The Descriptive Finding Guide for the Harold E. Fischer Personal Papers SDASM.SC.10047 .O/S
Alan Renga
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
2014
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101
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
Biographical / Historical
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.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the Museum.
Related Materials
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
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Korean War 1950-1953
United States. Air Force
Fischer, Harold E.
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David)
Box 01 – 13 Video Cassette Recordings
Physical Description: 1. Video Cassette Recording of Colonel Harold Fischer and the “Paper Tiger” October 3, 1999.
2. Video Cassette Recording of “Korean Aces” (No Date),
3. Video Cassette Recording of “Spyglass Lana” (No Date).
4. Video Cassette Recording of “Gathering of Eagles Interviews” June 10, 1994.
5. Video Cassette Recording of A&E Network “Weapons at War” Most Decorated Aces of Korean, Wayne Weiss, Producer. (No Date)
6. Video Cassette Recording of “Seven Views of War” (No Date).
7. Video Cassette Recording of “Most Decorated Korean. (No Date).
8. Video Cassette Recording of “Kein W. Poltava Riga, April 9, 1994-April 15, 1994.
9. Video Cassette Recording of “National Archives Korean Pilots Aces: James K. Johnson.
10. Video Cassette Recording of “9th Meeting of Northern California Friends of FT. Aces.” McClellan AFB, Sacramento, CA. Hank
Buttleman, Ed Heller, Hal Fischer, Jack Bolt and John Mitchell”. October 22, 1994.
11. Video Cassette Recording of “Seven Views of War” (No Date).
12. Video Cassette Recording of “F-86 Stuff @ Midland. (No Date).
13. Video Cassette Recording of “Korean War Symposium Interview” June 25, 2001.
Box 02
Physical Description: Box 2 Size: 15” x 5” x 10.5”
Folder 01 – Four Report Cards from Harold E. Fischer 6th, 7th, 10th and 12th grade.
Folder 02 Folder: Photographs I: Pages 1-30 of Photo Album.
Folder 03 – Photographs II: Pages 31-61 of Photo Album.
Folder 04 – Official U. S Government Photographs I
Folder 05 – Official U. S. Government Photographs II
Physical Description: 1. Thirty-five Official U. S. Government 8” x 10” photographs all signed by Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr.
Folder 06 – Personal Photographs
Physical Description: 1. Nine 8” x 11” color photograph of Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr’s flight jacket.
2. One 8” x 11” signed color photograph of his airplane.
3. One 8” x 12” 2002 Sino-American WW II Vets Reunion in Beijing.
4. One 8” x 12” 2002 Sino-American WW II Vets Reunion in Beijing in a cardboard folder.
Folder 07 – Draft of “Arms Transfers to Less Developed Countries”
Physical Description: 1. Sixty-four page draft about “Arms Transfer Policies of Major Suppliers” prepared for The U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament
Agency by Lt. Colonel Harold E. Fischer, USAF, May 1969.
Folder 08 – The Transfer of the U.S. Korean War POWs to the Soviet Union
Folder 09 – The Story of My Ten MiGs
Physical Description: 1. Three page typed document titled “My Ten MiGs by Colonel Harold E. Fischer, USAF (Retired) America’s 22nd Jet Ace describes
his flying encounters with enemy MiGs.
Folder 10 – Sioux City News: “Story of Harold E. Fischer, Jr.” dated June 14, 1955.
Physical Description: 1. Transcript: “Take One”: 7 pages of description of Colonel Fischer’s capture by the Chinese government dated June 14, 1955.
2. Transcript: “Take Two”: 8 pages of description of Colonel Fischer’s capture by the Chinese government dated June 14, 1955.
(Missing page 2 of the document).
3. Transcript: “Take Three”: 2 copies of “Take Three” consisting of 5 pages each.
4. Transcript: “Take Four”: 2 copies of “Take Four” consisting of 7 pages each.
5. Missing Transcript: “Take Five”.
6. Transcript: “Take Six”: Three page document.
Folder 11 Personal Letters 1950-1953 (Before Capture)
Folder 12 – Correspondence Fischer’s Parents and the U. S. Government 1953-1955
Physical Description: Many letters he called “A Diary” Harold E. Fischer wrote to friends and his parents during his imprisonment by the Chinese
government.
Folder 14 – Letters Dated 1985-2002
Folder 15 – Letters written with No Dates or Envelopes
Physical Description: 1. Two page typed letter (no date) from Han De Cai to Harold E. Fischer, Jr. and the draft of “The Fischer Fund.”
2. One page handwritten and typed (no date) from Roy (no last name to Harold) wishing him a Merry Christmas.
3. One page handwritten letter (no date) from Mrs. Moore to “Dear Friends”.
4. One page handwritten note (no date) regarding Harold E. Fischer Jr. capture by the Chinese.
5. One page handwritten note (no date) from “EF” to “Hi There” about having a baby.
6. Four page handwritten letter (no date) from “Your son” to Mom and Dad.
7. Two page typed letter (no date) from “Your son” to “Dad” regarding selling a car, voting for Eisenhower and other news.
8. Two page typed letter (no date) to “Dear Dad and Mom” from “Your son” regarding flying in combat.
9. Two page handwritten letter (no date) to “Dear Mom and Dad” from “Your son” regarding the T-33.
10. Two page handwritten letter (no date) to “Hello” from “Your son” regarding release from the hospital.
11. One page typed letter (no date) to “Dear Dad and Mom” from “Your son” regarding his friends transfer to other places.
He is in Japan at the time of the letter.
12. One page typed letter (no date) to Hi Dad and Mom, from your son regarding the radio his father was to receive for Christmas.
13. Two page handwritten letter (no date) to Dear Mom and Dad from your Junior regarding move to Chase Field near Corpus Christi,
Texas
14. Two page typed letter (no salutation in poor condition with no date) regarding people who were captured.
15. One page typed letter (no date) to Dear Mother and Father from your son regarding his mother’s birthday.
16. One page typed letter (no date) to Dad from your son regarding missions he flew and the radio he sent to his father.
17. One page handwritten letter (no date) to Dearest Mom and Dad from your son regarding the F-80 he was flying.
18. One page handwritten letter (no date) to Dear Mom and Dad from your son regarding his missions.
19. Two page handwritten letter in Chinese) (no date).
20. Two page typed letter describing an unknown author’s interest in “The Flying Tiger”.
Folder 16 – POW MEDSEARCH
Physical Description: 1. A four-page document about searching for information about people who were POWs.
Folder 17 – Official Credit for Destruction of Enemy Aircraft
Physical Description: . A four-page document regarding the Official Credit for Destruction of Enemy Aircraft.
Folder 18 – Bergin-Interview with Lt. Gen. Han
Physical Description: . An eleven-page document describing an interview with Lt. Gen Han about flying in combat. The document is missing pages
one and two.
Folder 19 – Various Newspaper Clippings about Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr
Physical Description: 1. Newspaper clipping from a Swea City, Iowa (no date) with the headline “Fischer’s Give Thanks War-Hero-Son Still Alive”.
It shows pictures of Harold’s parents, his then wife, Dorothy Fischer and his son Harold Fischer, III.
2. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Parents Learn Chinese Were ‘Gunning’ for Capt. Fischer”.
3. Laminated newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Iowa Pilot Given ‘An Outing’ in China.
4. Newspaper clipping from the Des Moines, Iowa newspaper (no date) titled “China Will Let Fischer Write”.
5. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Ace Says He’s down over Manchuria Lost Fighting Commie Planes”.
6. Newspaper clipping from the Des Moines Sunday Register, April 12, 1953 about Harold E. Fischer’s interest in flying from
an early age.
7. Newspaper clipping from the Des Moines Register dated April 10, 1953 titled “Gammack Tells Story o Fischer’s Last Flight:
Chinese Say Iowa Jet Ace Is a Captive”.
8. Newspaper clipping from the Des Moines Register dated April 10, 1953 continuing the story from page 1.
9. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) about “Fischer Missing in Korea Action”.
10. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) about “Fischer Fed Red Doctrine in P. W. Camp”.
11. Newspaper Kossuth County Advance dated January 25, 1955 titled “Fischer Greets Makenzie Sunday”.
12. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Iowa Jet Ace Sends 7 to Parents”.
13. Newspaper clipping (No author, no date) titled “51 Americans Remain in Captivity.”
14. Newspaper clipping Des Moines Register dated February 17, 1953 titled “Iowa Ace, Hottest Pilot in Korea, Gets 7th, 8th
MiGs”.
15. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “27-year-old Iowa Flier Becomes 25th Jet Ace.”
16. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “One of the Last Pictures of Capt. Harold Fischer”.
17. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Four of a Kind”.
18. Newspaper clipping from The Washington Daily News, May 16, 1958 titled “The Faces of the Aces.”
19. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “200 Aircraft Rain Lethal Blow on Supply Complex”.
20. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Reds Hold Back”.
21. Newspaper clipping Quick Pocket News Weekly, dated April 13, 1953 picture of Lt. Col Edwin Lewis Heller in the hospital.
22. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Reds Admit Holding Back U. S. Ace and Some Other Captured Fliers: Airmen
Were in Manchuria”.
23. Newspaper clipping (no author; no date) titled “AF Adds 2 MiGs to Nov. 26 Claims”.
24. Newspaper clipping (no author; no date) titled “200 Aircraft Pulverized Enemy Supply Complex”.
25. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Sabres Bag 3 MiGs Troop Billets Blasted”.
26. Newspaper clipping (no author, no date) titled “Ace Downed MiGs, was POW”.
27. Newspaper clipping, Algona Upper Des Moines dated May 5, 1997 titled “Swea City’s Harold Fischer Gains Spot in Air Force
Hall of Fame.”
28. Newspaper clipping in Maxwell-Gunter Dispatch, June 10, 1994.
29. Newspaper clipping in the Oshkosh Northwestern dated August 1, 1996 titled: “EAA 1996 Fly-in Convention-Honoring Veterans
with a photograph and story of Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr.”.
Folder 20 - Oversized Newspaper Clippings
Physical Description: 1. Typed newspaper release dated February 15, 1953 from Headquarters Fifth Air Force Public Information Office titled: “1800
Operational Summary and photographs of the four pilots released from captivity in 1953”.
2. Newspaper clipping from The Air Force Times dated December 26, 1952, titled “Flyers Downing Red MIGs Mount as Korea War
Rages.” Clipping includes photographs of the 12 pilots featured in article.
3. Newspaper clipping in Pacific Stars and Stripes (no date) titled “4th Group Pilots Share Credit for Bagged MIG”. Includes
photos of 12 pilots featured in the article.
4. Newspaper clipping (no author; no date) titled “Fernandez 26th Ace.” Article includes a photograph of Fernandez.
5. Newspaper article dated November 19 (no year) (no author) titled “Assembly Area Hit B Napalm: Pilot Bags 5th Red, becomes
22nd Ace”.
6. Newspaper article dated December 7 (no year) titled “Saber Jet Pilots down 4 MIGs: Aircraft Fly 1,300 Sorties to protect
Ike on Korea Trip”.
7. Newspaper clipping dated December 17 (no year) (no author) titled “4th Wing Pilots Bag 4 MiGs In 13 Flights”.
8. Three Newspaper clippings dated November 21(no year) (no author) titled: “Pilot Nicks MIGs in Both Thunderjets, Sabre Jets”;
“Sabre Jets Down 5 More MIGs.” and “Jet Ace Describes Action Involved In Bagging MIG”.
9. Newspaper clipping by Alfred D. Whelton (no date) titled “New Hampshire’s Korea Ace Flies Blind, Met His Wife on Blind
Date”.
Folder 21 – Newspaper Clippings of Harold E. Fischer’s Release from China.
Physical Description: 1. One 11” x 14” Blown up newspaper photograph (no author, no date) titled: “A Happy Foursome” about the pilot’s release from
captivity.
2. Newspaper article, from the Mason City Globe-Gazette, July 18, 1955 titled “5000 Take Part in Aviation Day: Fischer Honored
at Fete after his release from captivity”.
3. Newspaper article from Des Moines Register dated February 25, 1955 regarding a photo of Capt. Harold E. Fischer and two
of his companions in prison. One 5.5” x 8” laminated photograph of Captain Fischer and three fellow airmen.
4. One 5” x 6” laminated photograph of three U.S. Fliers after their release from captivity.
Folder 22 – New York Times Magazine March 29, 1953.
Folder 23 – The Star and Lamp of Pi Kappa Phi: November 1953: Pages 4-5.
Folder 24- The Reference Materials of the Background about Chang-ning
Folder 25 – News Magazine Galveston News Tempo June 13, 1955
Folder 26 – Newsweek Magazine June 13, 1955, Pages 26-27.
Folder 27 – Two Air Force Magazines January 1955 and July 1955 issues.
Folder 28 – Scrapbook about Harold E. Fischer, Jr.’s Release from Chinese Prison
Physical Description: 1. The first twenty-seven pages are newspaper clippings of his release from a Chinese prison camp and his reunion with his
son Harold E. Fischer, III.
2. Pages 28-31 are about his marriage to Mary Jane Peterson.
Folder 29 - Three issues of “Life” Magazine Dated June 13, 1955 and June 27, 1955
Physical Description: 1. One copy of Life Magazine Dated June 13, 1955, pages 29-33 about the POWs in Chinese government captivity.
2. Two copies of Life Magazine Dated June 27, 1955, pages 146-160 about Harold E. Fischer’s captivity by the Chinese government.
Folder 30 – The Jet Set Magazine Article, 1969
Physical Description: 1. A four-page article by William A. Kinney in the Airman Staff Magazine, 1969.
Folder 31 – Drawings of “The Paper Tiger” from “The Squadron, Spring 1973.
Physical Description: 1. Four pages of drawings of the “Paper Tiger” in “The Squadron Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 2, 1973.
Folder 32 – Newspaper Clippings written in Chinese
Folder 33 – Military History Magazine December 2001.
Physical Description: 1. Story about “Chinese MiG Ace over Korea” on page 38.
Folder 34 – Various Memorabilia
Physical Description: 1. A decal of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Association.
2. Booklet of the US-Russia Joint Commission Korean War Working Group Visit with U. S. Sabre Pilots, Las Vegas, NV, April
17-22, 2001.
3. Photocopy of Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr. at the 50th Anniversary of the Formation of the Royal Australian Air Force.
Date of Issue June 9, 1971.
4. Photocopy of Soviet pilot Colonel Dmitry Valilevich dated December 11, 1990.
5. Paper from the Far East Air Force dated March 22, 1953 passed for publication in 2001.
6. Color Advertisement for “Dreams of Aces: The Hal Fischer Story: Korea and Vietnam”. Dated July 1, 2011.
7. 7 Poem by MLF (dated 1975) titled: “In Memory of 7th April 1953.” Signed by Colonel Harold E. Fischer August 27, 1993.
Folder 35 – Various dated and undated envelopes.
Physical Description: 1. Many of these undated envelopes were from when he was held captive by the Chinese government.
2. Most of the dated envelopes are addressed to his parents before his capture, during his imprisonment and after his release.
3. Two envelopes held photographs that were sleeved in previous folders.
Folder 36 - Magnetic Advertisement for “The Paper Tiger”
Folder 37 – Various Awards from 1949 to 1997
Physical Description: 1. Award from the President of the United States of America, dated May 9, 1949 making Harold E. Fischer, Jr. a Second Lieutenant,
Infantry.
2. Award from the Infantry School of the United States Army stating that Second Lieutenant has successful completed “The Special
Associate Basic Infantry Officers’ Course on May 24, 1949.
3. Award from the United States Air Force Air Training Command to Second Lieutenant Harold E. Fischer, Basic Pilot Training
on August 4, 1950.
4. Award from the United States Air Force, Air Training Command, making Second Lieutenant Harold E. Fischer, Jr. a Fighter
Pilot on December 16, 1950 at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, Arizona.
5. Awarded The Silver Star from the United States of America certifying Captain Harold E. Fischer, Jr. showed Gallantry in
Action dated May 31, 1955.
6. Awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross (First Oak Leaf Cluster) from the United States of America certifying First Lieutenant
Harold E. Fischer Extraordinary Achievement while Participating in Aerial Flight November 26, 1952. Awarded May 31, 1955.
7. Awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Harold E. Fischer from the United States of America for Extraordinary
Heroism in Military Operations Against an Armed Enemy, February 16, 1953. Awarded May 31, 1955.
8. Awarded the Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters to Captain Harold E. Fischer from the United States of America for Meritorious
Achievement While Participating in Aerial Flight. Awarded May 31, 1955,
9. An award from the President of the United States of America making Harold E. Fischer, Jr. a Captain in the United States
Air Force dated March 14, 1958.
10. Awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal from the Department of Defense dated July 22, 1968.
11. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal to Colonel Harold E. Fischer for Outstanding Service dated May 7, 1971.
12. Award from the United States Army Aviation School to Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr. the Rotary Wing Qualification Course
on August 24, 1971.
13. An award from Auh-Ding Boi-Tinly Viet-Nam Cong-Hoa dated December 27, 1971.
14. An award from Viet Nam, Cong Hoa Bang Nhay-Du dated February 28, 1972.
15. A Certificate of Accomplishment awarded to Colonel Harold E. Fischer dated March 9, 1972.
16. Award from Viet Nam Cong-Hoa to Harold E. Fischer dated August 8, 1972.
17. Award from the Republic of Vietnam to Colonel Harold E. Fischer for Chief, AF Advisory Team 3, Bien Hoa AB RVN dated September
13, 1972.
18. An award from Bo Tong Tham Mu’u Khong-Quan dated October 2, 1972.
19. An award from the United States of America awarding Colonel Howard E. Fischer the Air Medal (Fifth through Seventh Oak
Leaf Cluster) for Meritorious Achievement while participating in Aerial Flight dated October 12, 1972.
20. Award from the United States of America awarding Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr. the Legion of Merit Award dated October
30, 1972.
21. Award from the Special Operations Association making Harold Fischer a life member of the association on January 9, 1997.
Folder 38 – Additional information about Colonel Harold E. Fischer, Jr
Folder 39 – Previous Paperwork Regarding the H. Fischer Collection
Physical Description: 1. Donor Acknowledgement dated September 19, 2007.
