John Dave Landers (August 23, 1920 – September 12, 1989) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces.

[citation needed] With World War II ongoing, Landers entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Corps on April 25, 1941, and was commissioned a second lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings at Stockton Field, California, on December 12, 1941, just five days after the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

[6] With 6 kills to his credit and now a flying ace, Landers was shot down over Papua New Guinea, but managed to escape from the jungle with help from some of the local population.

Landers continued to score aerial victories against Focke-Wulf Fw 190s and Messerschmitt Me 410s over France and Germany, first in the P-38 and then in the North American P-51D Mustang after the 55th FG converted in July 1944.

[7] Newly promoted to lieutenant colonel, Landers was temporarily assigned as commanding officer of the 357th Fighter Group between October and December 1944 at RAF Leiston.

In one of his last public appearances, he gave a presentation before a meeting of the Granbury Radio Control Airplane Club and talked about some of his experiences in 1988.

[citation needed] Landers died in Granbury, Texas, on September 12, 1989, at the age of 69, and was interred at Greenwood Mausoleum.