Jack Otto Watson was born in Inchelium, Washington, on 1 September 1921. Enlisting in the Navy on 19 February 1942, he completed the Navy flight training program and was commissioned as an Ensign on 16 January 1943 and joined VF-33 as ordnance officer in June 1943. On 27 August the squadron arrived at Guadalcanal and was land-based in the Solomon Islands from that time until March 1944 flying F6F Hellcats.

Ensign Watson scored his first victory on 14 September 1943 when he shot down a Zeke fighter in a dogfight in the Ballale-Kahili area. On 2 November he splashed a Val dive-bomber in Empress Augusta Bay. Later, on 7 January 1944, he was credited with a probable when he smoked a Zeke over Rabaul. Two days after, his division returned to Rabaul and he knocked down two more Zekes for his 3rd and 4th victories.

On the squadron's second tour, VF-33 operated off the USS SANGAMON (CVE-26) and then the USS CHENANGO (CVE-28) during the Okinawa campaign from March to 4 August 1945. Promoted to Lieutenant (JG), Watson scored his fifth and final victory on 22 April when he destroyed an Oscar fighter over Miyako Jima. Later he served with the occupational forces at Sasabo, Japan.

Watson remained in the Navy until February 1948. He then served in the Navy Reserves and was executive officer of VF-86E from October 1948 to January 1950. He later served with VF-702, VF-665, VS-662, VA-661, and commanded FASRON-661 at NAS Anacostia and VA-661 at NAS Andrews. Promoted to Commander on 1 June 1957, he retired from the Navy Reserves in December 1968.

He has flown F4Fs, F6Fs, F4Us, ADs, SNBs and S3Fs.

Tally record: 5 confirmed and one probable

Decorations:
Distinguished Flying Cross with one Gold Star
3 Air Medals with three Gold Stars
Presidential Unit Citation with one Gold Star
Navy Unit Citation with one Gold Star