Burt Community School - Bears / Roundup Yearbook (Burt, IA)

Page 6 text:

Dedication To Harold Fisher, the embodiment of the faith and courage of American youth, of kindliness and loyalty; a dreamer who clung to his dream of being a jet ace until it was realized, who has sacrificed his freedom so that we might keep ours, we humbly dedicate this annual as we utter a prayer for his quick release and safe return. 2

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Foreword On the following pages are recorded the pleasant memories that have accumulated during the past 1953-54 school year. In the years to come we hope this book will help remind you of all the fun and good times that are had at Dear Old Burt High. 1

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After the fifth MIG. Captain Harold E. Fischer In his boyhood, Harold, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fischer of Swea City, Iowa, played hard at many things like any normal boy. While imitating one of his idols, Tarzan of the Apes”, he fell from a tree and thus earned the nickname, “Tarz”, which has clung to him. Still pursuing his aerial interests he built many model airplanes which he vainly attempted to fly from his father’s windmill. So it was since early childhood, that “Tarz cherished the dream of some day becoming an accomplished aviator. His childhood soon slipped away and he is remembered as a student in Burt High School who played the trumpet in the school band and was on the baseball and basketball teams. He always had a friendly, cheerful, and encouraging word for everyone. Harold was a student with high ideals and principles who did not hesitate to stand for what he thought was right. He was industrious, courteous and very considerate of other's. From the reports of some of his “Buddies” in the services these qualities remained with him, and he was loved because of them. He enlisted in the Naval Air Force during World War II immediately after graduating from high school in 1943. He served as a Sergeant in R. O. T. C. at Iowa State College at Ames, and when he enlisted in the services during the Korean War early in 1950, he was given the rank of Lieutenant. Upon graduating from Williams Air Field in Arizona, he was sent to Los Vegas, Nevada, where he received gunnery training before being sent to Korea on March 11, 1951, where he was attached to the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. Although missions are usually flown in groups of one hundred, Harold managed to “squeeze” in an extra five in his first group, flown in the F-80, which is used mostly for strafing and escorting. At the completion of three months of official work in Tokyo, Japan, his request for more missions was granted and he returned to Korea to fly the F-86 in a total one hundred and seventy missions. It was when he was on his one hundred seventieth mission, April 7, 1953, that he was shot down and all who knew and loved him were saddened to hear he was taken captive by the Reds. It was in the F-86 that Harold made such a remarkable record, his total score being twelve enemy planes demolished and three partially disabled. This is an average of one downed plane for every five and one half missions. Harold’s plane was the fastest model then in use, and his own was “souped up” to still more speed. For his outstanding service Harold received many decorations, among which were the Distinguished Flying Cross, The Air Medal, The Silver Star, and four Oakleaf Clusters. 3