Jacob Dixon was born on January 7, 1917, in Lexington, Missouri. He enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on February 9, 1941, and was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings on September 27, 1941. Dixon was stationed in Alaska at the beginning of the war and was credited with a shared air victory against an enemy aircraft while flying with the 11th Fighter Squadron on June 3, 1942. He returned to the mainland in late 1942 and served as an instructor pilot for the remainder of the war. After the war, Dixon served as Commander of the 334th Fighter Squadron at Andrews AFB, Maryland, from September 1946 to April 1949, and then served with the 543rd Tactical Support Group and the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in Korea in 1950 and 1951. After returning from Korea, Col Dixon served as Commander of the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, and he was Commander of the 479th Fighter Group at George AFB, California, from August 1953 to May 1955. He attended Air War College from August 1957 to June 1958, and then served as Deputy for Operations of the 73rd Air Division at Tyndall AFB, Florida, from June 1958 to June 1959, when he became Base Commander of Tyndall AFB. In July 1960, Dixon became Vice Commander of the 73rd Air Division at Tyndall, and then served on the staff at Headquarters Air Defense Command at Ent AFB, Colorado, from August 1961 to August 1963. He served as Commander of the 4411th Combat Crew Training Group at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, from August 1963 to April 1964, when he became Director of Operations for the Tactical Air Reconnaissance Center (TARC) at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Col Dixon became Vice Commander of TARC at Shaw in September 1964, and then served with Headquarters U.S. Air Force at the Pentagon from June 1966 until his retirement from the Air Force on February 1, 1970. Jacob Dixon died on October 30, 2006, and was buried at Culley's MeadowWood Memorial Park in Tallahassee, Florida.

His Distinguished Service Cross Citation reads

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Jacob W. Dixon, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Far East Air Forces, in action against enemy forces in the Republic of Korea on 23 May 1951. Fully aware of the hazards and responsibilities involved, Colonel Dixon voluntarily flew a photographic reconnaissance mission deep into enemy territory. With exceptional ability, he planned and successfully executed the mission in an area where enemy interceptor aircraft were located, although he was alone in an unarmed airplane. Colonel Dixon chose a flight plan designed primarily to attract enemy aircraft to him and to draw them from two other elements of his flight. In addition, Colonel Dixon remained over the target area thirty minutes beyond the time planned in an effort to locate a suspected target. During his flight he frequently observed enemy MIG-type aircraft. Although the mission was originally planned to afford a considerable degree of overcast protection, Colonel Dixon tenaciously continued his mission even though the overcast has dissipated. As a result of his mission, much valuable information was gained with respect to enemy air potential communications centers, and facilities. Colonel Dixon's courage, leadership and ingenuity were in keeping with the highest tradition of the military service and reflected great credit upon himself, the Far East Air forces, and the United States Air Force.