Glenn Farnsworth, Major USAF (Ret) Headed West on October 30, 2020.
After 90 years of a life well-lived, Glenn Lewis Farnsworth slipped away peacefully on October 30, 2020, at his home in Acworth, Georgia surrounded by his family, where he was a resident for over 40 years. Glenn served over 26 years in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. He served three combat tours including in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and then later as a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot with over 116 combat missions in Vietnam. Glenn was a command pilot with over 4000 flying hours in a variety of fighter aircraft. He was a highly decorated Fighter Pilot and the recipient of the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, and numerous air medals.
He was born on January 16, 1930, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and lived there until high school. The family moved to Pullman, Washington where he graduated from high school. He is an alumnus of Washington State University and Emory Riddle University.
He was drafted into the Army in 1951 during the Korean War and fought in the 45th Infantry Division at Chorwon Valley where he defended T-Bone Hill for over 36 hours. After being honorably discharged in 1953, he then was accepted into the Aviation Cadet Program in 1956 and began his pilot training receiving his regular commission a year later. His first assignment was to the 492nd TFS, Chaumont, France flying the F-100D/F. He had subsequent assignments to RAF Lakenheath, England, George AFB, CA, and Homestead AFB, FL., during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1963.
Glen was one of the first USAF pilots to volunteer the F-100 Wild Weasel program when 6 Air Force Tactical Air Force (TAC) F-100’s were paired with Strategic Air Command (SAC) Electronic Warfare Officers and deployed to Korat Air Base, Thailand in 1965. The mission was conceived and directed secretly in the Pentagon and the training at Eglin AFB focused on targeting the North Vietnam Soviet-designed Surface to Air missile defense system. Most of the F-100 Wild Weasel crews returned after this experiment but all 6 F-100’s were combat losses or accidents.
For one such mission on 17 April 1966, he was awarded the Silver Star, when he led a 4-ship of aircraft to destroy a surface-to-air-missile (SAM) threat, SA-2 site, successfully with no loss of life or aircraft. He returned to Homestead AFB, FL, and then was assigned to Luke AFB as an instructor pilot. He had a second tour in Vietnam, where he was assigned to 531st TFS, Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam where he flew over 60 combat missions in the F-100 D/F Ramrods. His other assignments included Shaw AFB, SC, Dobbins AFB, GA, and a second tour at RAF Lakenheath, England, where he was assigned as Wing Chief of Safety.
Glenn was a member of Super Sabre Society, Society, Wild Weasels, and Sons of the American Revolution, Captain John Collins Chapter.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Opal Iris Young, father, Walton Darrell Farnsworth, brother, Paul Eugene Farnsworth, and son, Gary Lewis Farnsworth. Maj Glenn Farnsworth is survived by his wife of nearly 61 years, Dr. Beverly Jayne Farnsworth of Acworth, Georgia; his daughter, Colonel (USAF, Retired) Gay Marie McGillis, and son-in-law Maj (USMC, Retired) David Bernard McGillis of Vista, California; his sister, Carol McCracken of Denver, Colorado, his grandsons, Jacob Matthew Hanson of Santa Barbara, California; Senior Airman Christopher Lee Hanson (Hailey), of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Jesus Acuña (Taideris) and great-grandson Ian Lewis Acuña of Anchorage, Alaska; granddaughter, Heather Nicole McGillis of Los Angeles, California; and niece, Tiffany Nash and husband Brad Nash and their children Brett and Clara Nash of White, Georgia, niece Renee Harlow and her son Finn of Seattle, Washington, nephew Dean McCracken and wife Terrah McCracken and their son, Kade McCracken of Castle Rock, Colorado, and nephew Scott McCracken and wife Heather and their children Trynna McCracken, Neil Thomasson, Caitlin McCracken, Jack Thomasson, Griffin Thomasson, Abigail Thomasson, & Tabitha McCracken of Post Falls, Idaho, and many dear friends.
Glenn will be buried with full military honors at a graveside service at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. in the future. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to WellStar Foundation