Major Royal E. Koons USAF

[keith A]

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.

[Frank Olynyk]

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.

[Leendert]

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

[keith A]

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.

[keith A]

Found a bit more about Royal Koons.

He is born in Kansas on Dec.7, 1921.

He enlists in the Army Medical Corps on July 25, 1942.

Unfortunately that's where it ends for me. I assume he was commissioned in WW2 (he was a Major by 1951, so that seems possible).

When he went into flight training is pure conjecture on my part but I assume in the latter years of WW2. The claim on his headstone is that he was a highly decorated veteran of WW2 and that his medals are a DFC, BSM, AM and 5 OLC and the KSM.

The DFC, Bronze Star and Air Medals do appear remarkable if his entire active military service is confined to Korea May '51-Mar '52. Especially when he claims no aerial victories in this period but according to Clark the USAF were very "medal-hungry" during this period.

Any comments gratefully received.

Keith

[RSwank]

He was commissioned 3 Nov 1943.

[keith A]

Another detail, many thanks