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Virgil K. Meroney
Virgil Kersh Meroney II (February 16, 1921 – June 27, 1980) was a United States Air Force colonel (United States), colonel. During World War II, he became a flying ace credited with nine aerial victories while flying the P-47 Thunderbolt, making him the only P-47 ace in the 352nd Fighter Group. He himself was shot down and captured as a prisoner of war before his successful escape from captivity. He also flew missions during the Korean War and Vietnam War before he retired from the air force in 1970. Early life On February 16, 1921, Meroney was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Military career In May 1937, he joined the Arkansas National Guard and was called to active duty in May 1940. In 1941, he married Mildred Louise, née Duckett (1921–2009). The couple had two sons: Virgil III and Douglas. On March 27, 1942, he entered the flight training program of the United States Army Air Forces and earned his pilot wings. On October 30, 1942, he earned his commission as second lieuten ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, officially the City of Pine Bluff, is the List of municipalities in Arkansas, tenth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas and the county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, Jefferson County. The population of the city was 41,253 in the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Pine Bluff is situated in the Southeast section of the Arkansas Delta and straddles the Arkansas Timberlands region to its west. Its topography is flat with wide expanses of farmland, similar to other places in the Delta Lowlands. Pine Bluff has numerous creeks, streams, and bayous, including Bayou Bartholomew, the longest bayou in the world and the second most ecologically diverse stream in the United States. Large bodies of water include Lake Pine Bluff, Lake Langhofer (Slack Water Harbor), and the Arkansas River. History Indigenous peoples, European settlement and Quapaw Cession The area along the Arkansas River had been inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
