HELD  GRAY  EAGLE  AWARD  -  8/31/1977  TO  5/31/1978

The Gray Eagle Award is presented to the naval aviator on continuous active duty in the Navy or Marine Corps who has held that designation for the longest period of time.  Major Henry R. Wildfang held the award during the last year of his service in the Marine Corps.

Wildfang was born May 17, 1916, Bismarck, North Dakota, and grew up in nearby Sterling.  Following high school graduation, he was employed for a short period by the Civilian Conservation Corps and then attended the University of North Dakota for three years before being accepted into the Naval Aviation Program in May 1941 which began his 37-year career with the Marine Corps.  On April 16, 1942, he was awarded his naval aviator wings as an Enlisted Naval Pilot and became naval aviator #12766.  He served as an aviator during World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam War.  He flew primarily as a transport aircraft pilot, qualified in 21 types of military aircraft, logged an incredible over 23,000 accident free hours in the cockpit, and became recognized as the dean of Marine Corps transport piloting.

On February 10, 1968, Wildfang was piloting a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft delivering desperately needed fuel to the Marines at Khe Sahn combat base in Vietnam.  As his plane broke out of the overcast it was hit with a hail of hostile ground fire which shattered a portion of the right wing and set fire to the fuel containers in the aircraft.  Wildfang successfully landed on the shell-pocked jungle strip and purposely rolled the flaming plane into the edge of the jungle to keep the runway clear of debris.  Unfortunately, seven of the ten men aboard the plane were killed, and Wildfang would forever after carry burn scars on his hands and arms from trying to save his crewmates.

On August 31, 1977, Wildfang received the Gray Eagle Award.   It reads in part:  “You, Henry Wildfang, are the first Gray Eagle recipient still on the squadron rolls and flying daily.  Your flight hours exceeds that of any other Navy or Marine Aviator on active duty.  You are a legend in your own time.  From Corsairs to Hercules.  From Pusan to Khe Sanh.  You have created a standard of dedication and service to Naval Aviation everywhere.” 

Wildfang retired from the Marine Corps on May 31, 1978, and moved to Midwest City, Oklahoma, where he enjoyed many years of retirement.  He died at the age of 99 on June 25, 2015, and is interned at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery next to his wife who predeceased him in 2002.

The Marines have never forgotten about Wildfang as “The Henry Wildfang Award” is presented annually by the Marine Aviation Association to the premier Marine Aerial Refuler Transport squadron.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)