Raymond K. Childress

Col. Raymond K. Childress, USAF (Ret.), was born on April 13, 1920 in Seymour, MO. and passed away on November 29, 2007 at the age of 87. Col. Childress was a decorated veteran of World War II who retired in 1970 after 30 years of active duty. He graduated from the Flying Cadet training program as a pilot in Class 42-A. His first duty in the US Army Air Corps as a 2nd Lt. was as a flight instructor in the single engine Advanced Flying Training School located at Spence Field, Moultrie, GA where he met and married his wife, Kathryn (Petey) Burt, May 16, 1942. He next served as a flight instructor in multi-engine aircraft at Symrna, TN and Maxwell Base, AL which served as the stepping stone into the B-29 program. He went overseas and completed 35 missions with the original Super Fortress B-29 command as an aircraft commander of a lead crew. He was assigned to the 462nd Bomb Group of the 20th Bomber Command in the CBI theater to become the 58th Bomb Wing of the 20th Air Force operating out of Tinian, Marinas Islands. The decorations he received from his combat service include the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters. In addition to the overseas assignments with the B-29's during WW II. Col Childress was stationed in both the Philippines and Japan as Special Assistant for Air Munitions. He was stationed at Ellsworth AFB, SD, under the Strategic Air Command for 7 years during which time he was a Squadron Commander of a RB-36 unit as well as Wing Operations Officer. His assignments have been to the Special Weapons Group where he was assigned to Manzano Base, Site Able, as Deputy Base Commander; Air Force Communications Service as Ass't Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics; and Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA as a faculty advisor for 4 years. During all of this he accumulated in excess of 6,000 hours as a pilot. He has resided in San Antonio since his retirement following which he bettered his knowledge of electronics through his attendance at San Antonio College. After becoming a FCC 3rd Class radio operator he was employed by TV station KSAT and worked in the control room as an electronic technician for approximately 12 years. His main interests have been in his computer, photography and golf, a game he regrets not ever having mastered. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Petey; daughter, Kitty Raye Roach; grandsons, Patrick and Christopher and his brother, William G. Childress of Sacramento, CA. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 3, 2007 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice. Sunset Funeral Home.