Clifford Dale Jolley (May 4, 1921 – July 13, 1995) was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force and the first Air National Guard pilot to become a flying ace during the Korean War.

Early life Jolley was born on May 4, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio.

Military career In 1941, Jolley enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. In 1942, after completion of flight training, Jolley received his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces. He was then assigned as a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk and Lockheed P-38 Lightning pilot with the 18th Fighter Squadron of the 343rd Fighter Group in Alaska, where he flew combat missions in the Aleutian Islands campaign during World War II.

Upon his return home after completion of his combat duty, Jolley served as an airplane mechanic and flight instructor in California. He briefly served in the California Air National Guard, where he completed his training in jet aircraft and served as gunnery instructor. In 1948, he began flying the Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars and North American F-86 Sabres. He then moved to Utah, where he joined the Utah Air National Guard in 1949. He toured with Utah Air National Guard in air demonstrations across the United States until 1952, when the Utah Air National Guard was activated for the Korean War.

Korean War In 1952, Jolley was assigned as a F-86 pilot with the 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Kimpo Air Base in South Korea during the Korean War. On May 4, 1952, on his 31st birthday, Jolley shot down his first MiG-15. On July 4, 1952, he scored his second aerial victory of the Korean War when he shot down a MiG-15 while protecting fighter-bombers over Korea. During the aerial battle, his aircraft was hit by enemy fire from MiG-15, resulting him being wounded and his aircraft damaged. Low on fuel and flying a heavily damaged aircraft, Jolley attempted to assist his wingman after receiving a distress call before he and his wingman ejected from their aircraft and then landed into the Yellow Sea. Jolley's wingman was killed following ejection while Jolley was briefly apprehended by North Korean soldiers before he was released following the soldiers' brief confrontation with the USAF crew of the H-5 rescue helicopter. For his heroism in the mission, Jolley received the Silver Star.

Jolley continued to fly further missions after his rescue. On August 7, Jolley downed two MiG-15s in a single mission and on the following day, during aerial patrol over MiG Alley, he shot down his fifth MiG-15, becoming the 18th American jet ace of the Korean War and the first from the National Guard. On September 15 and October 11, Jolley shot down his sixth and seventh MiG-15s, his final aerial victories.

During the war, Jolley scored seven aerial victories and 13 more probable. He flew F-86 bearing the name 'Jolley Roger' with Jolly Roger flag painted on it.

Post war After his service in Korea, Jolley became the operations officer for the 191st Fighter Squadron in the Utah National Guard. He later became a test pilot for Northrop Corporation. His flying career came to an end after he was diagnosed with diabetes at the age 33. Jolley remained in the Air National Guard until 1966, retiring at the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Later life Jolly married Mildred Pack on 1943. The couple had seven children. Following his military career, Jolley worked as an architect and designer. Later he owned a construction company, worked as a director of design for Boise Cascade and for the architecture department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Jolley died on July 13, 1995, at his home in Bountiful, Utah, following complications from a brain tumor.

Awards

USAF Command Pilot Badge Silver Star Distinguished Flying Crosswith three bronze oak leaf clustersPurple HeartAir Medalwith two bronze oak leaf clustersAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic–Pacific Campaign Medalwith bronze campaign starWorld War II Victory MedalNational Defense Service MedalKorean Service Medalwith bronze campaign starAir Force Longevity Service Awardwith three bronze oak leaf clustersArmed Forces Reserve Medalwith bronze hourglass deviceRepublic of Korea Presidential Unit CitationUnited Nations Service Medal for KoreaKorean War Service Medal

Silver Star citation

Jolley, Clifford D. Captain, U.S. Air Force 335th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, Fifth Air Force Date of Action: July 4, 1952

Citation:

See also

List of Korean War flying aces

References