Edward Rel Bushnell was born May 11, 1945. He died Oct. 12, 1974 in the South China Sea. Rel was a U.S. Air Force Captain in the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Service Typhoon Chasers. He died in the South China Sea chasing "Typhoon Bess". His body was never found.
In October 1974, Wendell “Bill” and Alberta Bushnell of Blandinsville, received the news that all parents fear. Their son, U.S. Air Force Captain Edward Rel Bushnell, was reported missing in the South China Sea. Rel was one of the Typhoon Chasers in the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS) assigned to monitor Typhoon Bess, dispatched from Clark AB in the Philippines. After searching the area for days following the accident, the search was terminated by the Air Force. No wreckage was ever found. A week after they were notified their son was missing, the Bushnell’s received confirmation of their son’s death from Air Force Brigadier General W.D. Druen, Jr.
Capt. Rel Bushnell, a career weather observer in the Air Force, was born May 11, 1945. He attended Blandinsville, Ill., Grade School and graduated from Northwestern (now West Prairie) High School in 1963. He was president of his senior class and was on the football team throughout his high school years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Western Illinois University in 1967. Rel was a student teacher at La Harpe High School.
Rel's Air Force decorations and awards included the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service MedalW/2BS, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.∼Death occurred while reconnoitering Typhoon Bess in the South China Sea.
Son of Wendell and Alberta Elder Bushnell.
U.S. Air Force Veteran.
In October 1974, Wendell “Bill” and Alberta Bushnell of Blandinsville, received the news that all parents fear. Their son, U.S. Air Force Captain Edward Rel Bushnell, was reported missing in the South China Sea. Rel was one of the Typhoon Chasers in the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS) assigned to monitor Typhoon Bess, dispatched from Clark AB in the Philippines. After searching the area for days following the accident, the search was terminated by the Air Force. No wreckage was ever found. A week after they were notified their son was missing, the Bushnell’s received confirmation of their son’s death from Air Force Brigadier General W.D. Druen, Jr.
Capt. Rel Bushnell, a career weather observer in the Air Force, was born May 11, 1945. He attended Blandinsville, Ill., Grade School and graduated from Northwestern (now West Prairie) High School in 1963. He was president of his senior class and was on the football team throughout his high school years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Western Illinois University in 1967. Rel was a student teacher at La Harpe High School.
Rel's Air Force decorations and awards included the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service MedalW/2BS, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.∼Death occurred while reconnoitering Typhoon Bess in the South China Sea.
Son of Wendell and Alberta Elder Bushnell.
U.S. Air Force Veteran.
Edward Rel Bushnell was born May 11, 1945. He died Oct. 12, 1974 in the South China Sea. Rel was a U.S. Air Force Captain in the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Service Typhoon Chasers. He died in the South China Sea chasing "Typhoon Bess". His body was never found.
In October 1974, Wendell “Bill” and Alberta Bushnell of Blandinsville, received the news that all parents fear. Their son, U.S. Air Force Captain Edward Rel Bushnell, was reported missing in the South China Sea. Rel was one of the Typhoon Chasers in the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS) assigned to monitor Typhoon Bess, dispatched from Clark AB in the Philippines. After searching the area for days following the accident, the search was terminated by the Air Force. No wreckage was ever found. A week after they were notified their son was missing, the Bushnell’s received confirmation of their son’s death from Air Force Brigadier General W.D. Druen, Jr.
Capt. Rel Bushnell, a career weather observer in the Air Force, was born May 11, 1945. He attended Blandinsville, Ill., Grade School and graduated from Northwestern (now West Prairie) High School in 1963. He was president of his senior class and was on the football team throughout his high school years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Western Illinois University in 1967. Rel was a student teacher at La Harpe High School.
Rel's Air Force decorations and awards included the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service MedalW/2BS, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.∼Death occurred while reconnoitering Typhoon Bess in the South China Sea.
Son of Wendell and Alberta Elder Bushnell.
U.S. Air Force Veteran.
In October 1974, Wendell “Bill” and Alberta Bushnell of Blandinsville, received the news that all parents fear. Their son, U.S. Air Force Captain Edward Rel Bushnell, was reported missing in the South China Sea. Rel was one of the Typhoon Chasers in the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (WRS) assigned to monitor Typhoon Bess, dispatched from Clark AB in the Philippines. After searching the area for days following the accident, the search was terminated by the Air Force. No wreckage was ever found. A week after they were notified their son was missing, the Bushnell’s received confirmation of their son’s death from Air Force Brigadier General W.D. Druen, Jr.
Capt. Rel Bushnell, a career weather observer in the Air Force, was born May 11, 1945. He attended Blandinsville, Ill., Grade School and graduated from Northwestern (now West Prairie) High School in 1963. He was president of his senior class and was on the football team throughout his high school years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Western Illinois University in 1967. Rel was a student teacher at La Harpe High School.
Rel's Air Force decorations and awards included the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal, Vietnam Service MedalW/2BS, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon and Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.∼Death occurred while reconnoitering Typhoon Bess in the South China Sea.
Son of Wendell and Alberta Elder Bushnell.
U.S. Air Force Veteran.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
