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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. 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 8 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, Douglass G. White, Frank J. Leonard, Thomas P. Revell, Fred D. Fisher,
Jack Hake, Ervin M. Miller, Lewis M. 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

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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


       

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.

  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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 2008 are in bold type

Robert E. Ainslie
David Andeen
Mike Anderson
Bennie E. Atchison
Hulien G. Barnhill

John Barnas
Jack Barrett
Roland R. Bearden
Leo Belton
Kenneth R. Beers
Keith Biddix
Miles V. Blansette
Norm Blaskowski
Harold L. Bouge
Ralph Boyer
Billie B. Boyd, Jr.
Thomas Bradich, Jr.
James R. Brinegar
Worthey O. Brisco
Seymour Brown
Harold W. Brueggemeyer
Hercules C. Bryant
Gene Buford
Hubert C. Burks
James Busby
George Byras
Ralph W. Carboneau
Paul J. Carr
Jack Cassedy
Kenneth A. Chatfield
Fred W. Chubbuck
Odell Clampitt
Calvin F. Clark
Dale Cochenour
Michael Comarnisky
John M. Connor
John R. Cooper
Joe I. Cottle
James W. Coulter
Robert P. Crow
Don Crowley
Doyle R. Cruse
William Dager
Ronald C. Dawson
Tom Dempsey
James (Stump) Dunkelman
William Durlak
Warner Dutro

Thomas J. Elliott
Ellwood W. Ellis

Gordon Ellis
Milton L. Engebretson
Adam Fachet
James R. Fairbanks
Bob Fender
Lawrence Fisackerly
Leonard Gene Foste
rW. Erskine Fraser
Oscar Gainey
Ludwig H. George
Charles E. Germano
Jimmy T. Gilbert
Clarence A. Giles
Clyde C. Gowdy
Jesse E. Groover
Joseph G. Gusky
George A. Gustafson
Herbert G. Haas, Sr
Carle E. Hadley
Eugene J. Halbeisen
Leo A. Hankins

Frank Halverson

Cecil O. Hayes
George E. Heckathorn
Stanley A. Heenan
William Hepworth
Henry Huckabee
Jerry Hoppman

Dorman A. Hughes
Daniel B. Janasov
Charles F. Johnson
Gerald M. Kearse Jr.

Mike Keil
Gary G. Kelly
Tommy J. Kelso
Sterling C. Kendall
Clifford L. Ketchum
George J. Kisic
Frank Kormos
Robert A. Kramer
Lauren D. Krinkie
Henry Kurth

John A. Lane, Jr.
Dean N. Lanier
Ray E. Lewis
Walter E. Ledwith
Walter Lieblein
Edgar W. Lindley
Horst Lucci
Casper Lunova
Albert P. Lupshevicz
George Lyman
Jack S. MacVittie
Bill Madgwick
Evard S. Malone
Kenneth Manross
Harley B. Marriott
Murrell L. Martin
Sidney A. Martin,Jr.
Donald A. Mathis
Robert L. Mauk
Paul R. McCain
William W. McCarty
Bob McConnell
Leo McConnon
Daniel McClure
Clarance E. McCrea
James L. McReynolds
George E. Meade
Ted Miller
Paul K. Montgomery
Roy L. Morrison
Jack Murrian
Garland Nelon
Everett R. Newkirk
Art Newman
Jerry A. Ohlson
Arthur M. Olson
Hartwell O. Olsen
Hugh Overcash
Robert Padgett
Willis R. Palmer
Art R. Peele
Michael F. Pelletier
Robert Pratt
Gilbert A. Priestley
Allen G. Purvis
Adam A. Reaver
William P. Reaver
Dan Reider
Doyle C. Riehn
Freddy W. Rivoire
Orville R. Rodgers
Remigio Rodriguez
Alva R. Roe
Harold D. Rollman
Malcolm C. Roscover
William B. Ruble
Richard Scarlett
Luke Scholtes
Rudolf Seemann
Thomas E. Shaffmaster
Harry E. Shisler
Fredrick D. Shultz
Stanley D. Skalecke
Joseph Skurka
Jessie R. Smart
John Solomanchik
Marvin C. Sorenson
Harold L. Springer
Fredrick Steuer
Richard E. Syke
Robert B. Swindle
Jesse A. Tabor
Norman J. Thouvenelle
Art Toffey
Chuck Trexler
Wyndham D. Trigg
Theodore Truban
William R.Tubbs
Marion Tunstall Jr.
Robert Ulrich
Jack Westervelt
James R. Whitaker
Gerald L. Wiley
James Lee Winter

Andrew Young
James H. Young

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