Foil: 8 Panel: F86 Sabre Pilots Association Column: 4 Line: 62

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Maj Jim Low

2ndLt James F. "Dad" Low was born in Sausalito, CA in 1925. Growing up in the Great Depression, he always had a yen to fly. While in the Navy in WWII, he hooked rides on torpedo bombers training at Del Monte NAS, CA while he was training in electronics.

After the war, he matriculated at University of California, Berkeley. When the Korean War started in June, 1950 Low signed up for Aviation Cadets. He had finally achieved his dream of a chance to be a pilot. Being older than most cadets, Low was given the sobriquet, "Dad;" a term of endearment to this day.

After graduating from basic, advanced, and gunnery schools, Dad was assigned to fly F-86 aircraft with the 4th Fighter Wing at K-14, Kimpo, Korea in April 1952. On his 2nd mission, after a bomb-line flight, he shot down his first MiG-15 enemy aircraft in combat. 2ndLt Low, having great eyesight (20/10), went on to be the 17th Jet Ace on June 15, 1952 (Father's Day.)

After making Ace, Dad Low went on temporary duty to the "States" in July to visit gun sight manufacturers and help integrate cadets into the new "jet age" at the behest of General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Low returned to Korea in October, 1952 and continued to succeed in shooting down enemy aircraft with an official total of 9 MiG-15 aircraft destroyed and several damaged. Lt Low earned the Silver Star for gallantry in action against an armed enemy and several Distinguished Flying Crosses and Air Medals.

In 1955 he joined the Air Defense Command's Aerial Demonstration Team, the Sabre Knights, flying the "slot" position.

He was in Phase VI testing of a new Fighter Aircraft, the F-104 A, at Edwards AFB Test Center. Later, he was awarded the Purple Heart for combat injuries received as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.