International Airport
Jacksons International Airport
Jacksons International Airport , also known as Port Moresby Airport, is located 5 miles outside Port Moresby, in Papua New Guinea...
. In a 1989 interview, fellow No. 75 Squadron member Flight Lieutenant Albert Tucker commented, "I would say that had John F. Jackson not existed, the squadron would not have been effective in that defence role for as long as it was ... So the whole spirit of John F's leadership, and I suppose his final sacrifice, was the thing that made 75 Squadron."