COLONEL WILLIAM FRANKLIN ‘GOOSE’ GUSS MARINE CORPS AVIATION EXPERIENCE Flew combat missions in three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Aircraft flown include F4U ‘Corsair’, F9F ‘Panther’, F-4 ‘Phantom’, A-6 ‘Intruder’, and F-86 ‘Sabre’ MARINE CORPS AVIATION RECORD Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Air Medal (1 Silver and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster) Purple Heart (1) MiG-15 (1) Last January, the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation received a request for the purchase of a Memorial Brick for the museum’s Walk of Memories from the family of Colonel William Franklin Guss, USMC. Subject to space restrictions each Memorial Brick for the walkway may be personalized. The family ended their brick inscription with; “1st Marine shoot down MiG.” That inscription begged further exploration, which proved to not be disappointing. It led to 20th Century Americana itself; rich in history of “America’s Greatest Generation,” the Marine Corps and early operational cooperation between the Marines and the US Air Force (USAF). I am indebted to Jeffrey and Robert Guss who shared their father’s records and family memorabilia for this article. I also appreciate the efforts of Tom Handley, a close friend and fellow retired officer, who researched USAF Fighter Interceptor Wing records at the Air Force Research Institute, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. There is so much history attached to the Colonel Guss story that sufficient Log Book space is not available. However, I trust the reader will enjoy what follows. Colonel Guss, from Reading, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve on June 23, 1942. He applied for Aviation Cadet training, was accepted on August 7, 1942 and reported to Corpus Christi, Texas on October 29, 1942. Upon graduation on July 7, 1943, he received his Wings of Gold and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, USMC, with orders to “Pre-operational Training” at Naval Air Station (NAS) Miami, Florida. Finishing his NAS Miami training on September 10, 1943, Guss reported to the Fighter Training Unit at MCAS El Toro. Flying the F4U Corsair, he quickly demonstrated a fighter pilot’s acumen. On February 23, 1944, pilot Lieutenant Albert P. Wells was flying lead with Lieutenant Guss flying as wingman on a Corsair training hop from El Toro. The two put on an air show with some low altitude acrobatics that greatly impressed Wells’ girlfriend, who was sunbathing on the beach. Unfortunately, someone on the beach was not so favorably impressed and reported the impromptu performance to the El Toro base commander. The MPs were waiting for the pilots when they taxied in and escorted them to the commanders office. Wells was placed under arrest. After hearing Wells get chewed out, Guss figured he was in for the same, but was simply asked if he was flying wing. He responded, “Yes sir.” The commander simply said, “Good job – dismissed!” Guss, the 20 year old Second Lieutenant wingman, took an opportunity the next day to repeat the performance only this time over a Marine field to ensure there was no mistaking who had been Wells’ wingman. Guss was then given the opportunity to again join up with his squadron mate Wells; this time not in the air, but under arrest. His Arrest Order Charges state, “At 1655 on 24 February, 1944, you were pilot of an F4U-1 airplane, Bureau Number 02221, and did at Camp Pendleton Field, Oceanside, California, zoom the tower and stunt low over the field.” He was confined to the Bachelor Officer Quarters for 10 days. The Arrest Order recommended the Commandant of the Marine Corps delay Guss’ promotion to First Lieutenant for six months. Rumor was the severity of the sentence for that era might have been influenced by the presence of a visiting VIP Marine Corps general. Nevertheless, Guss was not off to a good start. Prior to expiration of his 6-month promotion deferment sentence, Guss received shipping orders. He was reassigned to the 2nd Marine Air Wing (MAW) and on March 14, 1944 sailed to the South Pacific on the USS Savo Island (CVE-78). The task force arrived at Espiritu, New Hebrides on April 3, 1944. In June 1944, Guss was assigned to VMF-223 (“Bulldogs”) on Bougainville Island in the Solomon Islands. VMF-223 was a famous squadron. The “Bulldogs” were the first fighter squadron committed to combat during the Solomon Islands’ Battle of Guadalcanal that began on August 7, 1942. The squadron landed at Henderson Field on August 20, 1942 when survival was constantly in doubt. Major John L. Smith, with nineteen confirmed air-to-air victories and Captain Marion E. Carl credited with eighteen & half were Marine Corps icons. Guss flew 52 combat missions over Bougainville and the New Britain Islands. By March 1945, he was in Samar, Philippine Islands at which time he was rotated stateside. Upon returning from the Pacific Theatre, Guss received various assignments to such places as NAS Jacksonville, NAS Miami, Quantico and MCAS El Toro; mostly in instructor positions. While stationed at NAS Miami, Guss was also a member of a Navy/Marine aerobatic team flying Corsairs. In January 1950, Guss received an assignment to Marine Corps Headquarters at Quantico. Within a month he became an exchange pilot flying the F-86 Sabre, often referred to as ‘Sabre Jet’, with the USAF 33rd Fighter Interceptor Wing (FIW), 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), at Otis AFB, Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This assignment lasted for over a year. As an interesting sidebar, some 40 years later Marine Captain Charles “Sly” Magill flew with the 33rd FIW as an exchange pilot during the first Gulf War. Flying an F-15C, Magill downed a Russian made MiG-29 flown by the Iraqi Air Force. Magills victory was the only Marine air-to-air victory of the Persian Gulf War, the first aerial victory by a Marine Corps aviator since the Vietnam War, and the last one to date. The 33rd FW is now a joint service organization responsible for training USAF, Marine Corps and USN pilots and maintainers on the F-35 Lightning II. Guss flew the F-86 during exchange duty from February 1950 until March 1951. During this period, the 33rd FIW was assigned to the USAF Air Defense Command (ADC). Guss’ temporary assignment was extended due to the outbreak of the Korean War on June 20, 1950. The United States feared that disclosure of direct involvement by the Soviet Air Force in the war might spark a third world war and an attack on the United States; a nation saving challenge for ADC. On June 1, 1951, a year after the war began, Guss was in Korea with 1 MAW, VMF-311 flying F9F Panthers. During a low level ground attack mission on August 18, 1951, Guss’ Panther was hit underneath the forward fuselage by a single round of ground fire which caused an explosion in his remaining ammunition that was routed near the forward cockpit flooring to the guns in the nose. Guss later commented that he felt the shock of the explosion and pain in the back of his legs. When he opened his eyes, he was startled to see red liquid splattered all over the inside of the cockpit but was relieved to discover that it was hydraulic fluid. Despite the damage to his aircraft and shrapnel in the back of his legs, Guss managed to get the plane back to the air base and make a safe landing. His wife, Margie, received the standard disconcerting Western Union telegraph: “Regret to inform you that your husband William Franklin Guss USMC has been wounded in action 18 August 1951 in the Korean area in the performance of his duty and service to his country. I realize your great anxiety, but nature of wounds not reported and delay in receipt of details must be expected. You will be promptly furnished any additional information received.” …Story to be continued… Photos 1 & 2: Squadron Logos Photo 3: Colonel Guss, Commander MAG-11, Vietnam, 1967.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 23:00:01 +0000
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