Local veteran served as combat aviator during World War II

December 12, 2011 at 4:45 a.m. | Updated December 12, 2011 at 4:45 a.m.

by Jeremy Amick

Standing in his "Air Corps Corner," local veteran Bud Jones shared his story of flying 117 combat missions on P-40 Warhawks and P-47 Thunderbolts during World War II.
Standing in his "Air Corps Corner," local veteran Bud Jones shared his story of flying 117 combat missions on P-40 Warhawks and P-47 Thunderbolts during World War II.

Throughout the years, many children have dreamed about a career in aviation.

In the case of local veteran Francis "Bud" Jones, circumstances born of World War II helped transition such a dream to reality.

Shortly after his graduation from Vienna High School, Jones began attending the University of Missouri in Columbia during the fall of 1941.

A couple of months later, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Jones realized his educational pursuits would ....

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