Paul D. Floyd

 
PAUL DEIDRICH FLOYD (Age 94)  
Of Alexandria, VA, died February 19, 2012 at IN0VA Mount Vernon Hospital. He was born May 26, 1917 in Fullerton, Kentucky. He won his wings in the US Army Air Corps, and in World War II flew P-47s in combat as part of the 365th Fighter Squadron. He flew several combat missions on D-Day. In late July, 1944 he was shot down over St. Lo, France by a German FW 190 during a low-level strafing mission. Though his plane caught on fire, he was able to bail out but broke a leg hitting the tail of the aircraft. He was captured by the Germans and was held in a POW hospital until he was rescued by the advancing Allied troops in October 1944. He was awarded the Purple Heart. After the War, Floyd transferred to MATS (Military Air Transport Service) and flew C-47, C-124 and C-133 aircraft. He retired as a major in 1961. He joined the FAA that same year, and moved up from an air carrier operations inspector to become Chief Pilot. In 1972, Floyd was named FAA Chief of Headquarters Management. As pilot-in-command Floyd flew the Administrator's plane, FAA 1, for over 350 Atlantic crossings and logged over 17,000 hours. He retired from the FAA in October 1978. In retirement, Floyd devoted himself to his house on the Inland Waterway in Lewes, DE, his boat and his RV trips. On July 14, 1943, he married Evelyn Lily Hoffer of Windber, PA. He married Norma Townsend of Biddeford, Maine on April 8, 2010. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Paula Carney of McLean, VA and Nancy Hafkin of Potomac, MD, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 7, 2012 at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations may be made in his name to the National Military Family Association, www.militaryfamily.org