Col. John J. Voll

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 Colonel John J. Voll from Goshen, Ohio, was the highest scoring ace of the 15th U.S. Army Air Force in the Mediterranean theater of World War II. As a Captain flying a P-51 Mustang fighter plane, he was credited with twenty-one aerial victories. His superior skill in one particular battle enabled him to maneuver three enemy aircraft into crashes without firing a shot. On a separate mission, while flying solo, Captain Voll had four confirmed kills, two probables, and damaged two additional enemy planes. The highly decorated Colonel John J. Voll ranked second among Ohio’s Army Air Force aces.
 

After World War II, Voll returned to Goshen and became the high school science teacher at his alma mater. He taught two years before being recalled to active duty in 1948. He served with the 3525th Pilot Training Wing at Williams Air Force Base until October 1949. During that time, he married Joan Koch. In preparation for a transfer to the 66th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, he took three weeks of jet engine training at the Allison Division of General Motors in Indianapolis. Voll served with the 66th Fighter Interceptor Squadron until October 1951, and then was assigned to the 1002nd Inspector General Group at Norton Air Force Base, where he served as a Power Plant Specialist and Inspector until August 1954, when he attended Air Command and Staff College, graduating in June 1955. Voll then served with Air Defense Command at Hamilton Air Force Base from July 1955 to November 1958 – at one point being called away to open the Sicily–Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Italy. Later he was assigned to the Air Force Advisory Group at Kimpo Air Base, where he served until November 1960. From November 1960 to October 1961, Voll served with the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing at Cannon Air Force Base.[8] He then served as the Commander of the 522nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, also at Cannon Air Force Base, from October 1961 to July 1962, when he was assigned as an Operations Staff Officer for the 832nd Air Division at Cannon Air Force Base. Voll's next assignment was with Headquarters Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, where he served from October 1962 to August 1964. He then attended Naval Warfare School, graduating in June 1965. From July 1965 to June 1966, he went through air Attache training and then was assigned as Air Attache to Singapore from June 1966 to July 1968. Voll served as the Chief of the Plans Division for the 6250th Support Squadron of Seventh Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in the Republic of Vietnam from July 1968 to August 1969. He was instrumental in implementing Operation Rolling Thunder. He then completed Armed Forces Staff College, graduating in June 1970. From November 1970 until May 1973, he was the director of operations for the 313th Air Division on Okinawa.[10] Voll's final assignment was as commander of the 77th Aeronautical Systems Wing at McClellan Air Force Base from October 1973 until his retirement from the Air Force on July 31, 1974.

Voll and his wife Joan, who was from Blanchester, Ohio, had two children. After retiring, they lived in Lexington, Massachusetts. Voll died on September 12, 1987, and is buried at the Massachusetts National Cemetery. His wife, Joan died on July 28, 1999, and is buried next to him.