Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

Frame Size: 16"x 20" ~ autographed First Day Cover signed in Ink by: Gen. Joseph J. Kruzel. Comes with a COA.

Lt. Col. Joseph J. Kruzel

17th P.G./24th P.G. ~ Philippines/PTO ~ (3.00 victories)

376th F.S./361st F.G. ~ 8th USAAF/ETO ~ (3.50 victories)

(6.50 victories)

Joe Kruzel was born on February 17, 1918, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Scranton University with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry in 1938, and a bachelor's degree in Education in 1939, before joining the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 13, 1940. Kruzel was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on December 20, 1940, and then joined the 2nd Observation Squadron at Clark Field in the Philippines. He transferred to the 17th Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Field, also in the Philippines, in September 1941, where he served until joining the 9th Fighter Squadron in Australia in March 1942. While flying with the 17th Pursuit Squadron, he was credited with destroying 3 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. Capt Kruzel served with the 9th Fighter Squadron until December 1942, when he returned to the U.S. and took command of the 323rd Fighter Squadron at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia. In March 1943, he became Executive Officer of the 361st Fighter Group and went with the group to England in November 1943, becoming Deputy Group Commander in September 1944 and Group Commander in November 1944. Col Kruzel was credited with the destruction of an additional 3.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 1 damaged, for a total of 6.5 destroyed with 1 damaged in the air, before returning to the U.S. in January 1945. He was an instructor trainee at Hillsgrove Army Air Base, Rhode Island, from January to March 1945, and then served as Deputy Commander of Seymour-Johnson Field, North Carolina, from March 1945 to January 1946. He was a student at the senior officer's Asiatic Study Course at Yale University from January to June 1946, and then went to Seoul, South Korea, where he served as an Air Officer with Headquarters XXIV Corps from June 1946 to April 1947. Col Kruzel was on the staff at Headquarters Far East Air Forces in Tokyo, Japan, from April to September 1947, and then served as Commander of the 18th Fighter Group at Clark Field from September 1947 to January 1949. He attended Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from January to June 1949, and then served at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from July 1949 to August 1953. Col Kruzel next attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB from August 1953 to August 1954, and then continued on at the college as a member of the Evaluation Staff until June 1957. He served as Chief of the War Plans Division at Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Wiesbaden, West Germany, from June 1957 to January 1958, followed by Chief of the Air Operations Center at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe, in Paris, France, from January 1958 to August 1960. Col Kruzel then attended the National War College in Washington, D.C., from August 1960 to July 1961, before serving as Deputy Commander and then Commander of the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, from July 1961 to January 1964. Gen Kruzel served as Commander of the 832nd Air Division at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, from January 1964 to August 1965, and then as Director of Operations and then Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of Pacific Air Forces at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, from August 1965 to August 1969. His final assignment was as Deputy Director of Operations for Plans and Operations at Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon from August 1969 until his retirement from the Air Force on August 1, 1970. Joe Kruzel died on July 10, 2002, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.