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 Colonel (USAF
Ret.) Warner Alexander Britton (1925-2005) was born in
Liberal, Kansas on April 1st, 1925. After graduating from Liberal High School in 1941, he
joined the Army Air Force in March 1943. He completed Flight Training at Freeman
Field, Indiana in June 1944 and then co-pilot training at Keesler Field, Mississippi and
was assigned to the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron in preparation for deployment overseas
to join the war effort in the Pacific. He arrived in New Guinea in October 1944 and began
performing the "DUMBO" mission of the 2nd ERS. Along with the OA-10A
"Catalina", he also flew the C-47B "Skytrain" and was involved in a
memorable mission in April of 1945 where he was
forced to ditch his fuel starved plane in the sea. Colonel Britton remained with the 2nd
ERS until the end of the war where he had multiple stateside assignments.
After the war Colonel Britton attened Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama from 1946 to
1948 and then completed his Bachelor's degrees in Philosphy and History with degrees in
Philosophy and History. He later received a Masters Degree from George Washington
University in Washington, D.C.
He remained in the United States Air Force and retired a full Colonel in August 1973 after
serving in Vietnam. While in the Air Force he was qualified in the following
aircraft: PT-19, BT-13, AT-6, AT-7, AT-10, AT-11, C-45, C-46, T-41,
OA-10A, C-47,
HH-3, RB-36, H-19, H-5, H-13, H-21, HH-43, & HH-53.
Colonel Britton amassed more than
6,500 hours in military aircraft with 3,500 of those being in helicopters.
MAJOR
ASSIGNMENTS
Pacific Theater, WWII (1944 - 1945)
-
Rapid City AFB, South Dakota (1950 - 1953) -
Sembach & Spangdahlem, Germany (1953 - 1956) -
Washington, D.C. (1956 - 1958) -
Thule (1959 - 1960) -
Kirkland AFB, New Mexico (1960 - 1962) -
Maxwell, AFB, Alabama (1962 - 1966) -
Udorn, Thailand (1966 - 1967) -
Eglin AFB, Florida (1968 - 1971) -
Vietnam (1971 - 1972) -
Scott AFB, Illinois (1972 - 1973) -
Retired (August 1973)
His awards and decorations
included: Air Force Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross,
Legion of Merit, Air Medal (8
OLC),
World War II Victory Medal,
Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal,
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service ribbon, Air Force
Commendation Medal, & Command Pilot Wings.
Britt passed away Friday night, June 10, 2005 after complications from routine surgery. He fought
hard right to the end, and now... mission accomplished old friend... Rest in
Peace.
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