Lt Col Wayne D. Morgan AAF-USAF

WWII: Wayne Morgan, born in Delta UT, joined the Army in 1942. After completing the Aviation Cadet Program, he was commissioned in AAF in 1943. After additional training in the US, he went overseas and spent a year in 9th AF, flying P-38s in the UK, France and Belgium, accumulating over 181 combat hours. His missions included patrol, dive bombing, strafing, escort and area support. March-June 1945 he served as an Air/Ground Cooperation Officer, flying both the P-38 and P-47 aircraft, and received a bronze star medal. He also received 11 Air Medals during his WWII service.

Post-WWII: Based on his aviation skills, Wayne Morgan was chosen to remain in the AAF after 1945. When the US Air Force stood up as an independent service in 1947, he continued his service in the new USAF. He shifted to flying strategic bombers, flying first B-47s then B-52s.

During his USAF career, the Korean War took place, and Captain Morgan deployed to Libya. A superb pilot, he filled many aviation leadership roles in the USAF, including Alert Force Operations Officer, Alert Force Commander, Director of SAC test programs for the G and H models of the B-52 at Edwards AFB CA. From 1962 to 1965 (including during the Cuban Missile Crisis) Wayne Morgan served as Deputy Director of Operations at the 323 Air Division at Homestead AFB, FL. In his next assignment, Wayne Morgan commanded the 367th Bomb Squadron. In 1966 and 1967 he flew B-52 ARC LIGHT missions out of Guam, carrying conventional bombs into Vietnam, then he served as A Flight Commander, SILK PURSE Control Group at RAF Mildenhall. His last assignment was as Senior Duty Officer for the Command and Control Division of 7th Air Force, at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam. He died there on 21 December 1969.

As an aviator, Wayne Morgan flew many different military aircraft: PT-22 Recruit, BT-13 Valiant, AT-9 Jeep, AT-6 Texan, P-332 [+ P-38] Lightening, P-47 Thunderbolt, B-25 Mitchell Bomber, A-26 Invader, C-46 Commando, T-29 Trojan, B-47 Stratojet, T-33 Shooting Star, B-52 Stratofortress [BUFF], F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, C-47 Skytrain, C-130 Hercules, B-57 Canberra, KC-97 Stratofreighter, KC-135 Stratotanker, C-54 Skymaster and logged some time in an unspecified helicopter. He also held civil aviation certificates.

Throughout his military career, as his duties permitted, Wayne Morgan took evening courses seeking to complete a Bachelor's Degree. At the time of his death, he only needed to complete one more semester, then he would have received his degree. When Wayne Morgan died, he held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His name is on the Vietnam Memorial at Wall Panel / Line: 15W / 79. Wayne Morgan's eldest son, Paul Morgan, served in the Army and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery; his other sons (Bruce [USAF], Keith [USN] and Ray [USAF] Morgan) and daughter (Hillary Morgan, USAF) all served in the American military in some capacity. Lord Guard and Guide the Men Who Fly.