William H. Harse

Funeral Service: 12:30 pm Wednesday Feb 20, 2019 at Laurel Land Chapel of Chimes. Visitation: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm hour prior to service. Interment: Laurel Land Memorial Park.

William was born in Hastings Nebraska to Howard and Gertrude on March 5, 1923. As a young man he loved hunting pheasant, quail, ducks, and geese. Story goes that he once shot a goose that was bigger than he was at the time. He attended the University of Nebraska until he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. He served in the Air Corp and Air Force until he was discharged from the Air Force Reserves in 1968 achieving the rank of LT. Colonel. During World War Two he flew P47 Thunderbolt fighters and had over 90 combat missions. He flew bombing raids out of Italy into Germany. He earned several Gold Clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. In total he earned 6 medals. Tours of duty including service in the Alaska territory during the Korean War flying P-80 fighter jets. In the Air Force he became a test pilot flying F-86, F-87, and F-100 jet fighters. He entered test pilot school after the war and half of his first class became our first astronauts in Houston at NASA. In 1956 he left the Air Force and worked for General Dynamics as a test pilot on the F-103, F106, 880, and 990 aircraft. Later he was the Chief Test Pilot for the F-111 and flew the F-16 in post test missions. He retired in 1983. In retirement he continued to enjoy hunting and fishing as well as golf and visiting his children, and grandchildren.

William is preceded in death by his older sister Janet; and younger brother, Robert. He is survived by his wife, Bette, of 73 years; children, Gary, Jay, Jim, and Judy; eleven, grandchildren; nineteen great-grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.