MEMORIAL ARTICLE Published Assembly Sept 2001 WILLIAM DENTON BAISLEY * '46 No. 15616 * 1 Dec 1925 - 27 Feb 2001 Died in San Antonio, TX * Inurned in Punch Bowl National Cemetery, Honolulu, Hawaii

WILLIAM DENTON BAISLEY was born in San Francisco, CA to an Army family. Bill lived all over the world and went to school wherever his father was stationed. As he entered high school, he was active in swimming and band. He played the trumpet, cornet and piano. Bill graduated from Hempstead high School, Hempstead, NY and then attended Sullivan's Prep in Washington, DC for a year. He joined the Class of 1946 on the banks of the Hudson 1 July 1943.

Bill eased into cadet life with a minimum of problems. His musical talents made him stand out. Classmate, Randy Adams wrote: "As a cadet, Bill was very active in the cadet dance orchestra. By first class year, he was writing most of the arrangements we used and in my opinion they compared favorably with those of the pros." In April of 1945, Bill opted for Air Cadet training. Roommate, Bill Kaliff, remembered an instance: " The occasion was the return from the 1945 Christmas leave. Bill Baisley made the arrangements and his father, Colonel Baisley, piloted the B-24 that took a collection of cadets from Wright Patterson Field, Ohio to Stewart Field, NY for return to USMA," When graduation came, Bill pinned on second lieutenant's bars and pilot wings in the Army Air Corps.

Bill married Jane Bryson 8 June 1946 in Inman, SC while on graduation leave. Following transition training to fighter aircraft in Arizona, Bill's first assignment was to Alaska. He then went to Bergstrom AFB, TX with the 524th Fighter Squadron. Early in the Korean War, Bill joined the 27th Fighter Escort Group in November 1950 flying combat in F-84s. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and 5 Air Medals. He returned to the States and in 1951 won the Allison cross-country race. That year the race was for F-84s only. Following more fighter assignments, Bill and Jane went to Taiwan in 1958 where Bill served with the MAAG. He returned to the States to serve with the 4th Tac Fighter Wing before spending a year at the AF Institute of Technology where he earned his Masters in Engineering. In 1965, Bill went to Vietnam to serve wit the 4th Tac Fighter Wing. In 1968, he took command of the 497 Tac Fighter Squadron in Thailand. His combat tours in SE Asia earned him the Silver Star Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal and 15 Air Medals.

He returned to the States to serve with Hq. CINCPAC. His next assignment was in Headquarters Tac Air Command. He retired from the Air force as a colonel in 1975.


Bill and Jane liked Hawaii so much that they decided to retire there. Bill pursued his lifetime interests, music, Ham radio and flying. He joined the CAP in Hawaii and kept his dream alive. He was a LTC in the CAP. He founded the HAM club on Kauai. Bill's lifelong companion, Jane, died 18 February 1996. Bill continued to live in Hawaii until late 2000 when his health began to fail. He then moved to San Antonio, TX.

Bill died 27 February 2001. His son, Robert and daughter Lynn Ennis and her husband, William, a sister, Ora Louise and two grandchildren survive him.

Bill Baisley was an outstanding pilot, a great patriot, a caring, loving, giving husband and father and a true son of West Point. The words of love and respect from those who knew him reflect his qualities as a man and leader. Here are some examples of how he is remembered:
"Bill was one of the nicest guys I ever knew and a true friend."
"Bill was a gentle disciplined man and a life long friend."
"Bill loved his flying. We all shared his sadness when he found out he could no longer fly."
"He was a credit to the Military, West Point and our nation. I am proud to have had him as my friend"
"Now that he is no longer with us, a group of us within the radio club have decided to continue to honor him for his contribution to the county of Kauai and the club by setting up an amateur radio repeater in his honor bearing his call KH6S. That will be to his glory. When the newcomers to Ham radio ask, who is KH6S, we can tell the story and relive the memories of Bill."
"How to sum up such a rare individual on a single piece of paper? I don't know. I'm just grateful that for whatever reason, the paths of our lives crossed."

Bill's daughter, Lynn, remembered her father: "My dad was one of a kind and will be missed by all, and there were many whose lives he touched. The last thing I could do for him was to place him beside my Mom in the Punch Bowl. He was laid to rest the way he lived, with quite grace and dignity."

The Class of 1946 is honored to add to these words of praise the words that would mean so much to our classmate: "Well Done, Bill; Be Thou At Peace!"

'46 Memorial Article Project and his family