During World War II, Heyward Paxton became a U.S. Army Air Forces ACE, credited with shooting down 6.5 enemy aircraft in aerial combat. After the war he transferred to the new U.S. Air Force, and retired in 1972 as a Colonel.
Sponsored by:
Heyward
Ainsworth
Paxton
, Jr.
March 20, 1921
–
November 18, 1998
Born:
New Smyrna Beach
,
Florida
Home:
New Smyrna Beach
,
Florida
Buried:
Edgewater
,
Florida
Cemetery:
Sea Pines Memorial Gardens
Awards Received
-
Legion of Merit
-
Legion of Merit
-
Legion of Merit
-
Legion of Merit
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel Heyward Ainsworth Paxton, Jr. (ASN: 0-0800584), United States Air Force, was awarded a Second Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Third Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Paxton and his dedicated contributions in the Service of his Country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
-
Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel Heyward Ainsworth Paxton, Jr. (ASN: 0-0800584), United States Air Force, was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Paxton and his dedicated contributions in the Service of his Country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
-
Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel Heyward Ainsworth Paxton, Jr. (ASN: 0-0800584), United States Air Force, was awarded a Third Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Paxton and his dedicated contributions in the Service of his Country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
-
Legion of Merit
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: Colonel Heyward Ainsworth Paxton, Jr. (ASN: 0-0800584), United States Air Force, was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States. The singularly distinctive accomplishments of Colonel Paxton and his dedicated contributions in the Service of his Country reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
Captain (Air Corps)Batallion:
7th Fighter SquadronRegiment:
3d Fighter GroupDivision:
Chinese American Composite WingAction Date:
October 27, 1944
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain (Air Corps) Heyward Ainsworth Paxton, Jr. (ASN: 0-0800584), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight while serving as a P-51 Fighter Pilot of the 7th Fighter Squadron, 3d Fighter Group, Chinese-American Composite Wing. Captain Paxton distinguished himself on 27 October 1944 during a fighter sweep along an important enemy-held railroad. One train was encountered, and he participated in the destruction of the locomotive and several cars of gasoline, and in strafing three coal-cars loaded with troops. His flight then preceded to attack an enemy airfield where a numerically superior force of nineteen bombers and fighters were preparing to land. In the course of an intense aerial battle in which all the enemy planes were destroyed, Lieutenant Paxton shot down two and shared credit for the destruction of a third. His aggressiveness and skill in this important double mission reflect high credit upon himself and upon the Army Air Forces.