1st Lt. Jerome A. Volk
F-80C Shooting Star 49-845 Missing In Action (MIA) November 7, 1951

Background
Jerome Aloys Volk was born March 17, 1925 in Harvey, North Dakota.

Wartime History
During 1945 enlisted in in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet, earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.

On July 23, 1945 while taxing P-51D Mustang 44-73435 at Page Field suffered a ground collision and was substantially damage.

On September 18, 1947 became part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with serial number AO839907. During January 1949, joined the Wisconsin National Guard’s 126th Fighter Squadron (126th FS). On October 28, 1951 took off piloting T-33A Shooting Star 49-0998 and while landing suffered an accident due to mechanical failure.

During the Korean War, assigned to the 36th Fighter Bomber Squadron (36th FBS), 8th Fighter Bomber Group (8th FBG).

Mission History
On November 7, 1951 took off piloting F-80C Shooting Star 49-845 on a strafing mission and his wing tanks fell off and crashed near Otan-Ni in North Korea. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Volk was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal National Defense Service Medal Korean Service Medal Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation United Nations Service Medal Republic of Korea War Service Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Volk was the first Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot killed in the Korean War.

Volk is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 8. He is also memorialized on the National Korean War Veterans Memorial, panel 99.

The Wisconsin National Guard rededicated part of Camp Williams to be used by the Wisconsin Air National Guard, as Volk Field Air National Guard (Volk Field ANG).

During January 2015, Volk was nducted into the Wisconsin Air National Guard Hall of Fame.

References
Korean War Project - 1Lt Jerome Aloys Volk
DPAA Personnel Profile - 1st Lt. Jerome A. Volk
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jerome Aloys Volk
Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation - Jerome A. Volk (photo)
FindAGrave - 1LT Jerome Aloys Volk (photo, courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 1LT Jerome Aloys Volk (photo, National Korean War Veterans Memorial)
Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs - First Lieutenant Jerome A. Volk

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