Winthrop William Wildman

Colonel Winthrop W. Wildman, USAF (Ret.) of Colorado Springs passed away peacefully, surrounded by family at Liberty Manor on February 4, 2014.Bill was born in Norwalk, Ohio to Roland and Burnice Wildman. He received a Congressional appointment to the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY., graduating June 1945, and was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps, which subsequently became the U.S. Air Force in 1947.Soon after graduation, Bill married Phyllis Ann Mitchell of Marietta, Ohio. Together, they enjoyed a fulfilling career with stateside and overseas assignments in Germany, Japan, Formosa (Taiwan), France and Romania. He served for 30 years with distinction and valor, retiring in 1975. In the years 1946-1949, Bill and Ann Wildman served three years in post WWII Germany, during which he flew numerous missions out of Templehoff in the famous Berlin Airlift. During this time, their first two children were born.In 1958-1959, Bill served as a French Linguistics Instructor at the U.S. Air Force Academy, teaching cadets who would become the first graduating class. Still within academia, Bill would subsequently act as the Head of Command and Staff for the faculty of the Squadron Officer's School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. In between these assignments, in 1960-1964, he served as Aide-de-Camp CINCENT, Interpreter and Pilot for two five-star French Generals, working from his office in Napoleon's Chateau in Fontainebleau.Bill served a combat tour during the Vietnam War, stationed at Bien Hoa AFB, Saigon, acting as Lead C-123K Pilot and Operations Officer for Operation Ranch Hand with the mission to defoliate the Ho Chi Minh Trail, operations which led to significant hindrance of enemy logistics. During a particularly harrowing mission into Laos, his lead aircraft was struck repeatedly by enemy fire, resulting in a cockpit fire and major damage to his aircraft "Patches. Then Lt. Col. Wildman's superior piloting skills resulted in all aircraft under his command completing their mission and returning safely to base. For this mission, Bill was awarded the Silver Star. Bill and Ann's last overseas assignment in 1970-1972 was a diplomatic-Military Intelligence position as Air Attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.Locating as close to their ultimate retirement destination in Colorado as possible, they accepted a final assignment to Francis E. Warren AFB where Bill was the Deputy Base Commander. Concurrent with his own retirement ceremony, Bill worked diligently to obtain the Bi-Centennial Historic Location designation for F. E. Warren AFB, a former Calvary post commanded by General Pershing.Among Col. Wildman's numerous military decorations for meritorious service and bravery are the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.Bill and his wife Ann retired to Colorado Springs in 1975, became joint and eventual sole owners of Bradley-Wildman Real Estate Brokerage near Woodmoor. Bill enjoyed taking prospective buyers on property tours, walking the wooded lots with their majestic views. Bill retired once more from his real estate career at age 72.During his retirement years, he was active in Gleneagle SERTOMA charitable organization and Daedalians, a fraternal and professional organization of American military pilots. Bill is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Ann. His surviving children are Karen Spiker, married to Air Force Academy graduate Col. (Ret.) Phil Spiker currently of Louisville, Kentucky and David Wildman, Air Force Academy graduate, married to Olga, currently of Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, he was survived by six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Roland Wildman, Jr. and Kenneth Wildman. Bill was predeceased by his son Steven Wildman, graduate of The Citadel, who had followed in his father's footsteps as an Air Force pilot, and was killed on active duty as a T-38 Instructor Pilot at William's AFB in 1977. Col. Wildman will be buried at the U.S. Air Force Academy with full military honors. A Memorial Service and funeral are planned for the Spring. Family and friends will be notified. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) in his name. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazette/obituary.aspx?n=winthrop-william-wildman-bill&pid=169603699&fhid=6111#sthash.OtfvVuoV.dpuf