Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

James Lynn Brooks, was born on January 8, 1921, in Binton, Virginia. On April 6, 1942, he joined the Army as a private before being accepted for aviation cadet training on August 23. Upon graduation as a 2nd Lt. on May 24, 1943, he was sent to Panama where he flew P-39 and P-40 type aircraft. Early in 1944, he joined the 31st Fighting Group in Italy. Exchanging their Mark Vb Spitfires for P-51B Mustang's. The 31st was assigned to the 15th Strategic Air Force for a long range escort of heavy bombers deep into Europe and the Balkans. Lt. Brooks recorded his first victory over Campina on May 18, 1944, downing an Italian Fiat G-50. He shot down three Bf109's on May 24 and 29 and June 23, respectively, and became an ace on July 18 with the destruction of an Italian Mc-205. Promoted to Captain on September 9, 1944, Jim Brooks ended WWII with 13 aerial victories. Brooks remained in the Air Force and returned to combat during the Korean War. Sent to Korea, he flew F-86's with the 4th Fighter Intercept Wing and participated in the first big all-jet air battle over the Yalu River involving 12 MiG-15's and 4 F-86 Sabre's on December 22, 1950. Jim Brooks resigned from the Air Force on April 16, 1951, and joined North American Aviation as an engineering test pilot. He was one of the founders and first president of the American Fighter Aces Association and past president of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. 

Decorations: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 20 Oak Leaf Clusters and a Unit Citation with one Oak Leaf Cluster