Colonel William J. Baugh

Bill Baugh was born on July 17, 1934 in Piqua, Ohio. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt through the Air Force ROTC program at Bowling Green State University on June 10, 1956, and went on active duty beginning on October 15, 1956. Lt Baugh completed undergraduate pilot training and was awarded his pilot's wings at Laredo AFB, Texas in January 1958. He completed fighter pilot interceptor training in the F-86D Sabre in July 1958. His first assignment was flying F-89 Scorpion and F-101B Voodoo Interceptors with the 465th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and then the 49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Griffis AFB, New York from July 1958 to September 1963. Capt. Baugh served as an F101 and then as an F-4 Phantom II pilot with the 92nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Bentwaters, England, from September 1963 until he deployed to Southeast Asia in September 1966. He flew F-4s with the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 366th Tactical Wing out of DaNang AB, South Vietnam until November 1966 until he was forced to eject while flying his 50th combat mission over North Vietnam and was taken as a PRISONER OF WAR on January 21, 1967. After spending 2,235 days in captivity, Major Baugh was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio. Major Baugh then attended Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama from July 1973 to June 1974. His final assignment was at Peterson AFB, Colorado where he served on the staff at Headquarters North American Aerospace Defense Command, followed by service as Director of Personnel at Peterson AFB until his retirement from the Air Force May 15, 1981. His combat decorations include The Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, POW Medal, Purple Heart and Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.