Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Lt Col Jay Zeamer Jr ~ 05 March 2018
Serving The BEst Troops and Veterans In The World !! | The Canteen Crew

Posted on 03/04/2018 5:02:53 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer, Jr.

Info from here, here and here.

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

Jay Zeamer Jr. (July 25, 1918 - March 22, 2007) was a pilot of the United States Army Air Forces in the South Pacific during World War II, and received the Medal of Honor for valor during an air mission on June 16, 1943. Zeamer is one of only seven known Eagle Scouts who also received the Medal of Honor. The others are Aquilla J. Dyess, Robert Edward Femoyer, Eugene B. Fluckey, Mitchell Paige, Benjamin L. Salomon, and Leo K. Thorsness.

Watch "Old 666" video here.

Born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Zeamer grew up in Orange, New Jersey, the son of a traveling-salesman. He spent many summers at Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where he enjoyed rowing a homemade boat in the harbor.

Zeamer became an Eagle Scout at the age of thirteen, and enrolled in Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana, at fourteen. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after graduating high school and enrolled in the Reserve Officers Training Corps as a prospective officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

With a developing interest in aviation he joined a local flying club in nearby Norwood for lessons. In 1939, while still at MIT, Zeamer was commissioned an infantry second lieutenant in the Army Reserve. He graduated in 1940 with a degree in civil engineering and was assigned to Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Zeamer was discharged to enlist in the Regular Army as a flying cadet and completed primary flight school at Glenview, Illinois, where his leadership skills earned him the position of Captain of Cadets. In March 1941 he received his wings and a commission in the U.S. Army Air Corps after graduating from advanced flight school at Maxwell Field, Alabama.

His initial assignment was an engineering officer service testing the new B-26 Marauder with the 22nd Bombardment Group (Medium), based at Langley Field, Virginia, following which he was assigned to the group's 19th Bombardment Squadron as a co-pilot. On December 8, 1941, the 22nd BG was transferred from Langley to California to fly anti-submarine patrols off the West Coast of the United States. In March 1942 the 22nd BG was deployed to Australia, where Zeamer flew his first combat mission as a B-26 co-pilot on April 6, 1942. 1st Lt. Zeamer transferred to the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) in September 1942, a group that flew the four-engined B-17 Flying Fortress, as a supernumerary with group headquarters.

On September 14, 1942, the 43rd BG moved to a forward base at Port Moresby, New Guinea, where it conducted both bombing and photographic reconnaissance missions. Acting primarily as an intelligence officer, Zeamer began flying combat again in October, filling in on combat crews needing a second pilot, and on a mission in November to photograph Simpson Harbor at Rabaul, New Britain, earned the Silver Star. Promoted to captain in April 1943 and becoming a pilot in the 43rd BG's 65th Bomb Squadron, Zeamer was awarded a second Silver Star for a night mission to Wewak in May 1943.

On June 16, 1943, volunteered to fly an unescorted B-17 nicknamed Old 666 to Buka, a small island off the north coast of Bougainville, a 1200-mile round-trip mission, to photograph Japanese installations and map the west coast of Bougainville as far south as Empress Augusta Bay in preparation for Allied landings scheduled for early November. Apparently unbeknownst to Allied intelligence, the Japanese had moved about 400 fighters into the Solomon Islands on June 15. The mission was Zeamer's 47th in combat.

The photo reconnaissance mission was without incident, although Zeamer's crew reported observing 20 fighters taking off from Buka airfield. Zeamer continued south to the mapping run and shortly before its completion, his B-17 was intercepted by five Japanese fighters attacking from the front. Though wounded in the attack, bombardier 2nd Lt. Joseph Sarnoski continued to fire his nose gun, shooting down two airplanes, including a Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" reconnaissance plane. Zeamer also destroyed one of the attackers using a nose gun fired remotely by a switch on the flight control column. A 20-millimeter cannon shell exploded in the nose of the B-17, severely wounding Sarnoski and knocking him out of the compartment. Sarnoski dragged himself back to his station and continued to fire until he died at his position.

The B-17's oxygen and hydraulic systems were destroyed, as were the pilot's flight instruments, in the initial attack. Zeamer, injured with a broken leg and numerous fragment wounds, dove the bomber steeply from its assigned mission altitude of 25,000 feet to approximately 10,000 feet (where the crew could survive without use of the oxygen system), estimating the altitude by an increase in engine manifold pressure. An estimated 17 fighters began a series of attacks after the bomber leveled off, waging a 45-minute battle until low on fuel. Zeamer saved the B-17 by taking evasive action to disrupt their deflection, and the crew of the B-17 shot down at least two additional fighters.

Zeamer refused first aid for his wounds and flew the B-17 until the fighters broke off the engagement. Lapsing in and out of consciousness, he assessed the battle damage to the bomber, and concluded they would be unable to climb over the Owen Stanley Mountains, instructing the copilot, who was unwounded, to make an emergency landing at an Allied fighter airstrip at Dobodura, New Guinea. Without operable brakes or flaps because of the destroyed hydraulic system, the B-17 was ground-looped by the co-pilot. The casualties were one killed (Sarnoski) and six wounded.

At first thought dead from a massive loss of blood, Zeamer survived the ordeal, although nearly losing his leg during recovery. Colonel Merian C. Cooper, chief of staff to the deputy commander of the Fifth Air Force, Major General Ennis Whitehead, recommended Zeamer receive the Medal of Honor, to which Fifth Air Force commander General George Kenney concurred. He received the award from Chief of the Army Air Forces General Henry H. Arnold on January 16, 1944, at the Pentagon.

Sarnoski was also awarded the Medal of Honor, the only instance of World War II when two members of one crew were honored for separate acts of heroism in the same combat engagement. All other members of Zeamer's crew received the Distinguished Service Cross.

Zeamer was promoted to major on July 8, 1943, and lieutenant colonel in April 1944. He spent fifteen months of hospital recovery at Walter Reed General Hospital and returned to active duty at Mitchel Field, New York as a Tactical Field Air Inspector. On January 18, 1945, Zeamer retired from the USAAF on disability.

He returned to MIT and obtained a Master's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1946. Zeamer then worked for a series of aerospace companies: Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Connecticut, followed by Hughes Aircraft in Los Angeles, California, and finally Raytheon in Bedford, Massachusetts, until his retirement in 1968.  After his retirement, Zeamer moved to Boothbay Harbor, Maine, where he enjoyed rowing in the harbor, as he had done in his childhood. He also had a second home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Zeamer married in 1949, and with his wife Barbara raised five daughters: Marcia, Jacque, Jayne, Susan, and Sandra. Barbara Zeamer stated that he rarely talked about his wartime experiences or the medal. "I think he didn't feel he deserved it. He was so close to his bombardier [Joseph Sarnoski] and he felt terrible about his being killed."

Zeamer died in a nursing home at age 88. At the time of his death, he was the last living Medal of Honor recipient of the Army Air Forces. Zeamer's funeral was held on March 26, 2007, with a burial at Arlington National Cemetery. The Governor of Maine, John Baldacci, ordered that flags in the state be flown at half-staff on the day of the funeral.

Zeamer's Medal of Honor mission was featured on The History Channel and in the first chapter of the 1968 Martin Caidin's Flying Forts: The B-17 in WWII. Caidin describes "Old 666" as similar to the "Leper Colony" B-17 of the movie Twelve O'Clock High, but that Zeamer gathered his crew of misfits himself.

The MIT "Lt. Col. Jay Zeamer Squadron" of the Arnold Air Society and, on October 17, 2008, the Pope AFB headquarters building were named in Zeamer's honor.

Medal of Honor citation

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to:

ZEAMER, JAY JR. (Air Mission)

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Army Air Corps. Place and date: Over Buka area, Solomon Islands, June 16, 1943. Entered service at: Machias, Maine. Birth: Carlisle, Pa. G.O. No.: 1, January 4, 1944.

Citation:

On 16 June 1943, Major Zeamer (then Captain) volunteered as pilot of a bomber on an important photographic mapping mission covering the formidably defended area in the vicinity of Buka, Solomon Islands. While photographing the Buka airdrome. his crew observed about 20 enemy fighters on the field, many of them taking off. Despite the certainty of a dangerous attack by this strong force, Major Zeamer proceeded with his mapping run, even after the enemy attack began. In the ensuing engagement, Major Zeamer sustained gunshot wounds in both arms and legs, one leg being broken. Despite his injuries, he maneuvered the damaged plane so skillfully that his gunners were able to fight off the enemy during a running fight which lasted 40 minutes. The crew destroyed at least 5 hostile planes, of which Major Zeamer himself shot down one. Although weak from loss of blood, he refused medical aid until the enemy had broken combat. He then turned over the controls, but continued to exercise command despite lapses into unconsciousness, and directed the flight to a base 580 miles away. In this voluntary action, Major Zeamer, with superb skill, resolution, and courage, accomplished a mission of great value.

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last
To: Kathy in Alaska

Evening, Kathy! I just got home & I got pleasantly surprised by another bio.


61 posted on 03/04/2018 8:20:29 PM PST by MoochPooch (I'm a compassionate cynic.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoMch2uLhYE


62 posted on 03/04/2018 8:22:37 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

I brought that up but he said they’d probably kill it. That’s why he hasn’t called them already.


63 posted on 03/04/2018 8:30:31 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

I miss Honolulu Lulu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ud0IYMG1MCo


64 posted on 03/04/2018 8:58:11 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

Off to bed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0puHKg_CjQ


65 posted on 03/04/2018 9:07:31 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

Met a girl in france named agnus... Meh.


66 posted on 03/04/2018 9:14:55 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: radu

Well, darn. I guess they aren’t protected or endangered or whatever it takes?

But...he can’t stay in your barn. LOL!


67 posted on 03/04/2018 9:15:29 PM PST by luvie (Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: MoochPooch

Welcome home, Mooch...glad you enjoyed the bio of a new hero.


68 posted on 03/04/2018 9:26:06 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: mylife
Good night, my. Thanks for helping honor our military, and thank you for your service to our country.


69 posted on 03/04/2018 9:29:58 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

Nope, not protected here.
Coyotes were for a while but not any more. It’s open season on them.

A little part of me thinks Hubby likes having an excuse to keep everyone inside. We’ve lost so many over the years to coyotes, dogs, and who knows what and there’s always that nagging worry any time we let them out. If they’re inside, there’s no worry.

But for now, the bobcat is here.


70 posted on 03/04/2018 9:36:44 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: radu

http://www.furrondy.net/

10 days of lots of events. Lots of fun things to do. Lots of walking.

Ashlie was almost 2 when we took her the first time. She cried the whole merry-go-round ride. d:o)


71 posted on 03/04/2018 9:40:40 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: mylife
w h !!

Thanks, unique!

my.....#50!!


72 posted on 03/04/2018 9:50:32 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

It sounds like y’all have a lot of fun up there. Running of the Reindeer? LOL! That must be a hoot to see!

Poor Ashlie being afraid of the merry-go-round.


73 posted on 03/04/2018 9:51:08 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: radu

Your hubby is an ol’ softy where those kittehs are concerned. :) That’s great since he has them everywhere. If the cats don’t mind staying in, then all is good.

Just hope big kitty moves on so they will be able to go out when it’s warm.

I saw Ghost tonight and twice yesterday. He turned just the right way and I noticed a horrible open sore or wound behind his ear that I hadn’t noticed before. I was shocked and I feel so bad for him. It has to hurt a lot, but there’s nothing I can do. If I could get antibiotics into his food to help him heal, I’d do it.


74 posted on 03/04/2018 10:07:36 PM PST by luvie (Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: radu

Crying the WHOLE time, and no way to get off. I was right there with her, but no comfort at all. LOL!


75 posted on 03/04/2018 10:13:26 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

He IS a softy about the cats. Almost as bad as I am. LOL!
But that’s why he hesitates to shoot the bobcat .... it’s a cat. And a pretty one, he said. I have yet to see it.
His sister got her hands on a bobkitten several years ago and raised it, so he’s been around one up-close-and-personal.

But it would be nice if it’ll move on. With all the available food here - squirrels, groundhogs, etc. - that might not happen very soon.

Poor Ghost! Another booboo behind his ear? Wonder if he has ear mites and is scratching too much. We’ve had that problem here a few times and they’ll scratch horrible sores behind their ears. Earmiteacide takes care of it but there’s no way you can get the drops into his ear.


76 posted on 03/04/2018 11:08:08 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

Too bad she wasn’t crazy about horse when she was little. She wouldn’t have been so afraid. She’d have wanted to ride over and over again. LOL


77 posted on 03/04/2018 11:09:49 PM PST by radu (God bless our military men and women, past and present)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: radu

I figured he’d have to love cats to be so tolerant of so many. That’s a good thing. Y’all both have that love of them.

I wish I could help him, but the couple of times I tried to reach out a finger to touch his fur, you could see one of his front paws tense up like I’d be cut to ribbons if I made contact. LOL!

Guess I’d better go. I was up before the alarm this morning and it’s telling on me...even with a nap. See ya tomorrow night!


78 posted on 03/04/2018 11:19:59 PM PST by luvie (Our troops are the best of the best and we should honor them EVERY day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; StarCMC
A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

79 posted on 03/04/2018 11:21:40 PM PST by E.G.C.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: radu

The next year when she was almost 3 was a much more fun time. d:o)

Her very favorite thing, as soon as she was big enough, was the roller coaster. They have a kiddie one, and she would ride it as many times as we had tickets for her. I don’t do roller coasters no matter the size. I hold everyone’s stuff and watch.


80 posted on 03/04/2018 11:30:04 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-92 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson