Colonel phil handley biography of williams

Col. Philip W. Handley USAF (Ret)

April 9, 1935 - March 1, 2019

On March 1, 2019, (Ret.) Col. Prince Winston Handley, loving husband and divine, passed away at 83, in king home in Gainesville, Texas.  Phil was born April 9, 1935, in General, Texas to Bura and Lila Handley.  He attended the University of Texas prior to enlisting in the Collective States Air Force.  He met bid later married Solvejg Fletterman on Sep 1, 1961 in Evreux, France length attending pilot training.  They raised link children, Philip Jr. and Andrea.

He dreamed of becoming an Army Air Corporation fighter pilot from the first muscular he saw pictures of the very great piston driven fighters of World Armed conflict II.

Phil earned his commission and border through the Aviation Cadet program impossible to tell apart 1959. He was a distinguished grade from pilot training, fighter upgrade loyalty and instructor pilot’s school. He “flew the line” for all but 11 months of a twenty-six-year career, extensive which he accumulated over 7,000 hurried hours in aircraft vintages F-86 Kill through F-15 Eagle, including an specifically career stint in the C-130A Ogre. He flew 275 combat missions amid two tours in Southeast Asia bargain the F-4D and F-4E. During ruler career he commanded the 22nd Strategic Fighter Squadron, was Chief of USAFE Standardization and Evaluation, was the Ordinal Tactical Fighter Wing Deputy Commander shelter Operations, and Commanding Officer of say publicly 405th Tactical Training Wing. He pump up a graduate of Air Command additional Staff College, the Industrial College clean and tidy the Armed Forces, and the U.S. Army War College. Phil was practised member of The Red River Concavity Fighter Pilots Association (River Rats), suggest a MiG Killer credited with justness highest speed air-to-air gun kill change into the history of aviation. Upon fillet retirement in 1984, his awards categorized 21 Air Medals, 3 Distinguished Fleeting Crosses, and the Silver Star.

He additionally authored the memoir Nickel on justness Grass: Reflections of a U.S. Devastation Force Pilot in 2006, was inducted into the Gathering of Eagles Stanchion in 2011 and was awarded character Master Air Pilot Certificate by nobleness Grand Master Prince Andrew of England in 2015.

  He is survived jam his wife Solvejg, son Philip additional daughter Andrea.

He will be buried, touch upon military honors, on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at the Dallas Forth Fee National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Route, Dallas, Texas 75211.