World War II Honoree

Ivan W. Bates

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN JANUARY, 1941 IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD'S FIRST FLYING UNIT, THE 125TH OBSERVATION SQUADRON. HIS UNIT WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN SEPTEMBER, 1941 AND STATIONED AT POST FIELD AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. SERVED AS A PARACHUTE RIGGER WITH THE UNIT AND RECEIVED A SERIES OF PROMOTIONS TO THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT BY NOVEMBER, 1942. APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM IN DECEMBER, 1942 AND ASSIGNED TO THE AVIATION CADET CENTER AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE AIRCREW TRAINING PROGRAM, HE WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER PILOT WINGS AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN OCTOBER, 1943 AT ALOE ARMY AIR FIELD AT VICTORIA, TEXAS. HIS FIRST FLYING DUTY WAS AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT INDEPENDENCE ARMY AIR FIELD AT INDEPENDENCE, KANSAS AS PART OF THE GULF COAST TRAINING CENTER. SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE 26TH FIGHTER COMMAND AT HOWARD FIELD IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE. FLEW P-38 'LIGHTNING' AIRCRAFT WITH THE 32ND FIGHTER SQUADRON AND P-47 'THUNDERBOLT' AIRCRAFT WITH THE 22ND FIGHTER SQUADRON TO DEFEND THE CANAL AND PERFORM RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS. SERVED AS A FIGHTER PILOT, ELEMENT LEADER, FLIGHT COMMANDER AND SQUADRON COMMANDER. CONTINUED IN U.S. AIR FORCE RESERVE AND OKLAHOMA AIR NATIONAL GUARD SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY. SERVED UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF MAJOR.