Paul Truman McClellan, Jr. (1931 - 1965)

Early Years

College Freshman	College Sophomore	College Junior
Valerie Walker	Valerie and Truman Wedding	Valerie and Truman Wedding

Early Pilot Training

T-6 Pilot	T-6 Formation
T-33 Pilot	T-33 Formation

F-101 Pilot (RAF Bentwaters, England)

F-101 in Flight	F-101 and Squadron, Bentwaters RAFB
Captain Paul Truman McClellan, Jr	Family, 1961
F-101 Voodoo (Wikipedia) RAF Bentwaters (Wikipedia)

F-105 Instructor Pilot (Nellis AFB, Nevada)

F-105 Thunderchief, Nellis AFB	F-105 Thunderchief	F-105s in Formation
Landing on Lake Mead Shore	Fishing on Lake Mead	Captain Paul Truman McClellan, Jr.
F-105 Thunderchief (Wikipedia) Greg Goebel's Republic F-105 Thunderchief Aeroflight: Republic F-105 Thunderchief Computing Mach numbers

A-1E Combat Pilot (Vietnam)

A-1E Skyraider Before Bombing Run	Mac at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam	A-1E Skyraider After Bombing Run
Mac with his A-1E Skyraider		Mac with his A-1E Skyraider
A-1 Skyraider (Wikipedia) A-1 Skyraider Association Site USAF Skyraider Training Class Photos 1964-1973 (Express-12)

Last Views

Last View of Captain Paul T. McClellan, Jr.

I was in the battle at LZ X-RAY, November 14-16, 1965 as a machine gunner with the 7th Cavalry. While laying prone on the ground and firing at the advancing NVA I was observing the A-1E Skyraider making his bombing runs in front of my position (between the Chu Pong Mountain and me). I have documented this in the book "We Were Soldiers".

I was 'keying' off of him as I knew that he had a better view of the enemy than I had as to where they were coming from. The pilot made several bombing runs also firing his machine guns at very low levels. On his last run he was hit by enemy fire and his fuel tank exploded and caught fire. Just above the tree top he passed by me, his plane trailing smoke and flame. I was less than 50 yards from him and saw his face looking at the LZ and in my direction. He was alive and moving at that time. He disappeared over the trees and out of my sight. He killed many of the enemy and may have saved our battalion. I am extremely grateful for his actions and feel he deserves the MOH for his heroics and sacrifice.

From a US soldier,
Bill Beck
30 Jul 2007

Battle of Ia Drang (Wikipedia)
PAVN Witnesses

Ia Drang River Valley
Virtual Wall

Our Town: Hero remembered: Service to country and friendship not forgotten
Mt. Hope Pioneer Cemetery

"High Flight"

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.
1922 - 1941