Jones, Vernon Y., Jr.

Submitted by Sue B. Moore

1923-1943
IN MEMORIAM

In 1923, V. Y. Jones, Jr., was born in rural Claiborne County, MS, into the pioneer George Jones family which had lived there in the Natchez District since 1791. As a boy, he had walked many miles behind a mule down the furrows of the family’s small farm near McBride, before he ever entered a cockpit, and he talked with a long, slow Southern drawl that belied his high intelligence and natural ability.

His parents were Vernon Young Jones, Sr., and Una Jacob Jones, and his only sibling was his younger brother Elmo C. Jones. Both boys joined the service during the war, with V. Y. going into the Army Air Corps and Elmo enlisting in the Navy. The family were staunch Baptists, attending the Beech Grove Baptist Church, founded almost a hundred years earlier by their ancestors – a place where V. Y.’s dad and uncle were deacons, his mother played the piano, and the boys and their numerous cousins were members also. The boys attended the Pattison School.

After his initial training, V. Y. was assigned to the 82nd Fighter Squadron of the 78th Fighter Group in 1943. His roommate in Duxford, England, was Richard A. “Dick” Hewitt. According to Hewitt’s, Target of Opportunity - Tales and Contrails of the Second World War, "Chapter 10 - Memorable Missions – Brunswick," 2nd Lieutenant, V. Y. Jones’s flew his last mission in his P-47C on February 10, 1944. His group was sent to escort the B-17’s in their bombing of the medieval town of Brunswick, a major center of the German war machine located in the heavily industrialized Ruhr Valley, about 120 miles south of Berlin. The target, therefore, was heavily defended, and the bombers faced tremendous flak, as well as attacks from the German ME-109s and FW-190s. The Thunderbolts were there to see that our bombers delivered their loads and made it back to Duxford safely.

Chuck Clark was the “White Flight” leader, according to Col. Hewitt, and V. Y. was his wingman. When the German fighters arrived on the scene, they were the first to peel off in pursuit of two 109’s. In Col. Hewitt’s own words, he describes what happened shortly thereafter: “Then I heard Jonesy's voice. He sounded frantic as he called ‘someone get down here! I've got a 109 on my tail and I can't shake him!’ The Jug was about an even match for the 109 or 190 at high altitude, with it's dive and zoom advantage, but not at lower altitudes and especially at treetop level. At slower speeds, either enemy aircraft could out turn the '47. It was just not a good place to get caught. I called for V.Y., but got no answer. Apparently alone, at 15,000 feet, I was not about to go searching blindly. Munson, Clark, Swanson or Ludwig had to be closer than I and perhaps heard his plea for help. Not sure who the #3 or #4 were in Clark and Jonesy's flight, but they should also be in the area and have heard him.” Amidst the heat of the battle and in the act of simply surviving, Hewitt brought down his first enemy plane, and somehow lost track of V. Y. He remembered the call for help when he returned to the “Duck Pond”: “Then I remembered Jonesy. With Ludwig's plight, I had almost forgotten about him. His plea to ‘get that 109 off my tail’, I'd never forget. He, Paul Kellor, Grant Turley, and I had ‘roomied’ since Granger's loss. Was I gonna lose another room mate? And how many other 78th pilots would be lost today?”

As it turned out, V. Y. Jones never came back - KIA, lost over Germany, at the age of 21. His tour had lasted only three short months. His body was never recovered, but his name is recorded and remembered on a marble wall, in the Tablets of the Missing, at the Cambridge Military Cemetery, Cambridge, England, about six miles from Duxford, along with many other fine young Americans who died that fateful day and other similar days protecting their comrades and the freedom of others.

He was credited with 1.5 air victories confirmed and 1 air victory probable while he flew with the 78th Fighter Group. He was aboard P-47D tail #42-7883 when downed over Tongren, Germany, on his final mission. V. Y. Jones was posthumously awarded the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters.