Major Grover E. Fanning
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), U.S. Air Force (USAF) Fighter Pilot and Ace
Background
Grover Eugene Fanning was born November 6, 1919 to parents Charles A. Fanning and Mrs. Fanning in Mannsville, Oklahoma. He was the oldest of three children, his two brothers were Charles Fanning born 1924 and Bobby Ray Fanning born 1935. Later, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from Northeast High School class of 1937.
Wartime History
After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Riley in the cavalry and worked as a switchman for Burlington Railroad. On January 27, 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet and underwent primary flight training in Oxnard Army Airfield in California. Next, basic flight training in Merced Army Airfield in California and finished twin engine flying at Williams Field in Arizona. On August 27, 1942 he earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.
On November 26, 1942 Thanksgiving Day he married
Dorothy who worked in the shipyards in Tacoma, Washington State. The couple later divorced.
 In early 1943, sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). On April 1, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights" as a fighter pilot flying the P-38 Lightning with squadron number 97. Assigned P-38H 42-66845 Squadron Number 97.
On March 28, 1943 took off from Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) piloting a P-38 Lightning as part of "Green Flight" led by Captain Bill Haney with Lt. Floyd Finberg and 2nd Lt Fanning. Once airborne, they joined "Yellow Flight" and climbed to 24,000' and intercepted Val dive bombers over Oro Bay then their escorts. This was Fanning's first dog fight.
On April 12, 1943 took off on a patrol over Port Moresby and was airborne to intercept a large Japanese air raid and claimed a Betty bomber shot down, his first aerial victory claim plus a Betty damaged and an Oscar probable.
On May 14, 1943 at 8:00am took off from Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) as wingman for Lt. Floyd Finberg as part of "Red Flight" to intercept a Dinah but 20 minutes into the flight, Finberg had radio issues and passed the lead to his second element Lt. Alger that instead intercepted the Dinah over Cape Ward Hunt. Returning, Finberg and Fanning joined "Green Flight" and intercepted Zeros in a dog fight.
On August 2, 1943 took off from Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) as part of "Blue Flight" as wingman for flight leader Lt Wally Jordan with Frank Wunder. They engaged Oscars in a curving attack from left and made a head on pass. At the start of the air combat, Fanning was only able to release one drop tank but claimed an Oscar shot down. He feather his left engine due to an overheating supercharger then broke off from the engagement to join the high altitude cover and returned to base safely.
Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
On September 2, 1943 took off from Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) as part of "Blue Flight" led by Captain Gerald R. Johnson with wingmen Lt. Fanning and Lt. Theron Price on a mission over Cape Gloucester. During the air combat, claimed a twin engine fighter shot down, likely a Ki-45 Nick that crashed into the sea just off Cape Gloucester Airfield. Afterwards, Fanning flew down and overflew the burning wreckage and oil slick on the surface to confirm the victory, his fifth and became an ace. Next, he saw another twin engine fighter, likely another Ki-45 Nick and chased it and shot it down expending all his ammunition and saw it crash and explode at the end of Cape Gloucester Airfield.
On October 13, 1943 at 10:20am took off from Kiriwina Airfield flying a P-38 Lightning as part of blue flight and climbed to 15,000' on a mission to escort B-24s on a mission against Rabaul. The P-38s rendezvoused with the B-24s north of Kiriwina and encountered a weather including precipitation and clouds over the Solomon Sea.
On October 15, 1943 took off from
Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) as part of "Red Flight" led by Gerry Johnson with 2nd Lt. Ray Swift with element leader Fanning and with element wingman 2nd Lt. Bob Wood intercepted an incoming Japanese air raid over Oro Bay. After shooting their way past escorts, Fanning enaged a Oscar from the rear and claimed it as shot down.
On October 17, 1943 took off from Horanda Airfield (Dobodura No. 4) leading "Green Flight" with rookie wingmen 2nd Lt. Charlie McElroy, element leader 2nd Lt. James W. Harris and element wingman 2nd Lt. Del Moore on a mission to intercept an incoming Japanese air raid and after reaching Oro Bay was vectored to climb to 25,000' then up the coast to Buna to intercept a formation of enemy fighters head-on. During the air combat, his flight made two turns with the enemy then shot down a Tony about to engage Harris and caused it to explode. As the remaining enemy dove for clouds made a head on pass against a Zeke that crashed into the sea and claimed it as an aerial victory.
Promoted to the rank of Captain.
 During late 1944, promoted to the rank of Major. Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 507th Fighter Group (507th FG), 464th Fighter Squadron (464th FS). On June 24, 1945 moves to Ie Shima Airfield operating the P-47N Thunderbolt as operations officer until the end of the Pacfic War.
Postwar
In 1946, stationed at Chanute Field in Champaign, Illinois as a food service supervisor and married his second wife, Beatrice May Cramer. On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). During the Korean War served as a fighter pilot.
Aerial Victory Claims
Fanning was officially credited with nine aerial victories, two probables and one damaged.
Awards
In total, Fanning was credited with nine aerial victories. He earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with two oak leaf clusters and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Memorial
Fanning died July 20, 1991 at age 71. He is buried at Leavenworth National Cemetery in section 46, row 11, site 29.
Relatives
Dorothy Fanning (first wife married 1942)
Beatrice May Cramer Fanning (second wife married 1946 died 2011 at age 85)
References
The Kansas City Star "Tear Into Jap Armada – Allies Lose Two Planes in Destroying Twenty-Nine of Enemy's" by Tom Yarbrough (AP) April 13, 1943 page 6
The Kansas City Star "Bag Two Jap Planes – Lieut. Grover Fanning Takes Part in Wewak Raid" September 4, 1943 page 2
The Kansas City Star "His Zero Bag Mounts – Kansas City Flier in New Guinea in Streak" December 13, 1943 page 3
Chanute Field Wings "Maj. Fanning to Attend AAF Food Connference [sic Conference]" June 21, 1946 page 1
Stars & Bars (1995) pages 36 (9th FS, Fanning), 262 (Fanning)
Battle Stars 464th Fighter Squadron from Bruning, Nebraska to Ie Shima, Ryukyus page 24 (photo: Major "Bloody Good Show" Fanning), 36 (photo)
Protect & Avenge (1995) pages 130-131 (March 28, 1943), 136 (April 12, 1943), 140 (victories), 142-143 (May 14, 1943), 180-181 (August 2, 1943), 186-187 (September 2, 1943), 198 (October 15, 1943), 202-204 (October 17, 1943), 237 (group photo),
355 (index Fanning)
Hall of Valor Grover Eugene Fanning (photo)
FindAGrave - Grover Eugene Fanning (photos, grave photo)
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