John Van Kuren "Scarsdale Jack" Newkirk. Born in New York City, New York on November 15,1913. His first job was as a copy boy for the New York Times. He joined the United States Army as an Infantry Lieutenant. He served for 3 years. He left the Army and joined the United States Navy. He went to flight school becoming a Navy pilot serving on the U.S.S. Yorktown. In 1941 he resigned his commission at age 27 and joined the American Volunteer Group in Burma. The American Volunteer Group was known as "The Flying Tigers". He was placed in command of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron "Panda Bears" as Squadron Leader. He lead the 2nd Pursuit Squadron on missions over the famous Burma Road and many missions over China. In 1942 when leading a mission on Lamphun Thailand he was shot down and killed in action. John "Scarsdale Jack" Newkirk and all the members of the "Flying Tigers" where the vanguard of America's fight for freedom in Asia.
John Van Kuren "Scarsdale Jack" Newkirk. Born in New York City, New York on November 15,1913. His first job was as a copy boy for the New York Times. He joined the United States Army as an Infantry Lieutenant. He served for 3 years. He left the Army and joined the United States Navy. He went to flight school becoming a Navy pilot serving on the U.S.S. Yorktown. In 1941 he resigned his commission at age 27 and joined the American Volunteer Group in Burma. The American Volunteer Group was known as "The Flying Tigers". He was placed in command of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron "Panda Bears" as Squadron Leader. He lead the 2nd Pursuit Squadron on missions over the famous Burma Road and many missions over China. In 1942 when leading a mission on Lamphun Thailand he was shot down and killed in action. John "Scarsdale Jack" Newkirk and all the members of the "Flying Tigers" where the vanguard of America's fight for freedom in Asia.
