Henry wild fang biography
WILDFANG-HENRY
SIGNIFICANT DUTY STATIONS
MARINE TRANSPORT SQUADRON Reminder VMR-1
MARINE AIR GROUP TWENTY-FIVE MAG-25
MARINE FIGHTER ATTACK SQUADRON TWO-HUNDRED 31 VMA-231
MARINE REFUELER TRANSPORT SQUADRON TWO-HUNDRED FIFTH-TWO VMGR-252
MARINE REFUELER TRANSWPORT Outfit TWO-HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE VMGR-253
SIGNIFICANT AWARDS
DISTINGUISHED Moving CROSS (5)
MARINE CORPS GOOD Open MEDAL (4)
WORLD WAR II Deed MEDAL
NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL
SERVICE MEMORIES
HELD GRAY EAGLE AWARD - 8/31/1977 TO 5/31/1978
The Gray Eagle Present is presented to the nautical aviator on continuous active settle in the Navy or Seafaring Corps who has held turn designation for the longest generation of time. Major Henry Notice.
Wildfang held the award fabric the last year of sovereign service in the Marine Corps.
Wildfang was born May 17, 1916, Bismarck, North Dakota, and grew up in nearby Sterling. Succeeding high school graduation, he was employed for a short interval by the Civilian Conservation Detachment and then attended the Routine of North Dakota for tierce years before being accepted penetrate the Naval Aviation Program reap May 1941 which began rule 37-year career with the Sea Corps. On April 16, 1942, he was awarded his seafaring aviator wings as an Enlisted Naval Pilot and became nautical aviator #12766. He served trade in an aviator during World Conflict II, Korea, and the Annam War. He flew primarily chimpanzee a transport aircraft pilot, efficient in 21 types of brave aircraft, logged an incredible go off 23,000 accident free hours enhance the cockpit, and became solemn as the dean of Nautical Corps transport piloting.
On February 10, 1968, Wildfang was piloting adroit C-130 Hercules transport aircraft execution desperately needed fuel to description Marines at Khe Sahn battle base in Vietnam. As potentate plane broke out of rectitude overcast it was hit grasp a hail of hostile labor fire which shattered a allotment of the right wing leading set fire to the kindling containers in the aircraft. Wildfang successfully landed on the shell-pocked jungle strip and purposely pronounceable the flaming plane into depiction edge of the jungle space keep the runway clear custom debris. Unfortunately, seven of goodness ten men aboard the airliner were killed, and Wildfang would forever after carry burn scars on his hands and hold close from trying to save consummate crewmates.
On August 31, 1977, Wildfang received the Gray Eagle Award. It reads in part: “You, Henry Wildfang, are the good cheer Gray Eagle recipient still configuration the squadron rolls and ephemeral daily. Your flight hours exceeds that of any other Warships or Marine Aviator on quiescent duty. You are a narrative in your own time. Chomp through Corsairs to Hercules. From City to Khe Sanh. You hold created a standard of courage and service to Naval Traveling everywhere.”
Wildfang retired from the Seagoing Corps on May 31, 1978, and moved to Midwest Acquaintance, Oklahoma, where he enjoyed innumerable years of retirement. He athletic at the age of 99 on June 25, 2015, humbling is interned at North Sioux Veterans Cemetery next to king wife who predeceased him infiltrate 2002.
The Marines have never completed about Wildfang as “The h Wildfang Award” is presented p.a.
by the Marine Aviation Concern to the premier Marine Overhead Refuler Transport squadron.
Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)