Full Circle

FULL CIRCLE is the fascinating story of Colonel John “Jack” Oliver, who was not only a highly decorated aviator but also a scientist and Missile Launch Officer who played a huge role in the early successes of the US space and nuclear deterrent programs. Colonel Oliver spent thirty years in the Army Air Corps/USAF. He was a WWII Bombardier-Navigator, flying 53 missions. His 376th Bomb Group flew B24s in low-level raids over the Ploesti oil fields plus numerous missions over Germany, Austria, and northern Italy. Jack received two Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and several Group Commendation Medals. Later he was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Air Force Commendation Medal. Returning home, Jack attended pilot training and was selected as one of only ten to fly the new P-80. He continued to fly the T-33 (P-80 variant) throughout his career. In addition to the B-24 and B-29, he also flew the famous P-51. (P-51 cover image courtesy of Doug Fisher). As Base Adjutant at Albrook Field in the Canal Zone, Jack flew the DC-3 throughout Central and South America. He escorted Chuck Yeager on the Good Will Tour in those Countries. Later, Jack was assigned to Vandenberg AFB in the Discoverer Program, becoming a Satellite Master Controller, Test Director, Ops Officer, Commander of the Hawaiian Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, and eventually Chief of Staff for Plans & Operations for Space and Missiles and Satellite Operations. Despite his thirty-year military career, he served as County Commissioner for twelve years before “retiring.” Jack lives with his wife, Miriam, near Belton, Texas.

Full Circle is available at several on-line book stores.

Liberandos Patch

376 ARCHIVES

The website 376bg.org is NOT our site nor is it our endowment fund.

At the 2017 reunion, the board approved the donation of our archives to the Briscoe Center for American History, located on the University of Texas - Austin campus.

Also, the board approved a $5,000 donation to add to Ed Clendenin's $20,000 donation in the memory of his father. Together, these funds begin an endowment for the preservation of the 376 archives.

Donate directly to the 376 Endowment

To read about other endowment donation options, click here.


My Trip to San Pancrazio

October 2019


Reunion

NOTE change in month !!!

DATES: Oct 26-29, 2023

CITY:Tucson, AZ

HOTEL: Double Tree Suites Airport hotel

7051 South Tucson Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756

520-225-0800


Click here to read about the reunion details.

previous reunions


For Sale

The Other Doolittle Raid


The Broken Wings of Zlatibor


The Liberandos


Three Crawford Brothers


Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior


376th Bomb Group Mission History


The Last Liberator


Full Circle


Shadows of Wings


Ten Men, A "Flying Boxcar," and A War


I Survived Ploesti


A Measure of Life


Shot Down In Yugoslavia


Stories of My Life


Attack


Born in Battle


Bombardier's Diary


Lost Airmen


Langdon Liberando