Colonel Lynn Elwood Witt, Jr.
U.S. Army Air Force (USAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF)
Background
Lynn Elwood Witt, Jr. was born April 8, 1916 in Jonesville just outside Bowdon, Georgia. He completed high school and two years of college at Bowdon College and West Georgia College and worked as a civil engineer before enlisting in the military. Nicknamed L. E.
Wartime History
On December 29, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet with serial number 14066537 at MacDill Field. He attended flight school in July 1942 earned his wings and was commissioned December 13, 1942 as a Second Lieutenant with serial number O-795008 then sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS) as a fighter pilot and was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
On January 16, 1944 over Saidor, the squadron intercept a formation of Japanese fighters including Ki-43 Oscars and Ki-61 Tony (incorrectly identified as Hamps, Oscars and Tonys). They claim 19 confirmed kills and 3 probables with Witt claiming three aerial victories. This combat set the wartime record for 5th Fighter Command for victories claimed by a single squadron during a single engagement.
 By late 1944, promoted to the rank of Captain. In the Philippines, he ordered to attack a Japanese Naval force of nine ships with limited refueling and rearming facilities, the squadron left for the attack with 15 P-38’s, but without the 500 pound bombs they would have normally carried. Captain Witt made two low level staffing runs on a ship which set off fires and secondary explosions that sank the destroyer. For this accomplishment Witt earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).
In total, Witt flew 326 missions, was credited with six aerial victories and logged 905 hours of combat flying time flying fighter aircraft including the P-39 Airacobra, P-40N Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning. His personal aircraft was nicknamed “Homesick”.
Aerial Victory Claims
Witt was officially credited with six aerial victories between December 26, 1943 until November 1, 1944.
Postwar
Witt continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) until he retired with the rank of Colonel in May 1969 and returned to his hometown. For five years of his career he was stationed at Robins Air Force Base (Robins AFB) as the head of Air Force recruiting. On April 24, 2010, in recognition of his distinguished contributions to the field of aviation Witt was enshrined into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.
Memorials
Witt passed away on July 12, 2003 at the age of 87. He is buried at Bowdon First United Methodist Cemetery in Bowdon, Georgia.
Awards
For his service in World War II, Witt earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one Silver and three Bronze Stars, the World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and Philippine Independence Ribbon. For his U.S. Air Force (USAF) service he earned the Longevity Service Award with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lynn E. Witt, Jr.
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Witt, Lynn E. Jr. page 204 (PDF page 211)
FindAGrave - Lynn Elwood Witt Jr. (grave photo)
Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame - Witt, Jr., Colonel Lynn "L.E."
Attack & Conquer (1995) does not mention this loss
Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis information
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