Edward F. Rector

Infobox Military Person
name= Edward F. Rector
born= birth date|1916|09|28
died= death date and age|2001|04|26|1916|09|28
placeofbirth= Marshall, North Carolina
placeofdeath=Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington D.C.
placeofburial= Arlington National Cemetery


caption= Edward F. Rector Gathering of Eagles 2000 Lithograph
nickname=Ed
allegiance= flag|United States of America
branch= navy|United States air force|United States
serviceyears= 1939 - 1962
rank= Colonel
current position=
commands= 76th Fighter Squadron 23rd Fighter Group
unit=
battles=World War II
awards=Legion of Merit Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal Chinese Order of the White Cloud and Banner British Distinguished Flying Cross
relations=
laterwork= Consultant

Edward "Ed" F. Rector (September 28, 1916 - April 26, 2001) was a Colonel in the United States Air Force, a fighter ace, and a member of the Flying Tigers.

Early Years

Rector, a native of Marshall, North Carolina, graduated from Catawba College in 1938 and began his military career as a naval aviator. He was a carrier pilot on the Ranger, based in Norfolk, when he was recruited for the American Volunteer Group, the official name of the Flying Tigers. The unit was formed with the financial backing of the Chinese government to help defend the Burma Road and Chinese cities from Japanese attack before the United States entered the war.

At War

Colonel Rector was credited with having destroyed 10.5 Japanese aircraft in aerial combat during the war, beginning December 20, 1941, when the Flying Tigers engaged in combat for the first time during a raid by Hanoi-based Japanese aircraft on the Chinese city of Kunming. Ed provided the AVG with its first aerial victory and would later record the last in a long list of 23rd Fighter Group air-to-air kills. [Hill, "Tex" Hill: Flying Tiger", p. 64] In May 1942, he played a critical role in locating and attacking Japanese military columns attempting a push into China at the Salween River Gorge. This allowed the Chinese time to blow up a key bridge across the river, and the Japanese subsequently retreated into Burma.

Later Years

Rector retired from the United States Air Force in 1962 as a Colonel and had a second career in the aviation industry as a consultant in India, North Africa, and Europe. [ [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/goe/eagle_bios/2000/rector_2000.asp Gathering of Eagles Biography] Retrieved June 3, 2008] He died April 26, 2001, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after suffering a heart attack and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. [ [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/efrector.htm Arlington Cemetery Burial] Retrieved January 28, 2008]

Notes

References

*cite book
last=Hill
first=David Lee
authorlink=David Lee "Tex" Hill
coauthors=Schaupp, R.
title="Tex Hill": Flying Tiger
publisher=Honoribus Press
year=2003
isbn=1-885354-15-0

External links

* [http://www.76fsa.org/bio_rector.htm Biography on 76th Fighter Squadron web site]
* [http://www.warbirdforum.com/vics.htm AVG Victory Credits] Including Ed Rector's 4.75 AVG air-to-air kills per Dr. Olynyk