Colonel Fred Herbert Henderson, Jr. (USAF Retired) died in Ocala after a short illness at the age of 92 on January 20, 2015. Herb was born in 1922 in Guntersville, AL and was the eldest son of Fred H. and Hattie Jordan Henderson.
Col Henderson served 32 years in the Air Force and was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He entered military service at age 19 during WWII and became a P51 fighter pilot serving in the Pacific theater. His fighter group was at Iwo Jima before its capture by the US and they escorted the first bombers over the Japanese mainland. After WWII, he attended Auburn University and received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He re-enlisted in the Air Force after college.
In Vietnam, he flew 105 Fighters, A1 attack planes, and O2s. He was one of the famed River Rats flying over the Ho Chi Minh Trail to help rescue downed pilots. He was a staff officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon after his Vietnam service specializing in mid-Eastern affairs. He is the recipient of numerous medals and awards including three Distinguished Flying Crosses with clusters, a Purple Heart, Air Medals and Command Pilot Wings.
After retiring from the Air Force, he enjoyed golf and traveling around the USA.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth Akridge Henderson and his children Steve Henderson, his wife Karen and daughters Allison Crochunis and Laura, Barbara Henderson Cawley and her husband Roy, and Nancy Henderson Pfau, her husband Joe and her sons Alex and Andrew and daughter Erin Passmore.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL on Monday, January 26, 2014 at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice.
Col Henderson served 32 years in the Air Force and was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He entered military service at age 19 during WWII and became a P51 fighter pilot serving in the Pacific theater. His fighter group was at Iwo Jima before its capture by the US and they escorted the first bombers over the Japanese mainland. After WWII, he attended Auburn University and received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He re-enlisted in the Air Force after college.
In Vietnam, he flew 105 Fighters, A1 attack planes, and O2s. He was one of the famed River Rats flying over the Ho Chi Minh Trail to help rescue downed pilots. He was a staff officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon after his Vietnam service specializing in mid-Eastern affairs. He is the recipient of numerous medals and awards including three Distinguished Flying Crosses with clusters, a Purple Heart, Air Medals and Command Pilot Wings.
After retiring from the Air Force, he enjoyed golf and traveling around the USA.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth Akridge Henderson and his children Steve Henderson, his wife Karen and daughters Allison Crochunis and Laura, Barbara Henderson Cawley and her husband Roy, and Nancy Henderson Pfau, her husband Joe and her sons Alex and Andrew and daughter Erin Passmore.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL on Monday, January 26, 2014 at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice.
Colonel Fred Herbert Henderson, Jr. (USAF Retired) died in Ocala after a short illness at the age of 92 on January 20, 2015. Herb was born in 1922 in Guntersville, AL and was the eldest son of Fred H. and Hattie Jordan Henderson.
Col Henderson served 32 years in the Air Force and was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He entered military service at age 19 during WWII and became a P51 fighter pilot serving in the Pacific theater. His fighter group was at Iwo Jima before its capture by the US and they escorted the first bombers over the Japanese mainland. After WWII, he attended Auburn University and received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He re-enlisted in the Air Force after college.
In Vietnam, he flew 105 Fighters, A1 attack planes, and O2s. He was one of the famed River Rats flying over the Ho Chi Minh Trail to help rescue downed pilots. He was a staff officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon after his Vietnam service specializing in mid-Eastern affairs. He is the recipient of numerous medals and awards including three Distinguished Flying Crosses with clusters, a Purple Heart, Air Medals and Command Pilot Wings.
After retiring from the Air Force, he enjoyed golf and traveling around the USA.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth Akridge Henderson and his children Steve Henderson, his wife Karen and daughters Allison Crochunis and Laura, Barbara Henderson Cawley and her husband Roy, and Nancy Henderson Pfau, her husband Joe and her sons Alex and Andrew and daughter Erin Passmore.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL on Monday, January 26, 2014 at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice.
Col Henderson served 32 years in the Air Force and was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He entered military service at age 19 during WWII and became a P51 fighter pilot serving in the Pacific theater. His fighter group was at Iwo Jima before its capture by the US and they escorted the first bombers over the Japanese mainland. After WWII, he attended Auburn University and received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. He re-enlisted in the Air Force after college.
In Vietnam, he flew 105 Fighters, A1 attack planes, and O2s. He was one of the famed River Rats flying over the Ho Chi Minh Trail to help rescue downed pilots. He was a staff officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon after his Vietnam service specializing in mid-Eastern affairs. He is the recipient of numerous medals and awards including three Distinguished Flying Crosses with clusters, a Purple Heart, Air Medals and Command Pilot Wings.
After retiring from the Air Force, he enjoyed golf and traveling around the USA.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth Akridge Henderson and his children Steve Henderson, his wife Karen and daughters Allison Crochunis and Laura, Barbara Henderson Cawley and her husband Roy, and Nancy Henderson Pfau, her husband Joe and her sons Alex and Andrew and daughter Erin Passmore.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL on Monday, January 26, 2014 at 11:30am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice.
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