James “Dick” Hale “earned numerous honors for his service, including honors for Meritorious Service, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Readiness Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Overseas Long Term Mission Ribbon, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Training Ribbon and Southwest Asia Service Medal with a Bronze Star.”
Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151420069/james-henry-hale
James Henry Hale, LtCol USA, Ret., “Headed West” on July 16, 2015.
James “Dick” Hale, age 66, of Durango, CO., formerly of Prestonsburg, KY., husband of Sandra D. Stephens Hale, died Sunday, August 16, 2015 in San Diego, CA. He was born August 19, 1948 in Paintsville, KY., a son of the late Henry C. and Winifred Osborne Hale. James is a retired pilot and was currently working for BAE Systems as a contract pilot.
James is survived by his wife, one son, James H. (Vicki) Hale, Jr., Denver, CO., three brothers, Jonathan C. (Malissia) Hale, Prestonsburg, KY, Benjamin (Keane) Hale, George (Barbara) Hale, and one sister, Kay Hale all of Blue River, KY.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one sister, Carla Lynn Hale and brother, Thomas Maryland Hale.
From a news article:
A co-pilot who died in a plane crash in California on Aug. 16 was a native of Eastern Kentucky.
Lietenant Colonel (LTC) James Henry “Dick” Hale (USAF Ret.), 66, of Colorado, was among five people who died in the crash, which occurred during a training mission when his twin-engine Sabreliner jet collided with another small airplane while attempting to land in San Diego. Hale was co-piloting the plane, and the crash also killed the pilot, passengers and the pilot of the single-engine plane.
Media outlets in the San Diego area reported that the pilot of the smaller plane was performing “touch and go” maneuvers at the airport at the time of the crash. The investigation into the cause of the collision is ongoing.
Hale, who was training other pilots as a contractor for BAE Systems, grew up in Floyd County. He died doing what he loved.
He earned numerous honors for his service, including honors for Meritorious Service, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Combat Readiness Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Overseas Long Term Mission Ribbon, the Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Training Ribbon and Southwest Asia Service Medal with a Bronze Star.
Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151420069/james-henry-hale
