Colonel Arthur F. Merewether, USAF (Retired)

DEDICATION

“Pinkie Williams was the true father of the Air Corps Weather Service, and established the first real Air Corps weather station at Langley Field around the mid-1930s.”

Colonel Arthur F. Merewether, USAF (Retired)

“No one has ever given Major R. P. Williams the credit due him for prying the meteorological service loose from the Signal Corps. It was his dream and he was the prime mover. He was a regular bulldog in his tenacity to get hold of the kind of service that the Air Corps had to have. I have no doubt that World War II would have caught us without a weather service had it not been for Major Williams”

Major General J. K. Lacey, USAF (Retired)

This book is dedicated to the 234 Air Force Weather “Fallen Warriors” who lost their lives in the service of their country, and especially to Colonel Randolph P. (“Pinkie”) Williams, the founder of the Army Air Corps Weather Service. His aggressive pioneering and organizational efforts in 1936-37 are generally acknowledged as the impetus behind the evolution of the United States Air Force weather function as we know it today. Colonel Williams was killed in action September 5, 1944, when his photographic reconnaissance aircraft was shot down over France.

WORLD WAR II

NAME / Killed in Action[1] (KIA)/Missing in Action (MIA) / DATE
Capt Robert M. Losey / KIA / 21 Apr 40
TSgt Daniel A. Dyer / KIA / 7 Dec 41
Cpl Harold W. Borgelt / KIA / 7 Dec 41
Cpl James M. Topalian / KIA / 7 Dec 41
PFC Sherman Levine / KIA / 7 Dec 41
Pvt Richard E. Livingston / KIA / 7 Dec 41
1Lt James H. Cooke / MIA / 7 May 42
1Lt James W. Pflueger / KIA / 9 Nov 42
Pvt George D. Cunning / KIA / 2 Feb 43
Pvt Gordon S. Hart / KIA / 2 Feb 43
Pvt Earl W. Wilson / KIA / 2 Feb 43
1Lt Amos M. Hutchinson, Jr / MIA / 16 Feb 43
1Lt William E. Stodghill / KIA / 25 Apr 43
Capt Robert G. Aho / KIA / 13 Jun 43
MSgt Donald E. Tice / KIA / 14 Jun 43
TSgt Ben Slobutsky / MIA / 10 Oct 43
MSgt Raymond B. Orner, Jr / KIA / 16 Dec 43
Capt John D. Root / KIA / Unknown
TSgt Herman C. Hudson / KIA / 16 Mar 44
2Lt Raymond W. Pope / MIA / 20 Mar 44
SSgt Everett N. Dietrich / KIA / 23 Mar 44
2Lt Leland T. Harder, Jr / KIA / 26 Mar 44
SSgt David W. Fogo / KIA / 28 Mar 44
Maj William P. “Tony” Conway, Jr / KIA / 1 Apr 44
SSgt Russell E. Hill / KIA / 22 Apr 44
Capt Edward P. McDermott / KIA / 26 Apr 44
Cpl Arthur H. Gill, Jr / MIA / 5 Jul 44
1Lt J. J. Mann / KIA / 7 Jul 44
Sgt Joseph H. Kimmel, Jr / MIA / 30 Aug 44
Col Randolph P. (“Pinkie”) Williams / KIA / 5 Sep 44
2Lt John H. Macklin / KIA / 22 Sep 44
MSgt Richard W. Stoodley / KIA / 22 Sep 44
SSgt Charles H. Hammill / MIA / 25 Sep 44
Cpl Robert P. Herbig / MIA / 25 Sep 44
Sgt Louis J. Heller / KIA / 26 Sep 44
Cpl Leonard S. Harrow / KIA / 6 Oct 44
Col Joseph A. Miller, Jr / MIA / 21 Oct 44
2Lt Robert L. Shaw / KIA / 25 Oct 44
MSgt James K. Hastings / MIA / 6 Nov 44
Sgt Myron Hirshfield / KIA / 6 Dec 44
Capt Jean W. Dixon / KIA / 13 Dec 44
1Lt Howard R. Henry / MIA / 13 Dec 44
2Lt Elgin E. Fisher / KIA / 13 Dec 44
2Lt William C. Stilwell / KIA / 13 Dec 44
2Lt Harold G. Brink / KIA / 13 Dec 44
TSgt John F. Spellman / KIA / 13 Dec 44
Sgt Albert F. Whalen / KIA / 13 Dec 44
Maj Frank T. Cox, Jr / KIA / 24 Dec 44
2Lt Richard W. Beard, Jr / KIA / 12 Jan 45
Cpl Walter A. Marsh, Jr / MIA / 20 Jan 45
TSgt Walter C. Ahrens / KIA / 23 Jan 45
2Lt Robert G. Kraybill / MIA / 27 Jan 45
Cpl Carl E. Houston / MIA / 3 Mar 45
1Lt William L. Knowlan / MIA / 10 Mar 45
2Lt Charles H. Janssen, Jr. / MIA / 10 Mar 45
2Lt Charles A. Cannon, Jr. / MIA / 10 Mar 45
SSgt William H. Hutchings / MIA / 10 Mar 45
SSgt Frederick E. Keup / MIA / 10 Mar 45
MSgt Thomas W. Smith / MIA / 21 Mar 45
Maj Jay Jacobs / KIA / 23 Mar 45
1Lt Arthur J. Brestlin / KIA / 23 Mar 45
TSgt Cletus G. Bice / MIA / 22 May 45
Maj Robert C. Kunz / MIA / 19 Jun 45
F/O James M. Pyca / MIA / 19 Jun 45
1Lt Stanley Z. Abrams / MIA / 19 Jun 45
SSgt Billy R. Isham / MIA / 19 Jun 45
SSgt Alvin C. Schaefer / MIA / 19 Jun 45
Capt Carl E. Rimmele / KIA / 30 Jun 45
Sgt Harold E. Gstalder / MIA / 25 Jul 45
Cpl John R. Waite / MIA / 27 Jul 45
1Lt James A. Fuller / KIA / 12 Aug 45
Lt Walter R. Weston / MIA / 19 Oct 45
KOREA
Capt David H. Grisham / MIA / 3 Sep 50
1Lt James M. Schooley, Jr. / KIA / 9 Oct 50
Capt Warren G. Harding / KIA / 7 Dec 50
Capt Gerald L. Brose / MIA / 11 Aug 51
Capt Bruce K. Nims / MIA / 21 Oct 51
TSgt Carl M. Spence / MIA / 22 Feb 52
SOUTH EAST ASIA
KIA/ Other
A1C Norman S. Bowers / Other – Died in C-130 crash[2] enroute from Da Nang, RVN to Japan / 6 Sep 66
A2C Wayne S. Meacham / Same as above / 6 Sep 66
A2C Tullio P. Idice, Jr. / Other – Died in swimming accident, Qui Nhon RVN[3] / 23 Oct 66
SSgt James C. Swann / KIA / 4 Mar 68
Sgt Edward W. Milan / KIA / 4 Mar 68
SSgt Eduardo Garcia, Jr / KIA / 18 Mar 68
A1C Kenneth E. Baker, Jr / KIA / 22 Mar 68
COLD WAR
NAME / KIA/Other / DATE
Lt Col Keith R. Grimes / Other – Died in EC-135 (TAC Airborne Command Post) accident near Kirtland AFB, NM[4] / 14 Sep 77
DESERT SHIELD DESERT STORM[5]
MSgt Samuel Gardner, Jr / Other – Died in C-5 accident on take-off at Ramstein AB West Germany, bound for DESERT SHIELD / 29 Aug 90
SSgt Marc H. Cleyman / Same as above / 29 Aug 90
SSgt Rande J. Hulec / Same as above / 29 Aug 90
AFGHANISTAN[6]
Capt Nathan J. Nylander / KIA / 27 Apr 2011
RECONNAISSANCE
NAME / OTHER / DATE
1Lt Joseph E. Finkey / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
1Lt William N. Green / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
1Lt Paul G. Jordan / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
2Lt Donald DeNeau / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
MSgt James D. Matthew / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
TSgt George W. Bessire / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
SSgt David C. Brown / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
Sgt Edward C. Decker / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
Cpl Earl P. Domangue / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Dec 47
1Lt Otis A. Young / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Sep 48
1Lt Jay A. Steinbrenner / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Sep 48
1Lt John P. Trostel / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Sep 48
TSgt Harry A. Holt / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Sep 48
Maj Roy H. Bruns / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
Capt Cleo S. Maddox / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
Capt John C. Mays / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
1Lt James E. Shewey / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
1Lt Andrew J. Rooks / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
TSgt Clarence J. Hyatt / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
SSgt Harry N. Barker / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
SSgt Preston S. Treadway / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
Sgt James A. Sapp / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
Cpl Harry N. Carden / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
Cpl Robert D. Myrman / Died, Aircraft Accident / 3 Nov 49
1Lt Walter Krueger / Died, Aircraft Accident / 26 Feb 52
2Lt Vincent P. Gendusa / Died, Aircraft Accident / 26 Feb 52
2Lt Robert J. Shaw / Died, Aircraft Accident / 26 Feb 52
MSgt Frank P. Leach / Died, Aircraft Accident / 26 Feb 52
Sgt Donald E. Parker / Died, Aircraft Accident / 26 Feb 52
Cpl Francis X. Toland / Died, Aircraft Accident / 26 Feb 52
Maj Bruce Acebedo / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
Capt Guilford A. Hopkins / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
Capt Robert L. Kizer / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
Capt Leonard B. Winstead / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
2Lt August I. Lam / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
MSgt Edwin M. Fultz / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
TSgt George R. Shook / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
Sgt Elbert E. King / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
SSgt Hayden C. Shulz / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
SSgt Carlton J. Fose / Died, Aircraft Accident / 5 Apr 52
Maj Sterling L. Harrell / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
Capt Donald M. Baird / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
Capt Frank J. Pollak / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
1Lt William D. Burchell / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
1Lt Clifton R. Knickmeyer / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
MSgt Edward H. Fontaine / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 28 Oct 52
A1C Alton B. Brewton / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
A1C William Colgan / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
A1C Anthony J. Fasullo / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
A3C Rodney E. Verrill / Missing, Aircraft Accident / 26 Oct 52
Capt William T. Allen / Died, Aircraft Accident / 18 Sep 53
Capt Guy M. Broughton / Died, Aircraft Accident / 18 Sep 53
Capt John A. Lelland / Died, Aircraft Accident / 18 Sep 53
Capt Thomas H. Smatana / Died, Aircraft Accident / 18 Sep 53
Capt Thomas E. Zapolsky / Died, Aircraft Accident / 18 Sep 53
SSgt Walter C. Drew / Died, Aircraft Accident / 18 Sep 53
A2C Billy G. Elliott / Died, Aircraft Accident / 18 Sep 53
Capt Charles F. Baker / Died, Aircraft Accident / 25 Sep 53
Maj Dale Richardson / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
Capt Leonard N. Chapman, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
Capt Everett E. Dyson / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
1Lt William J. Wolters, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
2Lt William W. Faustlin / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
MSgt Fred T. Gregg, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
TSgt Richard K. Brown / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
SSgt Ronald R. Ragland / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
A2C Elijah Spencer / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
A2C Melvin O. Lindsay / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
A3C Douglas W. Maxson / Died, Aircraft Accident / 31 Aug 56
Capt Raymond A. Durr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
Capt Dewey A. Keithly / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
Capt Leonard A. Klawa / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
Capt Lawrence E. Monies / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
1Lt Waylon H. Moseley / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
SSgt William A. Taylor / Died, Aircraft Accident / 29 Dec 56
A2C Gerald R. Arnn / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
A2C John E. Hollis / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
A2C Mose F. Thomas, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 28 Dec 56
Capt Harold W. Bales / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
Capt Robert E. Eichelberger / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
Capt William P. Spil / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
1Lt Robert E. McGough / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
1Lt Ralph L. Sampson / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
2Lt Bobby H Spencer / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
MSgt Woodrow B. Russell / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
A1C John W. Cramer / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
A1C Donald D. Dodds / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
A2C Thomas F. Patterson / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
A2C Robert C. Glenn / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
A3C Roger D. Sigman / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Jan 57
Capt Albert J. Lauer / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
Capt Marcus G. Miller / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
Capt Clyde W. Tefertiller / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
1Lt Courtland Beeler III / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
1Lt Paul J. Buerkle, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
TSgt Delivan L. Gordon / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
SSgt Kenneth L. Tetzloff / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
SSgt Kenneth L. Houseman / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
A1C Randolph C. Watts / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
A1C Bernard G. Tullgren / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Jan 58
Capt Robert F. Aldrich / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
Capt Robert A. Brown / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
Capt William Potter, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
Capt Andrew P. Stefurak / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
1Lt Carlton S. Whitney / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
1Lt Frank C. King, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
MSgt Donald R. Fitzgerald / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
TSgt Alfred E. Estes / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
SSgt Jack A. Parmelee / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
SSgt Harvey O. Ward / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
A1C Franklin D. Radcliff / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
A3C Scott Stephens, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 4 Feb 59
Capt John R. Willis / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
1Lt Robert W. Blanton / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
1Lt William L. Hesse / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
1Lt Howard S. Kelly / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
2Lt Lawrence K. Draper / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
MSgt Claude M. Burgess / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
MSgt James W. Fields, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
TSgt Vernon W. Powell / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
A1C Edward L. Armstead / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
A3C Barney Jablonski / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
A3C Alfred Campbell, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 8 Sep 60
Capt Joseph W. Ivins / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Sep 62
Capt Paul H. Palmer / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Sep 62
Lt Bobby Galbrecht / Died, Aircraft Accident / 16 Oct 62
Lt Glenn Sprague / Died, Aircraft Accident / 16 Oct 62
Maj Joseph M. Pair / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Sep 63
Capt Carl R. Laffoon / Died, Aircraft Accident / 17 Sep 63
Maj Conrad L. Lienhart / Died, Aircraft Accident / 21 Apr 64
Capt Warren S. Hillis / Died, Aircraft Accident / 21 Apr 64
TSgt Charles F. Heckman / Died, Aircraft Accident / 21 Apr 64
Capt Robert O. Bartlett / Died, Aircraft Accident / 7 Nov 66
Capt Leo R. Otway / Died, Aircraft Accident / 7 Nov 66
Amn Terry J. Nirolis / Died, Aircraft Accident / 15 Apr 70
Lt Col James B. McCravy / Died, Aircraft Accident / 27 Jun 72
Capt Harold A. “Pat” Moore, Jr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 27 Jun 72
Maj Dale M. Mann / Died, Aircraft Accident / 27 Apr 73
Capt Edward R. Bushnell / Died, Aircraft Accident / 12 Oct 74
1Lt Gary Wayne Crass / Died, Aircraft Accident / 12 Oct 74
1Lt Timothy John Hoffman / Died, Aircraft Accident / 12 Oct 74
1Lt Michael Patrick O’Brien / Died, Aircraft Accident / 12 Oct 74
TSgt Kennth George Suhr / Died, Aircraft Accident / 12 Oct 74
Sgt Detlef Wolfgang Ringler / Died, Aircraft Accident / 12 Oct 74

1

[1]JP 1-02, “DoD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms, 31 Jan 2011, “hostile casualty,” “In Action” characterizes the casualty as having been the direct result of hostile action….

[2] Hist of 1st WW, 1 Jul -31 Dec 66, Appendix 1, p 12; e-mail, Try, Paul, Col, USAF, Ret., Remembering Vietnam,, 8 Dec 2010.

[3] Ibid.

[4] DD Form 13, Statement of Service, AFWA/HO archives [Note: Statement of Service indicated highest rank held was Colonel but at time of accident the grade was Lt Col]

[5] Study, Nawyn, William E., Dr., “Mission Accomplished: The Air Weather Service in DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM, August 1990 - April 1991,” pp.xvi and 22, Dec 1992, AFWA/HO archives

[6] Art., Wise, Lindsay, “Airman from Harris among 8 Killed in Afghanistan.” Houston Chronicle, 29 Apr 2011, downloaded from