William D. (Bill/Gonzo) Atkins slipped the surly bonds of earth Saturday, December 8, 2007.  Bill was an independent soul who dearly loved his family, his friends, his Air Force comrades, his country, and flying fighter airplanes.  He was extremely proud that he went from being a private in the Marine Corps to being a colonel and a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force.  He was blessed with an iron will, a priceless sense of humor, a make-it-happen attitude.  In October of 1938, his parents, Bill and Delia Atkins, chose him and gave him their lifelong love.  Bill is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jo, who he said was the “wind beneath his wings”; his beloved daughter, Sherri Gonzales and her husband, Victor; and his beloved daughter, Debbi Atkins.  He is also survived by three grandchildren: Tony Gonzales, Erica Atkins, and Jesse Gonzales who lit up his life. 

Visitation will be on December 14, 2007, at 9:00 and funeral services will be at 10:00 at Cook-Walden Funeral Home in Georgetown, TX.  Interment will follow at 2:30 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX, with full military honors.  In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in Bill’s memory to the West Texas Boys Ranch; 10223 Boys Ranch Road; San Angelo, Texas 76904-9989.  To make a donation in his name via secure credit card transaction on the West Texas Boys Ranch web site [Click Here].

Tributes may be directly made at Making Everlasting Memories. 

Assignments

• 5 October – 5 October 1958 – US Marine Corps – discharged as E-4

• 5 October 1958 – 5 October 1961 – US Marine Corps Inactive Reserves 

• 9 February 1965 – discharged from OTS at Lackland, AFB, TX

• 25 March 1966 – graduated from Undergraduate Pilot Training as Second Lieutenant at Vance AFB, OK

• 8 June 1966 – graduated from T-38 Pilot Instructor Training at Lackland AFB, TX

• 30 November 1967 – completed 822 hours of safe flying time to become Master Instructor Pilot at Vance AFB, OK 

• 11 September 1968 – completed Survival Training Course (SEA) at Fairchild AFB, WA

• 26 September 1968 – completed TAC Life Support System School (Water Survival) in Florida

• 22 March 1969 – completed USAF Operational Training Course, F-100 at Myrtle Beach AFB, SC

• 5 May 1969 – completed PACAF Jungle Survival School

• May 1969 – April 1970 – flew 212 missions in the F-100 - 615 TFS, Phan Rang , South Viet Nam  

• 20 April 1970 – completed Aircrew Familiarization F-4C Davis - Monthan AFB, AZ

• 17 March 1971 completed 1^st TFW IP Upgrade Course, MacDill AFB, FL

• 17 Dec 1971 – completed the USAF Flying Safety Officers Course at the University of Southern California Institute of Aerospace Safety and Management

• 6 October 1972 – made an honorary Col onel in the Confederate Air Corps

• 2 August 1973 completed Squadron Officer School Maxwell AFB, AL

• Summer of 1972 – served a voluntary three-month TFD at Takhli RTAFB , Thailand with the 8^th TFS to take the place of a safety officer who was killed in aircraft accident

• October 1973 – completed three years as F-4 instructor with 71^st TFS/Wing Safety

• Officer 45^th TFW at MacDill AFB, FL

• August 1973 – August 1974 – Flying Safety Officer for 18^th TFW in Okinawa/rotating to Taiwan

• 10 September 1974 – received pair of wings numbered 1130006 from the Chinese Air Force in Taiwan

• 1974 – 1977 – Flying Safety Office assigned to DOOFF HQ PACAF

• 1977 – 1981 – Clark AFB, PI – instructor pilot F-4, DO 3^rd TFS, Chief of Stan Eval 3^rd TFW, Fighter Shop of 13 TFW

• 1981 – 1983 – Commander of 36 TFS Osan AB, Korea

• 1983 – 1984 – ADO of 51^st TFW (3 months of that time spent as acting DO)

• 1984 – 1985 – Chief of Fighter Ops, 5^th AF, Yokota AB , Japan

• Completed Air War Col lege Seminar Program

• 1985 – lung removed for lung cancer thus ending flying career 

• 1986 – Deputy Inspector General HQ 12 AF

• Jul 1986 – medical retirement

Awards:

• Distinguished Flying Cross

• Meritorious Service Medal w/1 oak leaf cluster

• Air Medal w/11 oak leaf clusters

• Joint Service Commendation Medal

• AF Achievement Medal

• AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device w/1 oak leaf cluster

• Combat Readiness Medal

• National Defense Service Medal

• Vietnam Service Medal w/5 oak leaf clusters

• Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon w/1 oak leaf cluster

• AF Overseas Long Tour Ribbon w/3 oak leaf clusters

• AF Longevity Service Award w/5 oak leaf clusters

• Small Arm Marksmanship Ribbon

• Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device

• Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

• Legion of Merit

 Flying:

• He flew both the F-100 and the F-4 E in combat during the Vietnam War. 

• Jet time – 3718

• Rated time – 3763.6

• Civilian – over 450 hrs.  (Volunteered to be the Flying Safety Officer for the Hawaii Civil Air Patrol while stationed at HQ PACAF at Hickam AB , HI)

• Flew the T-33 to stay current while at HQ PACAF at Hickam AB , HI

• Combat – 406.7

• Combat Support – 2.3

• Student Pilot – 249.0

• While in Vietnam , he volunteered to fly the C-47 and got 45.6 hours in that

• B-57 – 1.8 hours

• CT-39 – 5.2 hours

• Total flying time:4,012.6 hours.