Lt. Colonel James Elsner
US Army Pilot P 40
354th Fighter Wing
Aleutian Islands
1943-1968
US Army Pilot P 40
354th Fighter Wing
Aleutian Islands
1943-1968
James Elsner was born April 11, 1919 and grew up with his three brothers in Hartford Connecticut. In 1937 he graduated from the Roxbury Academy in Cheshire, CT. and went on to attend Hobart College. In 1941 James was drafted at the age of 22. His brothers were also drafted. Jim started out in the Signal Corps but developed an interest in flying. He took an exam and a physical to join the Aviation Cadets. He passed, was accepted and began his journey to become a pilot.
In August of 1941 Jim headed to Maxwell AFB for pre-flight training. His next stop was Whiteman AFB in Missouri where he trained on a PT-23 for two months. From there he was sent to Walnut Ridge Army Airfield in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas where he trained on PT-13’s which Jim recalled being a much larger aircraft. Here Jim recalled learning night flying and long-distance flying. “We did a lot of cross country flying.”
Jim continued his training at Napier Field in Dothan, Alabama flying the AT-6 before being sent to Egland Field in Florida. Jim received his introduction to gunnery training at Egland Field. He recalled a plane towing a “white rag about a hundred feet long” and the fighters would fire their guns at the rag. “There weren’t many hits.” His next stop was Pinellas Air Force Base where he learned to fly the Curtis P-40 WarHawk, which would be the plane Jim took on his deployment.
Jim found the training to be “nerve wracking because a lot of people were washing out.” He was also anxious to get into the battle. One day it was announced that they were looking for volunteers to serve in Attu, Alaska. Jim raised his hand and was selected.
When Jim arrived in Attu the American troops had pushed the Japanese out of the western end of Aleutian Islands in 1943. He was part of the 18th Fighter Squadron and assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The fighting was over when he arrived, but they trained and flew patrols to deter further Japanese incursions and defend the American borders. Jim named his Curtis P-40 Warhawk Carolyn, after his mother. The squadron had two springer Spaniels as mascots, Zero and Stuka.
In December of '45 he left the Army but remained active in the CT Air National Guard and continued to fly until 1968. He was activated for the Korean War but did not have to deploy.
Jim worked as a credit manager at the G. Fox Department Store and later at a local bank, The Society for Savings. Jim met his wife Dorothy while he was working at G. Fox. She was working in the foundations department. They were married in 1950 and spent their honeymoon in Bermuda. They have 3 children, seven grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Dorothy is the love of his life. Unfortunately, knee problems have confined her the Hebrew Home in West Hartford, CT where he visits her once a day. Saturday night is their date night, and he brings her dinner for their date for a local restaurant. Although her favorite meal is scallops, mashed potatoes and asparagus, “but I make that”. What is Jim’s secret to 72+ years of marriage? "Patience".
There are numerous pictures through his house and Jim and Dorothy were an attractive all-American couple. They could have been on the cover of two prominent magazines of their day, Look and Life. Jim had quite a physique as a young man. He also had quite a collection of cars through the years including a 1938 convertible which Jim described as "a babe magnet".
Jim keeps busy reading the Hartford Courant and the Wall Street Journal. He also is reading the biography of Ulysses S. Grant. Jim has embraced technology and frequently speaks to his “Alexa” for information or to give instructions to play part of his collection of Bing Crosby tunes.
Jim’s most vivid memory of his days in the service was "flying a P80" which he did with the Air National Guard.
Lieutenant Colonel James Elsner, thank you for your sacrifices and good luck with the scallops!
In August of 1941 Jim headed to Maxwell AFB for pre-flight training. His next stop was Whiteman AFB in Missouri where he trained on a PT-23 for two months. From there he was sent to Walnut Ridge Army Airfield in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas where he trained on PT-13’s which Jim recalled being a much larger aircraft. Here Jim recalled learning night flying and long-distance flying. “We did a lot of cross country flying.”
Jim continued his training at Napier Field in Dothan, Alabama flying the AT-6 before being sent to Egland Field in Florida. Jim received his introduction to gunnery training at Egland Field. He recalled a plane towing a “white rag about a hundred feet long” and the fighters would fire their guns at the rag. “There weren’t many hits.” His next stop was Pinellas Air Force Base where he learned to fly the Curtis P-40 WarHawk, which would be the plane Jim took on his deployment.
Jim found the training to be “nerve wracking because a lot of people were washing out.” He was also anxious to get into the battle. One day it was announced that they were looking for volunteers to serve in Attu, Alaska. Jim raised his hand and was selected.
When Jim arrived in Attu the American troops had pushed the Japanese out of the western end of Aleutian Islands in 1943. He was part of the 18th Fighter Squadron and assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. The fighting was over when he arrived, but they trained and flew patrols to deter further Japanese incursions and defend the American borders. Jim named his Curtis P-40 Warhawk Carolyn, after his mother. The squadron had two springer Spaniels as mascots, Zero and Stuka.
In December of '45 he left the Army but remained active in the CT Air National Guard and continued to fly until 1968. He was activated for the Korean War but did not have to deploy.
Jim worked as a credit manager at the G. Fox Department Store and later at a local bank, The Society for Savings. Jim met his wife Dorothy while he was working at G. Fox. She was working in the foundations department. They were married in 1950 and spent their honeymoon in Bermuda. They have 3 children, seven grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Dorothy is the love of his life. Unfortunately, knee problems have confined her the Hebrew Home in West Hartford, CT where he visits her once a day. Saturday night is their date night, and he brings her dinner for their date for a local restaurant. Although her favorite meal is scallops, mashed potatoes and asparagus, “but I make that”. What is Jim’s secret to 72+ years of marriage? "Patience".
There are numerous pictures through his house and Jim and Dorothy were an attractive all-American couple. They could have been on the cover of two prominent magazines of their day, Look and Life. Jim had quite a physique as a young man. He also had quite a collection of cars through the years including a 1938 convertible which Jim described as "a babe magnet".
Jim keeps busy reading the Hartford Courant and the Wall Street Journal. He also is reading the biography of Ulysses S. Grant. Jim has embraced technology and frequently speaks to his “Alexa” for information or to give instructions to play part of his collection of Bing Crosby tunes.
Jim’s most vivid memory of his days in the service was "flying a P80" which he did with the Air National Guard.
Lieutenant Colonel James Elsner, thank you for your sacrifices and good luck with the scallops!