Doyal Leon Wyrick


Preferred Name: Doyal

Nickname/Call Sign: Champ

Date Of Birth: April 6, 1932 (December 26, 2019)

Highest Military Grade Held: Lieutenant Colonel, O5

Hometown: Kokomo, IN

  • Wyrick Doyal Profile Photo
  • bio-photo-now

Biography

“Nothing like flying combat! I ended up with 962 missions and 1062 hours of combat.”

Doyal was born near Kempton, IN, on 6 April 1932. He grew up as a farm boy with all the associated labor demands and attended Sharpsville and Hemlock, IN, elementary schools. He was a 1950 graduate of Kokomo High School, Kokomo, IN. Before joining the USAF, he worked for a spring manufacturing business in Center, IN, and later as an employee of Sears Roebuck Company. Doyal enlisted in the USAF in September of 1951 and completed basic training at Sampson AFB, NY, with a follow-on assignment to Aircraft and Engine Mechanics School at Sheppard AFB, TX, in December of 1951.

During the Korean War and he applied for flight training as an Aviation Cadet. Flight school had a backlog, at that time, and he was placed in casual status and assigned to crew chief duties on KB-29s at Lockbourne AFB, OH, from August to December 1952. A flight training slot became available in December 1952 and he reported to Lackland AFB, TX, for Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight Training on 2 January 1953. After Pre-Flight training, he was assigned to Kinston AB, NC, for Primary Pilot Training flying the PA -18 and the AT-6. His follow-on assignment was to Webb AFB, Big Springs, TX, in October of 1953 where he flew the T-28 and his first jet airplane the T-33.

Upon completion of his training, he was awarded his pilot wings and commissioned a Second Lt. in March of 1954. April of 1954 found Doyal at Nellis AFB, NV, training to fly the F-86 fighter and checking out and learning the skills of air-to-ground and air-to-air gunnery techniques. “Champ” reported to his first active-duty fighter squadron, the 452nd Fighter Day Squadron at Foster AFB, Victoria, TX, in late July 1954. He also married the love of his life, Carmen, in December of 1954 in Hemlock, IN, and together they became the proud parents of three daughters; Mona, Karen, and Tari. While at Foster “Champ” flew the F-86 and T-33. Also, while at Foster Doyal had a very memorable experience as the 450th Fighter Wing transitioned to the new supersonic F-100C aircraft. After picking up a brand-new F-100C from the factory in CA and enroute to Foster the aircraft developed mechanical issues with pitch control necessitating his ejection approximately 20 miles East of El Paso, TX. Doyal was half of the only two brothers that flew the F- 100 that both experienced aircraft ejections from the F-100.

On the 10th of November 1955 Doyal picked-up a new F-100 Los Angeles on the 10th of November 1955 expecting to fly it non-stop directly back to Foster since, for once, the weather was good all the way. Over El Paso, at 41,000 feet, the airplane suddenly started to nose up slightly. Doyal applied forward pressure to the stick to bring the nose down, but there was no response. Neither did it respond to trim. Aileron and rudder were still effective, and by using a combination of turns and power adjustments, Doyal was able to maneuver the airplane down to 15,000 feet in a desolate area east of El Paso, where he then ejected.

Foster AFB fell victim to base closure in 1958 and Doyal and Carmen and children made the move to Bitburg AB, Germany with an assignment to the 23rd TFS of the 36th TFW flying the F-100C and F-100F. He was promoted to Captain in 1959 and selected to return to Nellis AFB for checkout and training in the new F-105 Thunderchief. He participated in the ferry of F-105s from Brookley AFB, AL, to Bitburg non-stop across the Atlantic, a nine-hour and thirty-minute flight with departure before sunrise and landing at sunset.

Next, he was reassigned to the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing at Nellis AFB flying the T-33, F-105B, F-105D, and the F-105F models and teaching fledgling F-105 pilots the rigors of combat training. He was assigned, during the Vietnam war, to the “Big Red 1” Infantry Division as an Airborne Forward Air Controller flying the O-1 “Birddog” and the UH-1 helicopter. “Champ” flew a total of 762 combat missions with 1,062 hours of combat time and was awarded the Silver Star for bravery.

After his Vietnam tour, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA from July 1968 to February 1969 after being promoted to Major in 1967. Completion of the joint service school once again brought an assignment and return to Nellis AFB teaching F-105 Wild Weasel tactics to newly formed Wild Weasel crews whose mission was to search out and destroy enemy Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) sites and antiaircraft gun emplacements. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1969 and assigned as a Plans Officer at Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley AFB, VA. A subsequent assignment took him to the 314th Air Division for a remote one- year tour at Osan AB, Korea where he worked in the Tactical Air Control Center.

His return in 1975 to stateside duty and England AFB, LA, was his end assignment. He served as the Chief of Base Operations. In this capacity, he was responsible for Base Operations, two gunnery ranges, and the small arms range.

Doyal retired in February 1982 with combined enlisted/commissioned service time of 31 years. During his career, he flew twelve different types of aircraft and accumulated approximately 4900 hours of flying time. He “Headed West” in December of 2019 after a prolonged battle with prostate and spinal cancer as a result of “Agent Orange “ exposure in Vietnam.

Units Assigned

  • 9/1951-12/1951 Basic training Sampson AFB, NY
  • 12/1951-8/1952 A and E Mechanics School, Sheppard AFB , TX
  • 8/1952-12/1952 KB- 29 Crew chief, Lockborne AFB, OH
  • 1/1953-3/1953 Preflight Lackland AFB, TX
  • 3/1953-9/1953 Primary Filght School Stallings AB, NC (PA-18, T-6)
  • 9/1953-2/1954 Basic Flight School, Webb AFB, TX (T-28, T-33)
  • 3/1954-6/1954 Gunnery Training, Nellis AFB, NV (F-86)
  • 7/1954-6/1958 Foster AFB, TX (F-86, F-100C)
  • 7/1958-12/1961 Bitburg AB, GE (F-100 C/F, F-105)
  • 1/1962-2/1966 Nellis AFB, NV (F-105)
  • 2/1966-2/1967 Vietnam FAC for Big Red One (O-1, UH-1)
  • 2/1967-10/1969 Nellis AFB, NV (F-105B/D/F)
  • 10/1969-2/1970 AFSC Norfork, VA
  • 2/1970-9/1970 Nellis AFB, NV (F-105 Wild Weasel)
  • 9/1970-8/1974 HQ TAC, Langley AFB, VA (T-39)
  • 8/1974-8/1975 Osan AB. Korea (T-33)
  • 9/1975-3/1982 Chief Base Ops and Training, Vice Base Commander England AFB, LA
  • 3/1982 Retired USAF- 32 Years

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star

Flight Info

PA-18
T-6
T-28
T-33
T-39
F-86
F-100 C/F
F-105 B/D/F
F-105 Wild Weasel
O-1
UH-1
Flight Hours: 4900+

Military Education

  • 1951 Basic Training
  • 1952 A and E Mechanics School
  • 1954 AGOS
  • 1969 AFSC
  • 1971 National Nuclear Weapons capabilities and Design course

Civilian Education

  • 1950 Kokomo High School
  • Some College

Lt./Col. Doyal “Champ” Wyrick “Headed West” December 26, 2019
Retired Air Force Lt./Col. Doyal “Champ” Wyrick, 87, of Alexandria, La, made his final flight West on 26 December 2019, concurrent with his 65th wedding anniversary. Doyal was the son of Ural B. And Osie May Wyrick and born near Kempton, IN, on 6 April, 1932. He grew up as a farm boy with all the associated labor demands and attended Sharpsville and Hemlock, IN, elementary schools. He was a 1950 graduate of Kokomo High School, Kokomo, IN.
Prior to entering the USAF, he worked for a spring manufacturing business in Center, IN, and later as an employee of Sears Roebuck Company in their service department in Kokomo. Doyal enlisted in the USAF in September of 1951 and completed basic training at Sampson AFB, NY, with a follow-on assignment to Aircraft and Engine Mechanics School at Sheppard AFB, TX, in December of 1951. He graduated with honors and was promoted to Airman Second Class. This was the time of the Korean War and he applied for flight training as an Aviation Cadet. Flight school had a backlog, at that time, and he was placed in casual status and assigned to crew chief duties on KB – 29s at Lockbourne AFB, OH, from August to December 1952. A flight training slot became available in December 1952 and he reported to Lackland AFB, TX, for Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight Training on 2 January, 1953. After Pre-Flight training he was assigned to Kinston AB, NC, for Primary Pilot Training flying the PA -18 and the AT-6. His follow-on assignment was to Webb AFB, Big Springs, TX, in October of 1953 where he flew the T-28 and his first jet airplane the T-33. Upon completion of his training he was awarded his silver pilot wings and commissioned a Second Lt. in March of 1954. April of 1954 found Doyal at Nellis AFB, NV, training to fly the F-86 fighter and checking out and learning the skills of air-to-ground and air-to-air gunnery techniques.
“Champ” reported to his first active duty fighter squadron, the 452nd Fighter Day Squadron at Foster AFB, Victoria, TX, in late July 1954. He also married the love of his life, Carmen, in December of 1954 in Hemlock, IN, and together they became the proud parents of three daughters; Mona, Karen, and Tari. While at Foster “Champ” flew the F-86 and T-33. Also, while at Foster Doyal had a very memorable experience as the 450th Fighter Wing transitioned to the new supersonic F-100C aircraft. After picking up a brand-new F-100C from the factory in CA and enroute to Foster the aircraft developed mechanical issues with pitch control necessitating his ejection approximately 20 miles East of El Paso, TX. Foster AFB fell victim to base closure in 1958 and Doyal and Carmen and children made the move to Bitburg AB, Germany with assignment to the 23rd TFS of the 36th TFW flying the F-100C and F-100F. He was promoted to Captain in 1959 and selected to return to Nellis AFB for checkout and training in the new F-105 Thunderchief. He participated in the ferry of F-105s from Brookley AFB, AL, to Bitburg non-stop across the Atlantic, a nine hour and thirty- minute flight with departure before sunrise and landing at sunset.
Subsequent to his time at Bitburg he was reassigned to the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing at Nellis AFB flying the T-33, F-105B, F-105D and the F-105F models and teaching fledgling F-105 pilots the rigors of combat training. He was assigned, during the Vietnam war, to the “Big Red 1” Infantry Division as an Airborne Forward Air Controller flying the O-1 “Birddog” and the UH-1 helicopter. “Champ” flew a total of 762 combat missions with 1,062 hours of combat time and was awarded the Silver Star for bravery.
After his Vietnam tour, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA from July 1968 to February 1969 after being promoted to Major in 1967. Completion of the joint service school once again brought an assignment and return to Nellis AFB teaching F-105 Wild Weasel tactics to newly formed Wild Weasel crews whose mission was to search out and destroy enemy Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) sites and antiaircraft gun emplacements. He was promoted to Lt./Col. In 1969 and assigned as a Plans Officer at Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley AFB, VA. A subsequent assignment took him to the 314th Air Division for a remote one- year tour at Osan AB, Korea where he worked in the Tactical Air Control Center. His return in 1975 to state side duty and England AFB, LA, was his end assignment. He served as the Chief of Base Operations. In this capacity he was responsible for Base Operations, two gunnery ranges, and the small arms range.
Doyal retired in February 1982 with combined enlisted/commissioned service time of 31 years. During his career he flew twelve different types of aircraft and accumulated approximately 4900hours of flying time. “Champ” is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carmen, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. He is also survived by a younger brother, Donald, of Sun City Center, FL. He was a member of the Super Sabre Society, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, and the Quiet Birdmen (QBs).

Biography

Biography

“Nothing like flying combat! I ended up with 962 missions and 1062 hours of combat.”

Doyal was born near Kempton, IN, on 6 April 1932. He grew up as a farm boy with all the associated labor demands and attended Sharpsville and Hemlock, IN, elementary schools. He was a 1950 graduate of Kokomo High School, Kokomo, IN. Before joining the USAF, he worked for a spring manufacturing business in Center, IN, and later as an employee of Sears Roebuck Company. Doyal enlisted in the USAF in September of 1951 and completed basic training at Sampson AFB, NY, with a follow-on assignment to Aircraft and Engine Mechanics School at Sheppard AFB, TX, in December of 1951.

During the Korean War and he applied for flight training as an Aviation Cadet. Flight school had a backlog, at that time, and he was placed in casual status and assigned to crew chief duties on KB-29s at Lockbourne AFB, OH, from August to December 1952. A flight training slot became available in December 1952 and he reported to Lackland AFB, TX, for Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight Training on 2 January 1953. After Pre-Flight training, he was assigned to Kinston AB, NC, for Primary Pilot Training flying the PA -18 and the AT-6. His follow-on assignment was to Webb AFB, Big Springs, TX, in October of 1953 where he flew the T-28 and his first jet airplane the T-33.

Upon completion of his training, he was awarded his pilot wings and commissioned a Second Lt. in March of 1954. April of 1954 found Doyal at Nellis AFB, NV, training to fly the F-86 fighter and checking out and learning the skills of air-to-ground and air-to-air gunnery techniques. “Champ” reported to his first active-duty fighter squadron, the 452nd Fighter Day Squadron at Foster AFB, Victoria, TX, in late July 1954. He also married the love of his life, Carmen, in December of 1954 in Hemlock, IN, and together they became the proud parents of three daughters; Mona, Karen, and Tari. While at Foster “Champ” flew the F-86 and T-33. Also, while at Foster Doyal had a very memorable experience as the 450th Fighter Wing transitioned to the new supersonic F-100C aircraft. After picking up a brand-new F-100C from the factory in CA and enroute to Foster the aircraft developed mechanical issues with pitch control necessitating his ejection approximately 20 miles East of El Paso, TX. Doyal was half of the only two brothers that flew the F- 100 that both experienced aircraft ejections from the F-100.

On the 10th of November 1955 Doyal picked-up a new F-100 Los Angeles on the 10th of November 1955 expecting to fly it non-stop directly back to Foster since, for once, the weather was good all the way. Over El Paso, at 41,000 feet, the airplane suddenly started to nose up slightly. Doyal applied forward pressure to the stick to bring the nose down, but there was no response. Neither did it respond to trim. Aileron and rudder were still effective, and by using a combination of turns and power adjustments, Doyal was able to maneuver the airplane down to 15,000 feet in a desolate area east of El Paso, where he then ejected.

Foster AFB fell victim to base closure in 1958 and Doyal and Carmen and children made the move to Bitburg AB, Germany with an assignment to the 23rd TFS of the 36th TFW flying the F-100C and F-100F. He was promoted to Captain in 1959 and selected to return to Nellis AFB for checkout and training in the new F-105 Thunderchief. He participated in the ferry of F-105s from Brookley AFB, AL, to Bitburg non-stop across the Atlantic, a nine-hour and thirty-minute flight with departure before sunrise and landing at sunset.

Next, he was reassigned to the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing at Nellis AFB flying the T-33, F-105B, F-105D, and the F-105F models and teaching fledgling F-105 pilots the rigors of combat training. He was assigned, during the Vietnam war, to the “Big Red 1” Infantry Division as an Airborne Forward Air Controller flying the O-1 “Birddog” and the UH-1 helicopter. “Champ” flew a total of 762 combat missions with 1,062 hours of combat time and was awarded the Silver Star for bravery.

After his Vietnam tour, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA from July 1968 to February 1969 after being promoted to Major in 1967. Completion of the joint service school once again brought an assignment and return to Nellis AFB teaching F-105 Wild Weasel tactics to newly formed Wild Weasel crews whose mission was to search out and destroy enemy Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) sites and antiaircraft gun emplacements. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1969 and assigned as a Plans Officer at Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley AFB, VA. A subsequent assignment took him to the 314th Air Division for a remote one- year tour at Osan AB, Korea where he worked in the Tactical Air Control Center.

His return in 1975 to stateside duty and England AFB, LA, was his end assignment. He served as the Chief of Base Operations. In this capacity, he was responsible for Base Operations, two gunnery ranges, and the small arms range.

Doyal retired in February 1982 with combined enlisted/commissioned service time of 31 years. During his career, he flew twelve different types of aircraft and accumulated approximately 4900 hours of flying time. He “Headed West” in December of 2019 after a prolonged battle with prostate and spinal cancer as a result of “Agent Orange “ exposure in Vietnam.

Units - Education - Awards - Flight Info

Units Assigned

  • 9/1951-12/1951 Basic training Sampson AFB, NY
  • 12/1951-8/1952 A and E Mechanics School, Sheppard AFB , TX
  • 8/1952-12/1952 KB- 29 Crew chief, Lockborne AFB, OH
  • 1/1953-3/1953 Preflight Lackland AFB, TX
  • 3/1953-9/1953 Primary Filght School Stallings AB, NC (PA-18, T-6)
  • 9/1953-2/1954 Basic Flight School, Webb AFB, TX (T-28, T-33)
  • 3/1954-6/1954 Gunnery Training, Nellis AFB, NV (F-86)
  • 7/1954-6/1958 Foster AFB, TX (F-86, F-100C)
  • 7/1958-12/1961 Bitburg AB, GE (F-100 C/F, F-105)
  • 1/1962-2/1966 Nellis AFB, NV (F-105)
  • 2/1966-2/1967 Vietnam FAC for Big Red One (O-1, UH-1)
  • 2/1967-10/1969 Nellis AFB, NV (F-105B/D/F)
  • 10/1969-2/1970 AFSC Norfork, VA
  • 2/1970-9/1970 Nellis AFB, NV (F-105 Wild Weasel)
  • 9/1970-8/1974 HQ TAC, Langley AFB, VA (T-39)
  • 8/1974-8/1975 Osan AB. Korea (T-33)
  • 9/1975-3/1982 Chief Base Ops and Training, Vice Base Commander England AFB, LA
  • 3/1982 Retired USAF- 32 Years

Awards & Decorations

Silver Star

Flight Info

PA-18
T-6
T-28
T-33
T-39
F-86
F-100 C/F
F-105 B/D/F
F-105 Wild Weasel
O-1
UH-1
Flight Hours: 4900+

Military Education

  • 1951 Basic Training
  • 1952 A and E Mechanics School
  • 1954 AGOS
  • 1969 AFSC
  • 1971 National Nuclear Weapons capabilities and Design course

Civilian Education

  • 1950 Kokomo High School
  • Some College
Headed West

Lt./Col. Doyal “Champ” Wyrick “Headed West” December 26, 2019
Retired Air Force Lt./Col. Doyal “Champ” Wyrick, 87, of Alexandria, La, made his final flight West on 26 December 2019, concurrent with his 65th wedding anniversary. Doyal was the son of Ural B. And Osie May Wyrick and born near Kempton, IN, on 6 April, 1932. He grew up as a farm boy with all the associated labor demands and attended Sharpsville and Hemlock, IN, elementary schools. He was a 1950 graduate of Kokomo High School, Kokomo, IN.
Prior to entering the USAF, he worked for a spring manufacturing business in Center, IN, and later as an employee of Sears Roebuck Company in their service department in Kokomo. Doyal enlisted in the USAF in September of 1951 and completed basic training at Sampson AFB, NY, with a follow-on assignment to Aircraft and Engine Mechanics School at Sheppard AFB, TX, in December of 1951. He graduated with honors and was promoted to Airman Second Class. This was the time of the Korean War and he applied for flight training as an Aviation Cadet. Flight school had a backlog, at that time, and he was placed in casual status and assigned to crew chief duties on KB – 29s at Lockbourne AFB, OH, from August to December 1952. A flight training slot became available in December 1952 and he reported to Lackland AFB, TX, for Aviation Cadet Pre-Flight Training on 2 January, 1953. After Pre-Flight training he was assigned to Kinston AB, NC, for Primary Pilot Training flying the PA -18 and the AT-6. His follow-on assignment was to Webb AFB, Big Springs, TX, in October of 1953 where he flew the T-28 and his first jet airplane the T-33. Upon completion of his training he was awarded his silver pilot wings and commissioned a Second Lt. in March of 1954. April of 1954 found Doyal at Nellis AFB, NV, training to fly the F-86 fighter and checking out and learning the skills of air-to-ground and air-to-air gunnery techniques.
“Champ” reported to his first active duty fighter squadron, the 452nd Fighter Day Squadron at Foster AFB, Victoria, TX, in late July 1954. He also married the love of his life, Carmen, in December of 1954 in Hemlock, IN, and together they became the proud parents of three daughters; Mona, Karen, and Tari. While at Foster “Champ” flew the F-86 and T-33. Also, while at Foster Doyal had a very memorable experience as the 450th Fighter Wing transitioned to the new supersonic F-100C aircraft. After picking up a brand-new F-100C from the factory in CA and enroute to Foster the aircraft developed mechanical issues with pitch control necessitating his ejection approximately 20 miles East of El Paso, TX. Foster AFB fell victim to base closure in 1958 and Doyal and Carmen and children made the move to Bitburg AB, Germany with assignment to the 23rd TFS of the 36th TFW flying the F-100C and F-100F. He was promoted to Captain in 1959 and selected to return to Nellis AFB for checkout and training in the new F-105 Thunderchief. He participated in the ferry of F-105s from Brookley AFB, AL, to Bitburg non-stop across the Atlantic, a nine hour and thirty- minute flight with departure before sunrise and landing at sunset.
Subsequent to his time at Bitburg he was reassigned to the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing at Nellis AFB flying the T-33, F-105B, F-105D and the F-105F models and teaching fledgling F-105 pilots the rigors of combat training. He was assigned, during the Vietnam war, to the “Big Red 1” Infantry Division as an Airborne Forward Air Controller flying the O-1 “Birddog” and the UH-1 helicopter. “Champ” flew a total of 762 combat missions with 1,062 hours of combat time and was awarded the Silver Star for bravery.
After his Vietnam tour, he attended the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, VA from July 1968 to February 1969 after being promoted to Major in 1967. Completion of the joint service school once again brought an assignment and return to Nellis AFB teaching F-105 Wild Weasel tactics to newly formed Wild Weasel crews whose mission was to search out and destroy enemy Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) sites and antiaircraft gun emplacements. He was promoted to Lt./Col. In 1969 and assigned as a Plans Officer at Tactical Air Command Headquarters, Langley AFB, VA. A subsequent assignment took him to the 314th Air Division for a remote one- year tour at Osan AB, Korea where he worked in the Tactical Air Control Center. His return in 1975 to state side duty and England AFB, LA, was his end assignment. He served as the Chief of Base Operations. In this capacity he was responsible for Base Operations, two gunnery ranges, and the small arms range.
Doyal retired in February 1982 with combined enlisted/commissioned service time of 31 years. During his career he flew twelve different types of aircraft and accumulated approximately 4900hours of flying time. “Champ” is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carmen, three daughters, eight grandchildren, and eleven great grandchildren. He is also survived by a younger brother, Donald, of Sun City Center, FL. He was a member of the Super Sabre Society, the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association, and the Quiet Birdmen (QBs).

Scroll to Top