Ernest Edward Bankey Jr. (August 28, 1920 – June 10, 2009) was an American
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
flying ace
A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviation, military aviator credited with shooting down a certain minimum number of enemy aircraft during aerial combat; the exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ...
credited with 9.5 aerial victories. He was also an
ace in a day
The term "ace in a day" is used to designate a pilot who has shot down five or more aircraft in a single day, based on the usual definition of an "flying ace, ace" as one with five or more aerial victories.
World War I Ace in a day on two occ ...
, and rose to the rank of
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
in the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
.
Early life
Bankey was born on August 28, 1920, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was raised in
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo ( ) is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located at the western end of Lake Erie along the Maumee River. Toledo is the List of cities in Ohio, fourth-most populous city in Ohio and List of United Sta ...
.
It was during his youth that he began his interest in planes. He began building model planes from the age of eight. He also won the
Soap Box Derby
The Soap Box Derby is a youth-oriented gravity racer program, founded in 1934 in the United States by Dayton, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio native Myron Scott, a photojournalist employed by the Dayton Daily News, and preceded by events such as ''Kid Aut ...
twice, in 1935 and 1936.
Military career
Bankey joined the
Army Air Corps at
Fort Hayes
Fort Hayes was a military post in Columbus, Ohio, United States. Created by an act of the United States Congress on July 11, 1862, the site was also known as the Columbus Arsenal until 1922, when the site was renamed after former Ohio Governo ...
,
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
, on April 1, 1941.
As a
staff sergeant
Staff sergeant is a Military rank, rank of non-commissioned officer used in the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services.
History of title
In origin, certain senior sergeants were assigned to administr ...
, he taught aerial gunnery techniques in Las Vegas, while awaiting acceptance into Air Cadet School to start pilot training.
In July 1943, Bankey gained his commission and pilot wings as part of class 43G at
Williams Air Force Base
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force (USAF) base, located in Maricopa County, Arizona, east of Chandler, Arizona, Chandler, and about southeast of Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix. It is a designated Superfund site due to a num ...
, Arizona. He did his preliminary training in a
Stearman PT-13 at
Tulare, California
Tulare ( ) is a city in Tulare County, California, United States. The population was 68,875 per the 2020 census. It is located in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, south of Visalia and north of Bakersfield. The city is named after the Tul ...
, his basic training in a
BT-13 Valiant
The Vultee BT-13 Valiant is an American World War II-era basic (a category between primary and advanced) trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later US Army Air Forces. A subsequent variant of the ...
in
Modesto, California
Modesto ( ; ) is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the List of cities and towns in Ca ...
and advanced training in a
T-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft, which was used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Air Force (USAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, R ...
in
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...
.
He joined the 383rd Fighter Squadron
as a second lieutenant.
His first combat posting was to England with the
364th Fighter Group 364th may refer to:
* 364th Bombardment Squadron, inactive United States Air Force unit
* 364th Fighter Group or 131st Bomb Wing, unit of the Missouri Air National Guard, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Missouri
* 364th Fighter S ...
,
8th Air Force
The Eighth Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) is a numbered air force (NAF) of the United States Air Force's Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The command serves as Air Forces S ...
, in February 1944.
He was reassigned to the
385th Fighter Squadron
The 385th Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron (aviation), squadron was activated in February 1943. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations. It flew combat mi ...
.
On December 27, 1944, during the
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive or Unternehmen Die Wacht am Rhein, Wacht am Rhein, was the last major German Offensive (military), offensive Military campaign, campaign on the Western Front (World War II), Western ...
and whilst flying over the
Bonn
Bonn () is a federal city in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, located on the banks of the Rhine. With a population exceeding 300,000, it lies about south-southeast of Cologne, in the southernmost part of the Rhine-Ruhr region. This ...
area of
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
, Bankey shot down five enemy planes and shared another. This earned him the designation of "ace in a day".
He was also awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross and the
Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed e ...
for this sortie.
He compiled over 100 sorties and 500 combat hours in two tours of duty.
Banks is credited with 9.5 air-to-air kills.
After the war, he returned to the United States, left active duty and joined the Air Force Reserve on April 18, 1946. Bankey was recalled to active duty beginning on March 15, 1953, and then completed Pilot Refresher Training at Graham AB, Florida, followed by Instructor Pilot School at Craig AFB, Alabama.
Bankey served as an instructor pilot and operations officer before serving at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Weapons Center from July 1957 to September 1958. His next assignment was as a Guided Missile Operations Officer with the 576th Strategic Missile Squadron at Vandenberg AFB, California, from September 1958 to June 1960, followed by service on the staff of Headquarters 1st Missile Division (renamed 1st Strategic Aerospace Division in July 1961) at Vandenberg from June 1960 to April 1963.
His next assignment was as a Missile Test Evaluation Officer with Headquarters Strategic Air Command at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, from April 1963 to November 1966. Col Bankey's final assignment was as Deputy Chief and then Chief of the Evaluation and Capabilities Division with the 3902nd Support Squadron at Offutt AFB from November 1966 until his retirement from the Air Force on March 1, 1968.
Awards and decorations
During his lengthy career, Bankey earned many decorations, including:
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal (AFRM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, service medal of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1958. The medal recognizes service performed by members of the reserve com ...
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon
''
Croix de Guerre
The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...
'' with Palm (France)
Bankey was a captain when, on June 26, 1945,
he was awarded the Silver Star for actions during World War II. The citation reads:
Final years
After retirement from the Air Force, Bankley joined the
Jet Propulsion Laboratories in California. There he worked on
deep space projects. He retired in 1975.
Bankey died on June 15, 2009, in his home in
Newbury Park, California
Newbury Park is a populated placeReal Estate Communications, Inc. (1984). ''California Real Estate Directory''. Page 201. in Ventura County, California, United States.
Most of it lies within the western Thousand Oaks, California, Thousand Oaks ...
. He was buried with
full military honors in
Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in
Camarillo, California
Camarillo ( ) is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 70,741, an increase of 5,540 from the 65,201 counted in the 2010 Census. Camarillo is named for brothers Juan and ...
.
Personal life
Bankey married Lillian Ruth "Ginny" Kontak on May 2, 1942, in
Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is a city in Wood County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 30,808 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located southwest of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo, it is part of the Toledo metropolitan area and ...
.
They had four children: sons Dan and Keith, and daughters Sharon and Tina. Bankey has eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His wife Ginny, died on July 16, 2009; she was in-urned next to her husband.
References
External links
Photograph of Bankeywith his
North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in 1940 by a team headed by James H. Kin ...
"Lucky Lady VII"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bankley, Ernest
1920 births
2009 deaths
American World War II flying aces
Aviators from Ohio
Military personnel from Cleveland
Recipients of the Silver Star
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
American recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
Recipients of the Air Medal
United States Air Force officers
United States Army Air Forces officers
United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
People from Newbury Park, California
Military personnel from California