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Memorial Poem (click here)

The following USAAF Airmen lost their lives in the Pacific theatre during WWll while serving under the 317th Troop Carrier Group.

Maj. Joseph C. Ford, Lt. Arthur W. Betts, Lt. Robert H. Cameron, Lt. Stanley D. Campbell, Lt. Clyde J. Chewning, Lt. Henry C. Ellis, Lt. Leonard R. Foster, Lt. Robert J. Kiebler, Lt. Melvin L. Kinney, Lt. William R. Kinzie, Lt. Robert L. Kirkman, Lt. Frank E. Koski, Lt. Arthur H. Maki, Lt. Franklin P. Miller, Lt. David W. St. Jean, Lt. Leonard E. Walker, F/O Robert P. Hutson, S/Sgt. Deloren T. Allen, S/Sgt. Ben A. Korzinski, S/Sgt. Olen R. Porter, S/Sgt. Lawrence E. Turille, S/Sgt. Frank A. Wise, Sgt. Michael E. Anderchak, Sgt. John J. Buderek, Sgt. Keith K. Keown, Sgt. Erwin C. Kieke Jr., Cpl. Carlos I. Aguirre, Cpl. Thomas Cammincotta, Cpl. George E. Cunningham, Cpl. Carl A. Drain, Cpl. J. H. Farrar, Cpl. Everett A. Forslin, Cpl. Dewey Goldsmith, Cpl. Charles I. Griffin, Cpl. Sidney Israel, Cpl. Jerome R. Kelley, Cpl. Patsy D. Roviello, Cpl. Harry N. Smith, Pfc. John A. Bitson, PFC. Ashley T. Johnson


The following Airmen lost their lives in support of the Berlin Airlift when their C-54 crashed out of Celle RAF Station, Germany on July 12, 1949. They were assigned to the 40th TCS of the 317th Troop Carrier Wing.

Robert C. Von Luehrte, Donald J. Leemon, Herbert F. Heinig


 

The following Airmen perished in the crash of their C-119C (50-127) on 10 Feb 1953 while attempting a GCA landing in a snow squall at Bitberg AB, Germany. They were assigned to the 39th TCS of the 317th Troop Carrier Wing at Rhein Main AB , Germany.

Louis D. Rassi, William J. Patton, James A. Latta Jr.

George B. Weibel Jr., Gerald D. Anderson


Ross N. Richards

A former 40th TCS pilot at Rein-Main and Neubiberg was killed
in the crash of a C-119F just after take off from Sewart AFB, TN.

The crash took place shortly after his return from Germany and assignment to the 316th TCW in 1954.


 

Frank N. Fulton

A former 40th TCS pilot was killed in the crash of a 464th TCW C-119G when
an engine failed on take off from Pope AFB, NC
in 1954.


Leslie D. Forguson a former 40th TCS pilot , Jay B. Border a former 39th TCS pilot

These airmen were killed in the crash of a 316th TCW C-119F during a flight
through a thunderstorm in Georgia in 1954


The following Airmen died in the midair collision of C-130A (56-0526) with a French fighter over France on Sept. 19, 1958.

Howard Grasher, Elmer Fawcett, Charles Tillou,
Robert W. Hancock, Frank M. Braun, David McGrath


 

The following 15 crewmen died in the crash of an Evreux C-130A (55-0020) on March 8, 1962 in Alencon, France while on a training mission:

Cecil Williams, Robert L. Conway, Edward J. Vianco, William J. Wilson
Gayle J. O'Grady, James S. Douglass, Stanley C. Hardin, Harold E. Kazee,
Huey Green, Theodore Shedelbower, Stanley E. Royster, Vincent Stantucci,
Alfred J. Knight, James Waples, Lee Taylor

Click here for news report


The following 13 Airmen died in the crash of a C-130A (56-0546)
while on a mission in Africa on May 17, 1962:

Frank Sabol, John W. Stuart, Jr., Douglass G. White, Frank J. Leonard, Thomas P. Revell, Fred D. Fisher,
Jack Hake, Ervin M. Miller, L. Roy Laslow, Richard E. Boyd, Thomas J. Neal, James O. Phillips

Russell D. Jackson (TDY from 463rd CAMS, Sewart AFB, TN)


The following 317TAW Airmen were killed when their Lockbourne based C-130A (56-0515) crashed during an assault take-off from Bitburg, Germany on 12 Dec. 1965

James R. Pecchia, Paul J. Pedranti, Frank A. Gallina, Charles W. McJunkins, Victor Maffucci


 

Henry M. Drew served with the 317th at Evreux Air Base France. He was killed later while still serving in the Air Force when the C-130E (64-0536) he was a passenger on crashed in to a mountain after take off.  
Taipei, Taiwan Oct. 2, 1970


The following 317TAW Airmen were killed when their Pope AFB based C-130E (68-10936) crashed near Charleston SC after a lightning strike ignited fuel vapors in the main fuel tank on Nov. 30, 1978

Samuel P. Eskew, Mark D. Greer, Daniel K. Morris, Robert H. Canton, Burnie C. Finch ll, Robert H. Van Winkle

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The following 40TAS Airmen perished in the crash of C-130E ( 68-10945) . The aircraft was assigned

to the 317TAW at Pope AFB and crashed during a low altitude extraction (LAPES) at Ft. Bragg, NC on 1 July 1987:

Gary C. Bardo
Albert G. Dunse
John B. Keiser III
Timothy J. Matar


 

The following Airmen perished in the crash of C-130E (64-0501).  The aircraft was assigned to the 317TAW at Pope AFB and crashed in Blewett Falls Lake, NC on 28 April 1992 while conducting Special Operations Low Level (SOLL) training:

Gabriel Magrane, Thomas E. Rowe, Michael E. Jones, John G. Urbansky, Gregg F. Johnston,
Stephen F. Sablone, Michael S. Carpenter, Shelton M. Clark

Mark W. Reynolds (Australian Exchange Officer)


 

The following Airmen lost their life while serving in Vietnam:

Sam Deichelmann shot down over Bien Hoa, South Vietnam 06 September 1968  MIA
Robert (Bob) Ireland shot down over Ho Chi Minh Trail 21 April 1970, listed MIA, Remains found 11 Sept 1978
(Bob was a former flight engineer with 41st TCS. He was shot down in a AC130A gunship 54-1625.)
Arthur Grasser died in helicopter crash Gia Dinh, South Vietnam 6 Aug 1969
Ralph J. Lund shot down over Bao Loc South Vietnam 6 Sept 1968
Al Fellows shot down over Ho Chi Minh Trail flying an O-1as, 1968
Tom Mitchell shot down during Blind Bat Mission near Xepon (Tchepone), Laos, 1968

Maj. William L. Brooks shot down over Ho Chi Minh Trail flying an AC-130 Gunship 22 April 1970


       

William A. Jones III a former 40th TCS pilot was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic action in Vietnam.

For information regarding his award visit: http://www.mishalov.com/Jones.html
pmishalov.com/Jonehttp://www.mishalov.com/Jones.htmls.html

Click here for details.
He was killed in the crash of a private plane in 1969. He was assigned to Andrews AFB at the time of his death.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Herbert Waldman, Col.USAF,Ret . Died Jan. 4, 2006 at age 86, his burial was at Arlington National Cemetery.  He was a World War Two C-47 pilot and the first Commander of the 41st Troop Carrier Squadron. He took command of the 41st at age 23 when it was first formed in Feb. of 1942 at Duncan Field, TX.. and continued as Squadron Commander when the 41st was sent to New Guinea in Jan. 1943. Promoted to Major in Sept. 1943 he was assigned to 317th Troop Carrier Group Headquarters. He served 30 years in the Air Force, a number of them were spent at the Pentagon in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Tech. Sgt. Joey D. Link, 29, of the 39th Airlift Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas

TSgt. Link died of natural causes at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on Aug. 5, 2007

The C-130 Hercules flight engineer was assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, Texas

He was deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing based at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, at the time of his death.

 


317th Veterans Group Officers

George Boleck - 2 March 2000
Headed search committee, served as reunion chairman.
From it's earliest beginnings George helped mold and shape the 317th VG.


Don Satterthwaite

March 19, 1937- Oct.8, 2005  Age 68

2001 Seattle, WA -Reunion Chairman

A good friend and loyal member of the 317thVG, He will be missed by all.



The following are 317th veterans who have passed away since separation from the Air Force

                                                     Entries for 2012 are in bold type

Robert E. Ainslie
Gene Allen
Keith R. Allen
Chuck Allison
Thomas J. Amendola
David Andeen
Mike Anderson
Clarence Aruska
Bennie E. Atchison
Normand R. Audette
Clint A. Ayers
Andrew E. Bacha
Hulien G. Barnhill

John Barnas
Jack Barrett
Duane Batista
Theodore C. Bauries
Roland R. Bearden
Buford B. Belgard
Leo Belton
Kenneth R. Beers
Keith Biddix
Bernard Blackburn
Robert T. Blanks
Miles V. Blansette
Norm Blaskowski
Harold L. Bouge
Henri L. Bowan
Ralph Boyer
Billie B. Boyd, Jr.
Thomas Bradich, Jr.
James R. Brinegar
Buck Brinson
Worthey O. Brisco
Seymour Brown
Don Browning
Harold W. Brueggemeyer
Hercules C. Bryant
Gene Buford
Hubert C. Burks
Kenneth Burdett
James Busby
George Byras
Ralph W. Carboneau
Paul J. Carr
William R. Case
Jack Cassedy
Clarence R. Casto
Kenneth A. Chatfield
Fred W. Chubbuck
Odell Clampitt
Calvin F. Clark
Robert A. Clayborn
Dale Cochenour
Richard Cole
James B. Collier
Dave R. Collins
Jerry R. Collins
Michael Comarnisky
Raymond J. Cone
John M. Connor
John R. Cooper
Joe I. Cottle
James W. Coulter
Max R. Courington
George M. Cowan
Robert P. Crow
Don Crowley
Doyle R. Cruse
Russell Curtis
William Dager
Ronald C. Dawson
Norman F. Day
George DeJohn
Tom Dempsey
Louis
Diamond
Robert M. Dunphy
James (Stump) Dunkelman
William Durlak
Warner Dutro
James Q.
Eddy
Thomas J. Elliott
Ellwood W. Ellis

Gordon Ellis
Milton L. Engebretson
Richard Erickson
Sidney T. Evans
Adam Fachet

James R. Fairbanks
Alexander H. Fassbender
Bob Fender
Claude Ferrand
Charles W. Finch
Lawrence Fisackerly
Leonard Gene Foster
W. Erskine Fraser
Robert Fullman
Oscar Gainey
John Gardner
Ludwig H. George
Richard J. Geriets
Charles E. Germano
Jimmy T. Gilbert
Clarence A. Giles
Charles Glynn
Ralph E. Gorzynski
Clyde C. Gowdy
Edward H. Graalfs
Jesse E. Groover
Joseph G. Gusky
George A. Gustafson
Herbert G. Haas, Sr
Valentine H. Habel
Kenneth A. Hackett
Carle E. Hadley
Eugene J. Halbeisen
Ernest H. Hamilton
Leo A. Hankins
Donald J. Hanley

Frank Halverson

Cecil O. Hayes
Gordon M. Heath
George E. Heckathorn
Stanley A. Heenan

Arthur Hempen
William Hepworth
James Hill
Henry Huckabee
David L. Hoffland
Lonnie C. Hood J
r.
Jerry Hoppman
Jack D. Hoover
Dorman A. Hughes
John D. Hynes
Charles C. Irions
Donald R. Irving
Peter S. Irving
Daniel B. Janasov
Charles F. Johnson
Chester  Kanach
Nickolas Katsarelis
Gerald M. Kearse Jr.
Mike Keil
Gary G. Kelly
Tommy J. Kelso
Sterling C. Kendall
Clifford L. Ketchum
Gary L. Kinkel|

George W. Kinney
Donald R. Kirkendorfer
George J. Kisic
Frank Kormos
Richard G. Korthals

Robert A. Kramer
Lauren D. Krinkie
Joseph Krolik
Henry Kurth

George B. Kutche

John A. Lane, Jr.
Walter G. Lang
Dean N. Lanier
Robert La Penta
Jack Larmoyeux
Herb Larson
Walter E. Ledwith
Glenn A. Lee
George Lerner
Edward A. Lessick
Ray E. Lewis
Walter Lieblein
Edgar W. Lindley
John B. Longenhagen
Horst Lucci
Casper Lunova
Albert P. Lupshevicz
George Lyman
Stanley J. Mack
Jack S. MacVittie
Bill Madgwick
James F. Mahew
Evard S. Malone
Kenneth Manross
Vincent J. Marold
Harley B. Marriott
Charlie Martin
Elmer Martin
Murrell L. Martin
Sidney A. Martin,Jr.
Donald W. Martinson
Gerald J. Matarazzo
Donald A. Mathis
Robert L. Mauk
Paul R. McCain
Wilbur H. McCartha
William W. McCarty
Bob McConnell
Leo McConnon
Daniel McClure
Clarance E. McCrea
Richard T. McDowell
James L. McReynolds
George E. Meade
Boyd B. Meixell
Edward Miller
Ted Miller
Donald Menges

Earl Mercer
Edward A. Merritt
Coburn C. Metcalf
Paul K. Montgomery
Lowell "Bud" Morris, Jr.
Roy L. Morrison
Norbert Mueller
Jack Murrian
John T. Nave
Charles J. Nehring
Garland Nelon
Everett R. Newkirk
Art Newman
Charles Novak
Jerry A. Ohlson
Arthur M. Olson
Hartwell O. Olsen
Hugh Overcash
Robert Padgett
Carl A. Paige
Willis R. Palmer
Robert V. Parker
Paul "Patrick" Paulin
Donald P. Payson
Donald L. Payton
Art R. Peele
Michael F. Pelletier
Robert N. Pinard
Robert B. Pratt
Gilbert A. Priestley
Allen G. Purvis
Adam A. Reaver
William P. Reaver
Dan Reider
Harold E. Rickabaugh
Doyle C. Riehn
Fred Pilkenton
Robert E. Rivet
Freddy W. Rivoire
Jesse J. Robbins
Orville R. Rodgers
Remigio Rodriguez
Alva R. Roe
Harold D. Rollman
Malcolm C. Roscover
William B. Ruble
Edmund W. Ryms
Nathaniel (Hank) Saunders,Jr
Richard Scarlett
Richard H. Schmidt
Luke Scholtes
Rudolf Seemann
Thomas E. Shaffmaster
Harry E. Shisler
Fredrick D. Shultz
Gerhard R.Schulz
Stanley D. Skalecke
Joseph Skurka
Jessie R. Smart
Jerry Smead
John Solomanchik
Norman Sombs
Marvin C. Sorenson
Harold L. Springer
Fredrick Steuer
Howard W. Stewart
Roger J. Stewart
Dale H. Stinson
Richard E. Syke
Raymond F. Swaney
Robert B. Swindle
Jesse A. Tabor
Armand G.Tardiff

Duncan G. Taylor
Roger Tewksbury
Wesley Thibodaux
Robert C. Thomas
Norman J. Thouvenelle
Berthold
Tiedemann
James S. Todt
Art Toffey

George W. Towle
Chuck Trexler
Wyndham D. Trigg
Theodore Truban
William R.Tubbs
Marion Tunstall Jr.
Robert Ulrich
Charles N. Valentine
Jack C. Voelker
T. H."Jack" Watkins
Jack Westervelt
James R. Whitaker
Gerald L. Wiley
Ernest E. Wilhelm
Stanley Wilkinson, Jr.
William A. Williams
Robert Wirtz
James Lee Winter

Clyde W. Wooddell

Ernest O. Yeske

Andrew Young
James H. Young

Herman Zindler

   
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