[Personal Archive of Col. Jack B. Price]

An impressive archive covering an even more impressive military career.

This spectacular assortment of printed militaria was accumulated over a 30+ year Air Force career by Colonel Jack B. Price. Much of the material relates to his activity as a P-51 Mustang pilot in the 503rd Air Squadron, part of the 339th Fighter Group during World War II. It’s difficult to describe the miscellaneous assortment fully, but it consists of the following pieces (and much more):

• Military documents – orders/assignments, WWII flight records, diplomas/certifications, discharge papers, a massive ‘personal file’
• Personal documents – postcards, receipts, marriage certificate, a commemorative career volume titled THIS IS YOUR LIFE
• Over 60 photographs ranging across Price’s life and career, many dedicated or signed
• Flight Class yearbook with numerous signatures
• Scrapbook pages
• Three military songbooks
• Dozens of copies of the 339th Fighter Group Association Journal
• Newspaper clippings
• Correspondence and reports
• Souvenirs

Colonel Jack B. Price (1922 – 2006) was born in Ada, Oklahoma and first entered the state’s National Guard in 1940. He pursued flight school in 1942 and graduated as a pilot and flight observer the following year. During World War II, Price flew a P-51 in 76 missions across the European Theater, scoring at least one confirmed kill against a German FW-190 and earning an Air Medal with Oak Clusters for his service. According to a newspaper interview, the most difficult day of WWII was D-Day, in which Price flew sorties for fourteen straight hours. He would go on to become a career Air Force officer, serving in both Korea and Vietnam; ultimately assigned as a civil engineer at Tinker Air Force Base in his home state. After retiring in 1973, Price was awarded the U.S.A.F. Legion of Merit, 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster.

Sources: State Port Pilot; Oklahoma Journal (article included); Encounter Report