Language of Material: English

Contributing Institution: San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives

Title: Harold E. Fischer Personal Papers

creator: Fischer, Harold E.

Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10047 .O/S

Physical Description: 1.45 Cubic Feet 3 Boxes

Date (inclusive): 1949-2000

Abstract: This collection contains the personal papers of Harold E. Fischer, who was an Air Force pilot during the Korean War. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war from 1953-1955.

Language of Material: English

The collection of Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr. describes his military career and personal life before, during and after his service as a fighter pilot in the Korean War. He was credited with shooting down 10 Soviet-made Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1MiG-15 (MiGs) fighters, enough to qualify him as a double ace during the Korean War On April 7, 1953, he parachuted into enemy territory, just north of the Yalu River, which separates North Korea from China and held captive for more than two years by the Chinese government. Harold E. Fischer, Jr. and the other pilots captured during the Korean War were released May 31, 1955. Harold E. Fischer, Jr. was born May 8, 1925 and grew up on a farm outside of Lone Rock, Iowa. As a child he enjoyed reading magazines about World War I Flying Aces. After attending Iowa State University for two years, he enlisted in the United States Army. He transferred to the Air Force in 1950 and attended flight school at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, AZ. After his release from captivity, Colonel Fisher returned to Iowa State University to pursue a master’s degree in Industrial Administration. During the Vietnam War, he flew 200 helicopter missions. His final active-duty assignment was with the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Fischer was married three times. His first marriage to Dorothy Herron and they had a son named Harold E. Fischer, III. The marriage ended in divorce shortly before he was captured by the Chinese government. Harold, III, was six years old when he was reunited with his father after being release from his captivity. An Air Force widow, Mary Jane Erickson, wrote to Fischer during his captivity and the two married shortly after his release. His wife had a six-year-old daughter. Later, Colonel Fischer had two more sons with Mary Jane, named Kurt and Clint, and a daughter who died in infancy. After the couple divorced, he was married to Jean Cramlin. They had no children together and the marriage also ended in divorce. He died on April 30. 2009. He was survived by his children and his companion at the time, Tsai Lan Gerth.

The collection is open to researchers by appointment.

Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.

The collection was donated to the Museum.

Related Research Institutions:

Secondary Sources: Find-A-Grave (2014) http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=36939534

Las Vegas Review-Journal (2009) http://obits.reviewjournal.com/obituaries/lvrj/obituary.aspx?pid=127104950

The Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/09/AR2009050902438.html