Bill Gramprie joined the Army Air Corps early in World War II and was offered the undreamed of chance to become a pilot. He then began a lifelong romance- not with war - but with sun and stars, wind and clouds, and a distant earth below.
During his distinguished career he was a combat pilot, instructor and test pilot flying bombers. More than once, his skill as a pilot saved lives. During the Battle of the Bulge, he safely crash-landed his B-17 on the battlefield in Belgium. In 1953 he landed a crippled B-36 at night with 5 engines out. This landing earned him a Pilot of the Year award and membership in the Strategic Air Command's Heads Up Flying Club. In 1961 he was awarded his seventh Air Medal for landing a B-52H with two port engines on fire.
When Lt. Col. William J. Gramprie retired from the Air Force in 1966, he took up racing catamarans as a substitute for flying. His life was characterized by calm strength, an easy smile and a passion for riding the winds.