Jack Ilfrey was born on July 31, 1920, in Houston, Texas. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on April 26, 1941, and was commissioned a 2Lt and awarded his pilot wings on December 12, 1941. He was then assigned to the 94th Fighter Squadron of the 1st Fighter Group, and deployed to England in July 1942. Ilfrey saw combat with the group in North Africa from November 1942 until he returned to the United States in April 1943. He then served as a flight instructor training replacement pilots in Santa Ana, California, before being assigned to England as commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Group in March 1944. Ilfrey was shot down over France on June 13, 1944, but managed to evade capture and made it back to Allied territory. On November 20, 1944, Ilfrey landed behind enemy lines and picked up his downed wingman and flew him back to friendly territory. He returned to the United States in December 1944 and was assigned as a Troop Commander at McChord Field, Washington, where he served until he left active duty in September 1945. Ilfrey was discharged from the Army Air Forces on December 28, 1945. During World War II, Col Ilfrey was credited with the destruction of 8 enemy aircraft in aerial combat while flying P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs. He died on October 15, 2004.