William W. Conlee

Bill Conlee was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at San Diego State College on June 19, 1957, and went on active duty beginning February 12, 1958. Lieutenant Conlee next completed Navigator Training and was awarded his navigator wings at Harlingen AFB, Texas, in November 1958, followed by Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, from December 1958 to September 1959. After completing B-52 Stratofortress Combat Crew Training, he was assigned as a B-52 EWO and instructor EWO with the 342nd Bomb Squadron at Robins AFB, Georgia, from May 1960 to June 1961, followed by service as a B-52 Instructor EWO with the 93rd Bomb Squadron at Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, from June 1961 to January 1963. Major Conlee next served as a B-52 EWO with the 716th Bomb Squadron at Kincheloe AFB from February 1963 to January 1967, and then as EWO Instructor with the 328th Bomb Squadron at Castle AFB, California, from January 1967 to August 1969. After completing Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, he completed EB-66 Destroyer Combat Crew Training, and then deployed to Southeast Asia in October 1970. Colonel Conlee served as an EB-66 EWO with the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron at Korat Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from October 1970 to October 1971. His next assignment was as a B-52 EWO with the 20th Bomb Squadron at Carswell AFB, Texas, from October 1971 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam while deployed to Southeast Asia on December 22, 1972.