MEMORIAL ARTICLE Published Assembly Jan '54 William Martin Harton, Jr.   No. 15717   Class of 1946   Died May 4, 1953, In An Aircraft Accident, Oxnard Air Force Base, California, aged 31 years.

The ability to smile when things got tough was a characteristic of Captain Bill Harton that won him the universal respect of everyone who knew or came in contact with him.

His ability as a pilot, his knack of efficient organization and his all-round dependability made him a decided asset to any military unit. Nothing was ever asked of Bill Harton that wasn't completed to the best of his ability. His was a personality for which many of us strive but few ever achieve. His future in the United States Air Force was as promising as tomorrow's dawn. The crash which snuffed out his life robbed the Nation of a truly fine Officer.

Much can be said about Captain Harton's proficiency as an Officer in the United States Air Force. I knew him to be an outstanding pilot with the ability to think and act swiftly and correctly in time of emergency. His complete dependability and inherent initiative bespoke brilliance.

Captain Harton's service was a continual tribute to the United States Military Academy, from which he was graduated in June of 1946. His devotion to duty, exemplary conduct and strict adherence to the customs of the Service, made his record as an officer of the United States Air Force an enviable one, by even the highest standards.

During his tour of duty, he served as a fighter pilot in occupied Germany for more than three and one-half years. Although his duties throughout this period were primarily in the field of tactical fighter operations, he assumed a great many additional duties and became proficient in the fields of supply and administration. Through his constant efforts to increase his knowledge in all fields of endeavor which might be readily associated with the Air Force, Captain Harton exhibited traits which are continually sought and infrequently found to such a high degree of utilization.

Captain Harton returned from Germany in October 1951 and on the 16th of November 1951 he was assigned to the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Long Beach Municipal Airport, Long Beach, California. Until November 1952, when this organization was redesignated the 354th Fighter Interceptor Squadron preparatory to its move to Oxnard Air Force Base, California, Captain Harton performed duty as a Fighter Pilot, Flight Commander, and on several occasions acted as Squadron Operations Officer. In this capacity, he served as Squadron Operations Officer during an Air Defense Readiness Test; and despite being handicapped by lack of experience, he maintained the operation of the Squadron in such a way as to earn the unit a commendation

On 16 December 1952, Captain Harton was designated as Commanding Officer of the detachment which was sent to Oxnard Air Force Base prior to the arrival of the remainder of the organization. In preparing Oxnard Air Force Base for occupancy by the 354th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, he was most successful in the utilization of personnel to settle a major problem in a situation which required initiative, tact and diplomacy. His efforts in conducting liaison between the Command of Oxnard Air Force Base and his organization, prior to its becoming a member of the Command, were instrumental in the success of the move; and resulted in cooperation and genuinely friendly relationships between all units of the station.

On the night of 4 May 1953, while serving in his official capacity as a Fighter Pilot for the 354th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, he was fatally injured in the first major aircraft accident in the history of Oxnard Air Force Base.

Bill Harton liked people. And people liked Bill. He had the knack of getting along with anyone and everyone. His everready grin and striking sense of humor were great morale boosters. His was a "magnetic" personality in every sense of the word.

Captain Harton was all man. He was in the middle of all athletic events. Hunting and fishing were regular activities for him during his off-duty time. He was a big man with a marked ruggedness that reflected his natural desire for healthful outdoor activities.

The Service career of Captain Bill Harton was marked by his inherent traits of personality. Everyone - officer and enlisted man alike - liked and respected him because of his omnipresent affability. His consistently sound judgment was a valuable asset to his unit. As a supervisor and organizer he left nothing to be desired. He tackled every undertaking with the zest of a rat-terrier and followed through with the determination of a bulldog.

He was a well-balanced individual who maintained the human equation with a striking sense of humor. His sincerity, devotion to duty and clear-cut definition of right and wrong earned him his reputation as an officer of the very highest caliber.

I was proud to call him my friend
 

Personal Eulogy