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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Sponsor

Honored by:
Mr. Nathan Weilbacher

LCDR Edward L. Weilbacher, USCG (Ret), BGS University of New Hampshire, JD Washington and Lee University. Born February 15, 1938, in Seguin, Texas to Josephine Emma Gantz and Hugo Weilbacher. He attended Seguin High School and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard on October 15, 1955.

After completing Aviation Electrician School at Naval Air Technical Training Center, Jacksonville, Florida in August 1959, Weilbacher flew as a Search and Rescue Aircrew man on the HU-16 Albatross and the HC-130B out of Port Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, CA and Corpus Christi, TX, accumulating approximately 1000 hours of aircrew time.

LCDR Weilbacher completed OCS at the USCG Training Station, Yorktown, Virginia, in February 1964, and was commissioned an Ensign in the USCG. During this period he flew many search and rescue missions, directly resulting in the saving of lives and property.

LCDR Weilbacher's next assignment took him to Kodiak Island, Alaska, where he flew as an Aircraft Commander on numerous searches and rescue missions, logistic missions, supplying the outlying Coast Guard Loran Station throughout Alaska, and flew Fisheries Patrols in support of the National Marine Fisheries and the enforcement of the Alaskan fisheries treaties.

The following two years in Alaska LCDR Weilbacher was assigned to the 54th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron which was previously scheduled to rotate to Vietnam. LCDR Weilbacher completed the combat air rescue school at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where he qualified in day and night Para Rescue drops, equipment deployment and helicopter air refueling operations.

Upon leaving Pease Air Force Base in July 1974, LCDR Weilbacher was assigned to the Coast Guard Air Station, Cape Cod, MA, where he re-qualified as Aircraft Commander in the HU-16E. For the next two years he was primarily involved in the support of fisheries laws and treaties and search and rescue.

LCDR Weilbacher retired from the United States Coast Guard on August 1, 1976 and immediately entered law school at Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, graduating with a JD degree in May 1979.

During LCDR Weilbacher's military flying career, he flew the T-34, T-28, T-29, TS-2A, C-54, HU-16E, HC 130B, and EC 130B aircraft. He also qualified in the Cherokee 140 and the Cessna 150 and 172 civilian aircraft. LCDR Weilbacher was qualified single engine and multi-engine, land and sea with instrument rating. LCDR Weilbacher had over 5000 hour's flight time when he retired. After retirement LCDR Weilbacher qualified as an Instructor in the King Air 2F129 Simulator and instructed advanced instruments to Navy student pilots at Navy Air Station, Corpus Christi, TX. LCDR Weilbacher has been in the private practice of law for the past 23 years and is actively involved with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.