15 July 1967 – T.H. Herndon was flying F-100D #563275. Enroute to a target of 150 Vietcong in a treeline, he was hit by 57mm AAA during a climb. He ejected and was recovered by USAF Helo. Herndon was serving with the 531st TFS out of Bien Hoa AB.
Dwight was born on February 17, 1938, in Spokane, WA. He attended John R. Rogers High School in Spokane and graduated in 1955. After High School Graduation, Dwight was employed by General Electric Co. at Hanford Atomic Works for 18 months. He then attended Washington State University (this is where he acquired the nickname “Crow”) and was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and also commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. While awaiting Active Duty, Dwight was employed by the Washington State Highway Dept. in Seattle Washington and entered Pilot Training in October ’62.
Dwight (Crow) Wilson was on Active Duty with the Air Force as a Fighter Pilot for 26 years. He received his Pilot Wings in December 1963 and had numerous assignments starting with F-100 Combat Crew Training at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, AZ. Then off to the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron at RAF Woodbridge, U.K., flying the F-100 Super Sabre. It was there he met his wife the former Demetria (Natasha) M. Tarrant, a Teacher and (Domestic Goddess) from Ridgewood, NJ. Crow had two Combat Tours in South East Asia (Vietnam and Thailand). The first was from November 1967 to November 1968 in the F-100 and the second was October 1972 to October 1973 in the A-7D. He flew a total of 454 Combat missions.
He has also been assigned to England AFB, (Alexandria ) Louisiana, Myrtle Beach AFB, South Carolina, Bergstrom AFB, (Austin) TX, Langley AFB, (Hampton) Virginia, Buckley Air National Guard Base, (Denver) Colorado, Yokota Air Base, (Tokyo) Japan and Norton AFB, (San Bernardino) CA.
Crow is a Command Pilot with nearly 5000 flying hours and in addition to the F-100 and A-7D, and he was an Instructor Pilot in the A-37. His Military Decorations include two Silver Stars, The Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, 26 Air Medals, two Meritorious Service Medals, Two Air Force Commendation Medals, The Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, and three Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Ribbons. He also holds the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Device and a Vietnam Air Service Medal.
He retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in April of 1989 and hired on as an aircraft Systems Safety Engineering Specialist with Northrop Aircraft Corporation, Hawthorne, CA. In January of 1995, he became the Manager/Team Leader for all models of the F/A-18 in the System Safety department. A position he held until he fully retired in 1999 (except volunteer work) and does woodworking for a hobby.
Dwight (Crow) and Meta reside in Wimberley, TX. Three of their four children are married and scattered around the U.S.
Crow (and Meta) are members of the Wimberley Lions Club and he was The Outstanding Lion in 2002. He also assumed command of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in 2005-2007. Crow has volunteered and served as Chairman on several Property Owners Association Committees and was in charge of lighting and Flag displays at the Entrances to the Property Owners area for several years
