Willard S. Gideon

Will Gideon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on February 8, 1952, and completed basic training at Sampson AFB, New York, in June 1952. Airman Third Class Gideon then served on the Alert Crew with the 3575th Pilot Training Wing at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, from June to December 1952, and he then attended Pre-Flight Training at Lackland AFB, Texas. He was then accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force and awarded his pilot wings at James Connally AFB, Texas, followed by F-86 Sabre Combat Crew Training from March to June 1954. His first flying assignment was as an F-80 Shooting Star, F-86, and F-100 Super Sabre pilot with the 450th Fighter Day Squadron at Foster AFB, Texas, and then as an F-100 pilot with the 723rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Foster. Captain Gideon next served as an F-100 pilot with the 23rd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing at Bitburg AB, West Germany, during which time he flew the solo position for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Aerial Demonstration Team, "The Skyblazers". He then completed F-105 Thunderchief Combat Crew Training and served as an F-105 instructor pilot with the 4526th Combat Crew Training Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada, followed by service as an F-105 pilot with the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from August 1965 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on August 7, 1966.