Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

Frame Size: 16"x 20" ~ autographed First Day Cover signed in Ink by: Lt. Cmdr. Ira C. Kepford. Comes with a COA. 

Lt. Cmdr. Ira C. Kepford

USN/VF-17 ~ P.T.O.

(16 victories)

Ike Kepford was born on May 29, 1919, in Harvey, Illinois. He attended Northwestern University from 1938 to 1941, and enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Navy on August 18, 1941, beginning flight training on February 5, 1942. Kepford was commissioned an Ensign on October 16, 1942, and was designated a Naval Aviator on November 5, 1942. After completing F4U Corsair training, Lt. Jg Kepford served with VF-17 in the Solomon Islands from January 1943 to March 1944, during which time he was credited with the destruction of 16 enemy aircraft in aerial combat, plus 1 probable, and 1 damaged in the air. His next assignment was with VF-84 from June to December 1944, followed by service on the staff of the Commander Fleet Air, West Coast, from December 1944 until he left active duty and joined the Naval Reserve on November 10, 1945. LCDR Kepford retired from the Naval Reserve on June 1, 1956. After leaving active duty, he worked for Owl Drug Company, becoming a Vice President in 1949, and was then made President of Liggett-Rexall Company in 1956, from which he retired in 1971. Ike Kepford died on January 21, 1987, and was buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Muskegon, Michigan.