Keith Karl Compton

Lt. Gen. Keith Karl Compton, USAF (Ret), age 88, who was the Air Force Strategic Air Command's vice chief of staff at Offutt AFB when he retired from military service in 1969, and who lead the famed bomber attack on the German oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania, during World War II, died June 15 in San Antonio, Texas. Among his many aviation feats, Gen. Compton won the famed Bendix Trophy in 1951, setting a new transcontinental speed record by averaging 553.761 miles per hour in a Sabre Jet, flying from Muroe Air Force Base in California, to Detroit, Michigan in three hours, 27 minutes. He won his Army Air Corps wings in 1939, and in 1943, as one of the youngest colonels in the Army Air Corps, took command of the 376th Heavy Bomb Group in Africa, later leading 117 B-24 bombers on the daring 'Tidal Wave' attack on the German refineries. His military decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force and the Army Commendation medals. An accomplished golfer, as well, Gen. Compton won the U.S. Golf Association's Senior Amateur Championship in 1978 at Pine Tree Golf Course, Delray Beach, FL. He also was a member of the Society of Seniors, comprised of the best senior amateur golfers in the United States. In addition, he held Westminster College's (Fulton, MO.) Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. He is survived by his son, Keith Karl Compton Jr., of Reston, VA; his three daughters, Tegwin Anne Smith of Alexandria, VA, Mary Margaret Mace of Glen Allen, VA, and Michele Marie Walker of Burnett, Texas; and eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 at 10:00 a.m., viewing will proceed the service from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C., on August 9 at 11:00 a.m. The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.porterloring.com by selecting Visitation and Services. Select 'Sign Guestbook' at the bottom of the individual Memorial. Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary.