William R. Austin, II

Bill Austin was born in 1937 in Simpsonville, South Carolina. He entered Officer Training School at Lackland AFB, Texas, on June 23, 1960, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on September 20, 1960. Lieutenant Austin next completed Undergraduate Navigator Training and was awarded his Navigator Wings at Harlingen AFB, Texas, in July 1961, followed by Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO) training at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, from September 1961 to May 1962. After completing RB-47 Stratojet Combat Crew Training, he served as an RB-47 EWO with the 38th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Forbes AFB, Kansas, from July 1962 to January 1965, and then with the 343rd Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron at Forbes from January to June 1965. Captain Austin next attended Undergraduate Pilot Training, and was awarded his pilot wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas, in June 1966. After completing Pilot Systems Operator training and F-4 Phantom II Combat Crew Training, he served as an F-4 pilot systems operator with the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Ubon Royal Thai AFB, Thailand, from May 1967 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on October 7, 1967.