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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. James M. Anderson Jr.

Col. Laughlin took his first flying lesson and solo flight at Grand Island, Nebraska, in September 1937. He enlisted in November 1939 at Ft. Cook, Nebraska, and "did KP" until assigned to flight school as a flying cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps Class 40-D on November 1, 1939. Attended Primary Flight School at the Spartan School of Aeronautics, Tulsa, Oklahoma, followed by Basic Flying School at Randolph Field, Texas, and Advanced Flight School at Kelly Field, Texas. Graduated as second lieutenant and rated pilot on July 26, 1940. He was then assigned to the 19th Pursuit Squadron, Wheeler Field, Hawaii in September 1940. He was there during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941.

He assumed command of 45th "Trigger" Squadron prior to transfer to Westover Field, Massachusetts, in March 1943, where he assumed command of the newly formed 379th Fighter Squadron, of the 362nd Fighter Group. This Group was to enter combat flying P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft.

The 362nd Fighter Group moved overseas to England In November 1943. Assigned initially to the 9th Fighter Command, it flew its first combat missions In February 1944, flying bomber escort missions under operational control of 8th Fighter Command. Until V.E. Day, the Group flew under control of XIX Tactical Air Command of the 9th Air Force, in support of U.S. Third Army. He progressed from squadron commander to Deputy Group Commander, then Group Commander of the 362nd Fighter Group, upon the combat loss of Group CO, Col. Morton D. Magoffin in August 1944. During this period, he flew every model of the P-47 up to the P-47N.

In 1945, he established an Occupational Air Base at alarge former Luftwaffe Base at Straubing, Bavaria after V.E. Day. The 362nd earned two Presidential Unit Citations while Col. Laughlin was in command, largely through his own combat activities. He had been promoted to full colonel in November, 1944, at age 27. In September 1945, the Group was moved back to France to re-man for action in the Philippine Islands in the planned Invasion of Japan. V.J. Day made this unnecessary and the Group was redirected to the United States and assigned to Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas where the Group was equipped with 75 P-51D Mustang aircraft.

In October 1946, the Group was transferred to Shaw Field, Sumpter, South Carolina. There, and at Biggs Field, the Group continued training to remain combat ready, but also performed at Air Shows and military fire power demonstrations at many locations throughout the US.

In August 1947, Col. Laughlin was reassigned to the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. Upon graduation in June 1948, he served in a variety of operational and staff assignments in Headquarters, 10th Air Force, until August 1951. During these years of staff duty, the colonel flew available aircraft, i.e., P-51, C-47, C-46, C-45, A-20, and checked out in his first jet aircraft, the P-90 at Selfridge Field, Michigan, with friends with the 56th Fighter Group.

He was assigned to and graduated from Air War College, at Maxwell Field, Alabama In June 1952, then was assigned to USAF Headquarters In the Pentagon as Chief of the Air Defense Division, Directorate of Requirements. During that time, he checked out In T-33 aircraft at the school at Craig Air Force Base in Selma, Alabama, and flew T-33, B-25, C-45 and P-51D aircraft during his three-year assignment to the Pentagon.

Upon completing his tour of duty in the Pentagon, he was assigned as Chief of Staff, USAF Military Assistance Advisory Group to the Republic of China, Taiwan. Prior to reporting to this assignment on Taiwan, it was necessary for him to check out in the F-86F aircraft at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, and refresher training in the C-46 and C-47. As Senior Air Force advisor to President Chiang Kai-shek and to the Chief of Staff, Chinese Nationalist Air Force, General Wang Shu Mint, Col. Laughlin flew Chinese National Air Force aircraft. His family accompanied him on his assignment to Taiwan.

On August 1, 1957, Col. Laughlin assumed command of the 506th Tactical Fighter Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. This wing was equipped with F-84F aircraft, but converted to F-100D and F-100F aircraft around December 1957. The wing was combat ready by June 1958, and Col. Laughlin was transferred to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in November 1958. There various models of the F-100 Super Sabre and the T-33 were stationed. At Nellis, he served at Base Commander and commanded the Weapons School and the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing.

In November, Col. Laughlin became Chief of Staff of the 12th Air Force in Waco, Texas. Two years in this headquarters were followed by two years at Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. Aircraft flown during these four years were the T-33 and T-39 Sabre Liners. In June 1963, he was assigned to Headquarters, 17th Air Force, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations for one year, then two years as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, 17th Air Force. During this period, he flew the T-33, F-100D and checked out in the F-105D. He also flew the F-4 Phantom and the T-38.

In July 1966, he was reassigned as Deputy Commander USAF Forces In Korea, and Deputy Commander, 314th Air Division at Osan Air Force Base, Korea. The T-33 and the H-19 Helicopter were the only aircraft available for him to fly, although he flew with an Instructor pilot in the H-19.

In August, he reported to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, as Senior USAF Advisor to the Commanding General, Ft. Sill, and to the Commander, U.S. Army Field Artillery School. Here he flew the Cessna 172, Aero Commander, L-20, Chinook Helicopter and the HU-1B helicopter.

Col. Laughlln retired from the USAF in November 1969 and continued some civilian flying in the Cessna 150, 172, 310, and the Piper Cherokee and Archer.

Col. Laughlin's service to his country was distinguished and he was awarded these awards:
Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 15 Oak Leaf Clusters, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze star, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Medal with 7 battle stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, National Defense Service Medal with star, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal, Allied Forces Service Ribbon, French Croix de Guerre Avec Palm.