We are the Wisconsin State AFA
Chapter
Biography
Chapter
Biography
Chapter
History of the Billy Mitchell (Squadron) Chapter
by Chuck Marotske, Life Member (1953)
of Air Force Association (AFA)
National AFA Inception - 1946
No History of the Billy Mitchell (Squadron) Chapter would be complete without a brief introduction to the Air Force Association.
In early 1946, six officers from the newly formed Air Force Association (AFA) met with U.S. President Harry S. Truman at the White House. The six AFA officers consisted of General Jimmy Doolittle (president), Willis S. Fitch (executive director), Forrest Vosler (national director), Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. (third vice president), Meryll M. Frost (second vice president), and actor James (Jimmy) M. Stewart (national director).
Columbus, Ohio was selected as the site for the first AFA national convention on September 15-16, 1947 with U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the keynote speaker. The focus of this convention was on selecting a name for the organization from among twenty-one names presented. At this time, AFA chapters were known as squadrons with the title, wing commander, or simply, Commander (Cmdr.) rather than the traditional leadership title of president for each squadron.General Billy Mitchell and First AFA - 1926
It is interesting to note that in 1926, General Billy Mitchell (ret. WWI) founded a group known as the Air Force Association headed by Captain Eddie Rickenbacker (ret. WWI). This 1926 AFA organization lasted only a short time due, in large measure, to the fact that there were too few WWI military aviation participants or supporters.Billy Mitchell Squadron – 1947
Chartered on June 3, 1947, the Billy Mitchell Squadron, boasts of being one of the first ten chapters in the newly organized AFA. The first wing commander (president) was L.A. Larson of Milwaukee. By May 1948, Wisconsin had two squadrons, one in Milwaukee and the other in Appleton. Later, the national AFA published the names of three charter squadrons in Wisconsin. They are, the Billy Mitchell Squadron (Milwaukee), with Cmdr. L.A. (Duke) Larson; Truax Field Squadron (Madison), with Cmdr. Arlie M. Mucks; and the Des Jardins Squadron (Green Bay), with Cmdr. Arthur E. Norgaard. There was no further published report of a squadron in Appleton. Thus, one may infer that Appleton could have merged with Green Bay. All three squadrons continued to grow in membership and activities to support and preserve this history of aviation.
Charter Members – 1947
Current and active charter members of the Billy Mitchell Squadron include:
Max Harner Joseph Sydejko
Russell Kemmeter Olga Olsen
Frank Suess Arnold Lamberg
Billy Mitchell Squadron/ Chapter Leaders 1947 - PresentListed here are a few of the many who served the goals and objectives of the Billy Mitchell Squadron 1947 - 1971, and/or the Billy Mitchell Chapter 1972 - present:
Adams, Donald Harrison, Albert Ortman, Gary
Bailey, Thomas Jacobi, Kenneth Parker, Gary
Bates, Harold Johnson, Vic Pingel, Earl
Bensen, Taylor Kemmeter, Russell Rosenberg, Mary Jane
Basik, Connie Kleczka, John Schmude, Russell
Cychosz, Harriet Kuenn, Kenneth Stanton, Cecelia
Diereszynski, Leonard Kunaston, Edgar (Zip) Steinke, Earl
Dralle, Doris Kwiatkowski,Gilbert Suess, Frank
Emmerich, Vern Lamberg, Arnold Sydejko, Joseph
Gantz, Lyle LaPorte, A.J. (Tony) Syring, Henry
Gerlach, Robert Marokske, Charles Trivalos, Robert
Guile, Barbara Olsen, Olga Wagenknecht, Stanley
Harner, Max
Billy Mitchell Squadron/ Chapter Leaders at National Level
Lyle Ganz - National AFA Regional Vice President, Great Lakes Region
Note: The term, squadron, was changed to chapter in 1964.Meeting Places
Monthly meeting places of the Billy Mitchell Squadron/ Chapter includes:
- American Legion Cudworth Post - Milwaukee
- 128th Air National Guard - Milwaukee
- Howell Gardens - Milwaukee
Community Contributions
Since its beginnings, the Billy Mitchell Chapter (247) of the Air Force
Association, members have given of their time and talents in the service to
others within the Milwaukee area. Among the many service projects and activities
are the following:
- Provide "one-on-one" interaction with veterans at the area
VA Hospital
- Lead the memorial services at General Mitchell gravesite at Forest Home
Cemetery
- Provide scholarships to students pursuing aviation or aerospace careers
- Promote AFA Community Partner Program
- Present achievement medals to Wisconsin aviation students
- Participate in Armed Forces activities
- Provide Billy Mitchell Aviation Leadership Awards (33 awards, as of
2001)
- Offer an opportunity to network with others interested in aviation and
aerospace
Biography
Chapter
Biography
William J. Henderson
Born December 12, 1947, Dallas, Texas
Graduated 1965 from Rufus King High School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Undergraduate Dartmouth College, Major - Music, BS 1969
Graduate MS Psychology, 1979, Phd Psychology, 1981
USAF
July - September 1969, Officer Training School, Lackland AFB
October 1969 - 1970, Flight Training, Enid OK, Distinguished Graduate
December 1970 - May 1971, Luke AFB, F-100 Training
June - September 1971, Eglin AFB, Hurlbert Field, OV-10 Training
November 1971 - April 1972, 23rd TAS, Aircraft OV-10 Nakon Phanom, Thailand
Forward Air Controller role on Ho Chi Minh trail and northern Laos, call sign: Nail 38
April 1972 - April 1973, POW Hanoi
June - December 1973, Randolph AFB, Recurrency Training
December 1973, End of active service
Commendation include: Air Medal 4 Oak Leaf Clusters,
Purple Heart 2, Oak Leaf Clusters, Various campaign medals
January 1974 - present, Allen-Bradley/ Rockwell, Human ResourcesTaken from: http://www.pownetwork.org/bio/hlh148.htm 2/7/01
HENDERSON, WILLIAM JOSEPH
Name: William Joseph Henderson
Rank/Branch: O2/US Air Force
Unit:
Date of Birth: 1948 Dallas TX
Home City of Record: Milwaukee WI
Loss Date: 03 April 1972
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 165022N 1070455E (YD175602)
Status (in 1973) : Returned POW
Category:
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: OV10A
REF NO: 1813
Personnel in Incident: April 2: Robin F. Gatwood; Wayne L. Bolte; Anthony Giannangeli; Charles A. Levis; Henry M. Serex; (all missing from the EB66) .
LtCol. Iceal Hambleton (rescued after 12 days from EB66) .Ronald P.
Paschall; Byron K. Kulland; John w. Frink (all missing from UHlH rescue
helicopter), Jose M. Astorga (captured and released in 1973 from UH1H).
April 3: William J. Henderson (captured and released in 1973 fro~. OV10A
rescue craft); Mark Clark (rescued after 12 days from OV10A rescue craft) .
April 6: James H. Alley; Allen J. Avery; Peter H. Chapman; John H. Call;
William R. Pearson; Roy D. Prater (all KIA/BNR from HH53C "Jolly 52" rescue
chopper) .Also in very close proximity to "Bat 21"on April 3: Allen D.
Christensen; Douglas L. O'Neil; Edward w. Williams; Larry A. Zich (all
missing from UH1H) .April 7: Bruce Charles Walker (evaded 11 days); Larry
F. Potts (captured & died in POW camp) (both missing from OV10A) .
REMARKS: 730327 RELEASED BY PRG
Source: Compiled from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S.
Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published
sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK.
SYNOPSIS: On the afternoon of April 2, 1972, two Thailand-based EB66
aircraft (Bat 21 and Bat 22), from the 30th Air Division, were flying
pathfinder escort for a cell of B52s bombing near the DMZ. Bat 21 took a
direct SAM hit and the plane went down. A single beeper signal was heard,
that of navigator Col. Iceal Hambleton. At this time it was assumed the rest
of the crew died in the crash. The crew included Maj. Wayne L. Bolte, pilot;
1Lt. Robin F. Gatwood, LtCol. Anthony R. Giannangeli, LtCol. Charles A.
Levis, and Maj. Henry M. Serex, all crew members. It should be noted that
the lowest ranking man aboard this plane was Gatwood, a First Lieutenant.
This was not an ordinary crew, and its members, particularly Hambleton,
would be a prize capture for the enemy because of military knowledge they
possessed.
It became critical, therefore, that the U.S. locate Hambleton, and any other surviving crew members before the Vietnamese did -and the Vietnamese were
trying hard to find them first.
An Army search and rescue team was nearby and dispatched two UHlH "slicks"
and two UH1B "Cobras". When they approached Hambleton's position just before
dark, at about 50 feet off the ground, with one of the AHlG Cobra gunships
flying at 300 feet for cover, two of the helicopters were shot down. One,
the Cobra (Blue Ghost 28) reached safety and the crew was picked up, without
having seen the other downed helicopter. The other, a UH1H from F Troop, Bth Cavalry, 196th Brigade, had just flown over some huts into a clearing when
they encountered ground fire, and the helicopter exploded. Jose Astorga, the
gunnert was injured in the chest and knee by the gunfire. Astorga became unconscious, and when he recovered, the helicopter was on the ground. He
http:l/www.pownetwork.org/bios/h/h148.htm 2/7/01
Bio, Henderson, William J. Page 2 of3
..
found the pilot, 1Lt. Byron K. Kulland, lying outside the helicopter. WO
John w. Frink, the co-pilot, was strapped in his seat and conscious. The
crew chief, SPS Ronald P. Paschall, was pinned by his leg in the helicopter,
but alive. WO Franks urged Astorga to leave them, and Astorga was captured.
He soon observed the aircraft to be hit by automatic weapons fire, and to
explode with the rest of the crew inside. He never saw the rest of the crew
again. Astorga was relesed by the North Vietnamese in 1973.
The following day, Nail 38, an OV10A equipped with electronic rescue gear
enabling its crew to get a rapid "fix" on its rescue target entered
Hambleton's area and was shot down. The crew, William J. Henderson and Mark
Clark, both parachuted out safely. Henderson was captured and released in
1973. Clark evaded for 12 days and was subsequently rescued.
On April 3, the day Nail 38 was shot down, a UH1H "slick" went down in the
same area carrying a crew of four enlisted Army personnel. They had no
direct connection to the rescue of Bat 21, but were very probably shot down
by the same SAM installations that downed Bat 21. The helicopter, from H/HQ,
37th Signal Battalion, 1st Signal Brigade, had left Marble Mountain
Airfield, Da Nang, on a standard re-supply mission to signal units in and
around Quang Tri City. The crew, consisting of WO Douglas L. O'Neil, pilot;
CW2 Larry A. Zich, co-pilot; SPS Allen D. Christensen, crew chief; and SP4
Edward W. Williams, gunner; remain missing in action.
On April 6, an attempt was made to pick up Clark and Hambleton which
resulted in an HH53C helicopter being shot down. The chopper was badly hit.
The helicopter landed on its side and continued to burn, consuming the
entire craft, and presumably, all 6 men aboard. The crew of this aircraft
consisted of James H. Alley; Allen J. Avery, John H. Call III, Peter H.
Chapman, William R. Pearson, and Roy D. Prater. Search and rescue noted no
signs of survivors, but it is felt that the Vietnamese probably know the
fate of this crew because of the close proximity of the downed aircraft to
enemy locations.
On April 7 another Air Force OV10A went down in the area with Larry Potts
and Bruce Walker aboard. Walker, the Air Force pilot of the aircraft, evaded
capture 11 days, while it is reported that Potts was captured and died in
Quang Binh prison. Potts, the observer, was a Marine Corps officer. Walker's
last radio transmission to search and rescue was for SAR not to make arl
attempt to rescue, the enemy was closing in. Both men remain unaccounted
for.
Hambleton and Clark were rescued after 12 incredible days. Hambleton
continually changed positions and reported on enemy activity as he went,
even to the extent of calling in close air strikes near his position. He was
tracked by a code he devised relating to the length and lie direction of
various golf holes he knew well. Another 20 or so Americans were not so
fortunate.
In July 1986, the daughter of Henry Serex learned that, one week after all
search and rescue had been "called off" for Bat 21, another mission was
mounted to recover "another downed crew rnember" from Bat 21. She doesn't know
whether or not it is her father or another man on the EB66 aircraft. No
additional information has been released. When the movie "Bat 21' was
released, she was horrified to learn that virtually no mention of the rest
of the crew, including her father, was made.
In Vietnam, to most fighting men, the man that fought beside them, whether
in the air or on the ground, was worth dying for. Each understood that the
other would die for him if necessary. Thus, also considering the critical
knowledge possessed by Col. Hambleton and some of the others, the seemingly
uncanny means taken to recover Clark and Hambleton are not so unusual at
all.
http:llwww.pownetwork.org/bioS/11/1l148.htm 2/7/01 ~
.!SlOt tlenderson, William J. Page 3 of 3 f
.
..
What defies logic and explanation, however, is that the government that
sent these men to battle can distort or withhold information to their
families, and knowingly abandon hundreds of men known or strongly suspected
to be in enemy hands.
Thousands of reports have been received by the U.S. Government indicating
that Americans are still alive, in captivity in Southeast Asia. It has been
17 years for those who may have survived the 1972 Easter crashes and rescue attempts. How much longer must they wait for their country to bring "peace
with honor" to them and bring them home?
SOURCE: WE CAME HOME copyright 1977
Captain and Mrs. Frederic A Wyatt (USNR Ret), Barbara Powers Wyatt, Editor
P.O.W. Publications, 10250 Moorpark St., Toluca Lake, CA 91602
Text is reproduced as found in the original publication (including date and
spelling errors) .
UPDATE- 09/95 by the P.O.W. NETWORK, Skidrnore, MO
WILLIAM J. HENDERSON
Captain- United States Air Force
Shot Down: April 3, 1972
Released: March 27, 1973
For those of you interested in my individual story, let me give you a quick synopsis. I was born in Dallas, Texas, but lived most of my life in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I attended Dartmouth College and graduated in 1969
with a degree in Music. I entered the Air Force in July of that year through
Officer Training School and then went to pilot training. I arrived in
Thailand in 1971 where I flew an OV-1O, a light reconnaissance airplane. I
was shot down in April 1972 by a SAM missile while working on a search and
rescue mission, just south of the DMZ. I was captured about eight hours
later. I was moved to Hanoi almost immediately and except for several months
of solitary confinement, my treatment was not severe.
What can you learn as a prisoner that you'd never learn as a free man? That
question with its many corollaries ran through my mind every day of my
captivity. Though a complete answer to this question would fill a book, the
general answer is a word-sensitivity. Sensitivity to the human suffering of
a war that I viewed impersonally. A deeper understanding of the meaning of
family, wife and children, father and mother, brother and sister. And
finally, sensitivity to the reason our country is great.
This last statement is what I'd like to expand on for those who will read
this. Our country was founded on political activism. But now the great
silent majority, apathy, rules. During my captivity, my solace came from
knowing that my suffering was due to my commitment to the military and, in
turn, the country. But the question that reigned was if, in fact, the people
were as committed to our country. Our country's future depends on everyone's
active support of it. Without that support there is no reason for it to
live. There is no reason to die for an empty cause. I would fight again to
preserve what we have. I hope you will join me in the everyday struggle to
insure "Freedom and justice for all. "
December 1996
William Henderson and his wife Colleen reside in Wisconsin.
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/hlh148.htm 2/7/01
Chapter
Last updated 18 October 2006