Major Royal E. Koons USAF
 

This pilot was a veteran of WW2 and Korea before he was KIFA in 1956. Does anyone have more details of his life and career other than his command of 16th FIS/51st FIW in 1951-1952?

I believe he was born in 1922.

Re: Major Royal E. Koons USAF
 

There is an entry for him on FindAGrave, but other than date of birth and death, and links to entries for his parents, spouse, and siblings (all deceased) there are no other details.
A check of Google shows only some newspaperachive.com references to the fatal accident.
I do not show him with any air-to-air claims in WW2 or Korea.

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: Major Royal E. Koons USAF
 

Keith,
He is listed and pictured as CO of 48th FIS (now 48th FTS) Nov 1952-Oct 1956 (must be Jun 1956?) on http://ww35.usafunithistory.com/PDF/...INING%20SQ.pdf

Regards,
Leendert

Re: Major Royal E. Koons USAF
 

Koons is well and truly castigated by Clark in both his Korean War memoirs. Weak-willed and fond of a drink. However Clark dislikes and disparages just about everyone who led or contradicted him during his Korean War service. See "Not Quite a Hero: Fighting the Migs with Gabreski, Mahurin and Adams" and "F-86E Sabre vs. Russian MiG-15: Some Korean Air-to-Air War Tales Revisited" by forler LtCol Joseph R Clark.