Hall of Fame
The objective of the 55th Wing Association’s Hall of Fame is to recognize those personnel whose performance or actions were above and beyond the call of duty, and whose unyielding commitment in the advocacy of the 55th Organization’s and the United States missions has had long-term or permanent impact on the futrure of the 55th Organization. Such commitment may have included:
1. Personal sacrifice and/or hardship (POW, duty in austere locations, numerous stories, etc.)
2. Sustained support for and advocacy of the Wing mission, values, personnel, stature or goal.
3. Demonstrated outstanding technical expertise that would merit didtinctive recognition and positively affected mission succes, such as development of new policies, procedures, strategies, programs, processes, or abilities to accomplish th mission in ways not possible before.
HOF recognition is presented on an annual basis, with nominations accepted in July of each year.
HOF INDUCTEES
| *Col (Ret) Jack Jenkins | WWII former 55th Fighter Group commander | Citation |
| *MajGen (Ret) Edward Giller | WWII fighter pilot/downed a German Me262 jet | Citation |
| *Major (Ret) Walter Konantz | WWII credited with downing two jet Me262s | Citation |
| *MajGen (Ret) Howard P Smith | Cold War/Strat recon pioneer | Citation |
| *LtCol (Ret) Robert Rich | Cold War RB-50, returned fire on MiG-15 | Citation |
| *Col (Ret) Burton Barrett | WWII veteran and Cold War RB-47 pioneer | Citation |
| *Col (Ret) Bruce Olmstead | Cold War Soviet prisoner (Maj Palm’s copilot) | Citation |
| *Col (Ret) John McKone | Cold War Soviet prisoner (Maj Palm’s navigator) | Citation |
| *Col Charles “Iron Mike” Rafferty | Cold War/Cuban missile crisis | Citation |
| BrigGen (Ret) Regis Urschler | Cold War/Former 55th SRW commander | Citation |
| Capt (Sep) Hank Dubuy | Cold War (LtCol Mattison’s CP, NK shoot up) | Citation |
| *LtCol (Ret) Harrison Tull | Former Tuskegee Airman and Cold War EWO | Citation |
| LtGen (Ret) George Miller | Former 55th SRW CC and Vice CinCSAC | Citation |
| Col (Ret) Donald White | Former 2ACCS commander/ABNCP operations | Citation |
| LtGen (Ret) John Sams | Former 1ACCS commander/E-4 operations | Citation |
| BrigGen (Ret) Larry Mitchell | Former 55th SRW commander/Recon expert | Citation |
| *SSgt Ronald King | Killed in Kobar Towers terrorist attack | Citation |
| Lt Sheila O’Lear Kirkwood | Desert Shield/Storm RC-135 EWO | Citation |
| Major Edward “Muddy” Waters | Outstanding airmanship in RC-135 emergency | Citation |
| LtGen (Ret) Tom Keck | Former 55th Wing Commander, 8th AF CC | Citation |
| *LtGen (Ret) Phillip Ford | Former 8th AF CC, ViceCINC of STRATCOM | Citation |
| *Col (Ret) William Riggs | Former 55th SRW CC during mission, aircraft and base transition. Longest serving 55th commander ever, 3 years, 11 months. Unmatched leadership. | Citation |
| *CMSgt (Ret) Jerald Kozlek | Gulf War/Open Skies support | Citation |
| *Major Willard Palm | Cold War, RB-47 shot down by Soviet fighter, 1-Jul-61 | Citation |
| *Capt Eugene Posa | Citation | |
| *Capt Dean Phillips | Citation | |
| *Capt Oscar Goforth | Citation | |
| LtCol (Ret) James R.Taylor | Cold War/RC-135 EWO/instructor | Citation |
| *LtCol (Ret) Hobart Mattison | Cold War/RB-47 recovery after hostile fire | Citation |
| *LtCol (Ret) Roy “Pop” Kaden | Cold War RB-50/RB-47 strat recon pioneer | Citation |
| The Crew of RB-50G, #47-145 | Shot down 29 July 1953, First 55th Cold War casualties | Citation |
| * Aircraft Commander: Capt Stanley K. O’Kelley | Citation | |
| *Copilot: Capt John E. Roche | Citation | |
| *Navigator: Capt Edmund J. Czyz | Citation | |
| *Navigator: Capt Lloyd C. Wiggins | Citation | |
| *Navigator: Capt James G. Keith | Citation | |
| *Raven 1: Capt Warren J. Sanderson | Citation | |
| *Raven 2: Maj Francisco J. Tejeda | Citation | |
| *Raven 3: Capt Robert E Stalnaker | Citation | |
| *Raven 4: Capt John C. Ward | Citation | |
| *Raven 6: Capt Frank E Beyer, Jr. | Citation | |
| *Flight Engineer: MSgt Francis L. Brown | Citation | |
| *Central Fire Control: SSgt Donald W. Gabree | Citation | |
| *Gunner/Radioman A1C Roland E. Goulet | Citation | |
| *Gunner A2C Charles J. Russell | Citation | |
| *Gunner A2C James E. Woods | Citation | |
| *Linguist SSgt Donald G. Hill | Citation | |
| *Linguist A2C Earl W. Radlein | Citation | |
| | ||
| *LtCol (Ret) Warren L “Pappy” Cole | Cold War RB-50 strat recon pioneer | Citation |
| *Major (Ret) Thomas “Loose” Lane | RC-135 equipment upgrade/training expert | Citation |
| 2006 | ||
| Col (Ret) Merlin F. (Steve) Stevens | Former 55th SRW/CC, inspirational leader, role model, motivator. | Citation |
| 2007 | ||
| *Col (Ret) John E. Drost | Cold War RB-47 select pilot/crew commander for Special HHQ projects, missions | Citation |
| *Major (Ret) Eddie “Mitch” Phillips | RC-135 EWO aircrew commander - pioneered innovative tactical applications of RC-135 platform | Citation |
| 2008 | ||
| LtCol (Ret) Jeffery Needham | RC-135 pilot/squadron commander - superior leadership/management | Citation |
| *CMSgt (Ret) Lawrence Cobb | 55th maintenance/aircrew member; contractor on RC-135 systems | Citation |
| Colonel (Ret) William H. (Bill) Ernst | Pilot/squadron commander; HQ SAC; Outstanding leadership and contributions through numerous service and military organizations during retirement years. | Citation |
The 55th Spouse | Past, Present, Future (Composite) | The 55th Spouse |
| LtCol (Ret) Howard L. (Lynn) Duncan | EWO; COBRA BALL, Big Safari program expert | Citation |
| Colonel (Ret) Michael J. Cook | outstanding performance as aircrew member/leader and staff officer in the 55th and associated units. | Citation |
*LtCol (Ret) Robb L. Hoover | career in 55th and supporting SAC units during Cold War; continued extraordinary contributions in documenting and education of the history of the 55th. | Citation |
| LtCol (Ret) Max R. Moore | 23 year career in 55th during Cold War as navigator and staff officer; and continued outstanding support to the Wing during retirement years with 55th Wing Assn. | Citation |
Colonel (Ret) Joseph W. Siniscalchi | RC-135 pilot/sqd commander, outstanding leader and manager. | Citation |
| LtColonel (Ret) Ricky J. McMahon | RC-135 navigator, founder and commander of 338th CCTSqd. The 'Godfather of RC Combat Crew Training' | Citation |
before the Tales of Fifty-Fifth, and the Ball) | ||
| *Colonel (Ret) Joseph J. Gyulavics | 19+ consecutive years in 55th; pilot in three platforms, two bases; sqd commander; outstanding professional, leader, mentor, and role model. | Citation |
before the Tales of Fifty-Fifth, and the Ball) | ||
| CMSgt (Ret) Dennis Haun | Superior achievement, leadership, and mentoring in the 55th Maintenance Group, 24RS/45thRS. | Citation |
| MSgt (Ret) Armintrout | Exceptional performance as a career linguist, motivator, and mentor/role model in the intelligence field. | Citation |
LtCol (Ret) Michael McFarland | Outstanding recon pilot active duty and defense industry. | Citation |
CMSgt (Ret) Larry Meade | Superior career maintainer with 55th and as contractor. | Citation |
| Colonel (Ret) James Thomas | Superior service as Sqd CC, Ops Group CC, RC pilot, 55th Wing Assn president for 12 years. | Citation |
| Major (Ret) Richard Holsinger | Maintenance technician, recon navigator, RC contractor. Outstanding service. | Citation |
walk-over at Ball. Prater did not attend Ball.) | ||
| Capt (Sep) Kenneth Prater | RC-135 EWO/staff; contractor ‘Father of RJ-ELINT Suite | Citation |
| CMSgt (Ret) Edmiston | Career maintainer, superior performer, leader, role model. | Citation |
present. Plaques were placed on the wall. No Ball. A recognition reception was held 30 April 2021 at the Broadmore Event Center in Bellevue. Complete ceremony.) | ||
Major General (Ret) Kimberly Siniscalchi | Career nurse, White House; and AF Ass’t Surgeon General, Medical Force, Nursing Services. Superior role model. | Citation |
| Colonel (Ret) Paul E. Fortin | Pioneer RB-47 EWO in strategic reconnaissance; instructor/evaluator with 55th SRW. | Citation |
| Brig General (Ret) Donald J. Bacon | Congressman, 55th Wing Commander, EC-131 | Citation |
| LtCol (Ret) Golda T. Eldridge, Sr. | Entire operational career in strategic reconnaissance | Citation |
| LtCol (Ret) James F. Turner, | Outstanding performer as RC- Crewmember/Tactical Commander, Program Manager, Project Engineer, and Pentagon Action Officer. | Citation |
| Col (Ret) David 'Heini' Heininiger | EWO Instructor/Evaluator | Citation |
| *Denotes deceased either when inducted or since. | ||
| Total: 76 : 61 Officers : (34 Pilots, 7 Wing CCs 8 Navs, 19 EWOs, 1 Nurse ) | ||
| 14 Enlisted; 55th Spouse (all time) | ||
| Created March 2003 by Max R Moore, 55th Wing Assn, LtCol USAF Retired - Updated June 2023 by web master |
