Dennis Richardson
A flight engineer aboard a rescue helicopter on March 14, 1968, Richardson was part of a team trying to rescue two Air Force pilots who had been shot down and were surrounded by enemy troops along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
Under heavy fire, and hovering 10 feet above the ground, an already wounded Richardson leaned outside the helicopter door, holding a "jungle penetrator" in one hand and his M-60 machine gun in the other. He provided enough cover for the helicopter pilot to maneuver out of the danger zone.
Forty years later, in April 2008, Richardson was awarded the Air Force Cross, the second highest medal in the Air Force.
Beckwith Havens
Hired to be the first salesman in the history of aviation, Becky was personally taught to fly by Glenn Curtis, the first manufacturer of aircraft and one of the most well-known people of that era. Havens became famous by being the first National Guard pilot, and his exploits were well documented in 1912 by the New York Times.
Havens went on to lead a successful life, and was officially recognized in 1968 by then Secretary of the Air Force.
Darrell Robbins Lindsey
Leading a formation of 30 aircraft, Lindsey's B-26 was heavily damaged and both the right engine and wing set afire during the bombing run. Although knocked out of formation, Lindsey recovered his place and led the group over the target, then stabilized the aircraft so that his crew could parachute. According to the crew's bombardier, Lindsey severely lessened his own chance to escape to prevent the aircraft from spinning, which proved fatal when a gas tank exploded just after the last crewman exited the aircraft. Captain Lindsey's body was not recovered and he was listed as missing-in-action and presumed killed.
On May 30, 1945 Lindsey was awarded the Medal of Honor, accepted by his widow, Evelyn.
Norma Parsons-Erb
June 1956: Public Law 845, passed by the 84th Congress, permitted appointment of women in the National Guard and in the Air National Guard. Nurses could now be commissioned in the Air National Guard without having had prior military service.
October 1956: The Air National Guard commissioned its first registered nurse, Captain Norma Parsons, into the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Tactical Air Command (TAC) Hospital, Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn, New York.
Raynal Cawthorne Bolling
Bolling was the first high-ranking U.S. officer to be killed in combat in World War I. As a member of the National Guard, New York, he laid the foundation for the U.S. military aviation service. He was the namesake of Bolling Air Force Base. Born in Arkansas, from 1909 on he was a resident of Greenwich, Connecticut at his estate Greyledge. Near the town commons a life-size bronze statue cast by the Gorham Foundry of Rhode Island sculpted by Edward Clark Potter serves as his memorial. The Indiana limestone background of the memorial shows aircraft in combat in low relief. The inscription on the front of the memorial reads simply "Bolling", on the reverse it reads:
George Augustus Vaughn, Jr.
Mr. Vaughn was credited with shooting down 12 German planes and one balloon in 1917 and 1918.
Vaughn was one of a group of pilots who in 1921 formed the 27th Division Aviation Squadron, the first National Guard aviation unit in New York State. He commanded the squadron for nine years and retired in 1940 as a lieutenant colonel. In 1985, Gov. Mario M. Cuomo appointed him to the rank of brigadier general.
Thomas Watson, Jr.
Unburdened either ambition or self-respect, he was given a sales territory but he spent the better part of 1939 drinking and chasing women. Watson, Jr. had one interest where his father had no influence, no prior reputation: flying airplanes and refused to travel by plane. His son, who had a monthly income greater than the average family income took to the air. As America readied itself for war in the early forties, Watson as too poor to qualify for the fledgling American Air Corps, But he was determined to fly during the war, and joined the New York National Guard. When America joined the fray in 1942, he was accepted as a pilot and went to war.
Taps – The Final Roll Call of those who passed away while active members
This link is provided as a Memorial Wall for unit members who passed away when still active with the unit. During the 1990’s for example, Major Dave Kish, Capt. Terry Kelly, to name a few. A separate section is dedicated elsewhere on this site to those members who died while on missions, such as TSgt. Arden ‘Rick’ Smith and the crew of Jolly 78.
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