AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Francis Andrew Rauch Jr.

Name: Lakeview Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens
Address: Longview, TX

15 décembre 1941 – 19 septembre 2022

Avis de décès de Francis Andrew Rauch Jr.

AUX SOINS DE

Lakeview Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

Francis A. “Frank” Rauch, Jr., passed away September 19, 2022 at the age 80 years. A funeral service will be held on October 7, 2022 at St. Michael & All Angels' Episcopal Church, 909 Reel Road Longview, TX at 11AM CDT. To view or sign, click on the Guestbook.

Frank began his professional flying career in the US Air Force after participating in Air Force ROTC at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. Upon graduation with a BA in English, he joined the Regular Air Force in 1964 through flight training, and he continued in the US Air Force Reserve, retiring as a Lt. Colonel in July 1992 (IRR in 2001).

Frank was a skilled pilot, logging over 20,000 flying hours in his career. He was also a father, grandfather and friend to many.

During his military career, Frank flew the EC/AC/ C-47, C-124, KC-10, A-37, and A-10. In 1965 he participated in the action in Santo Domingo, flying 30 combat missions. Similarly, during his Vietnam service he flew 60 combat missions and later assisted in the development of Puff the Magic Dragon, the AC-47 Gunship and EC-47, as well as preparing combat crews for service in Southeast Asia. He had a brief stint as a Customs and Border Protection “Skyjacking Officer” and flew in the OV-10 Bronco in 1968-69.

Frank also had a long civilian aviation career. Hired by Braniff Airlines in 1969, he stayed until the first bankruptcy filing in 1982 and then returned to Braniff 2 1984-1989. After his Braniff days, he flew for North American and Polar Air Cargo. Frank's airline retirement came in 2001. His civilian type ratings included the B-727, B-737, B-747, B-757, B-767, DC-3 and DC-10.

During his retirement years Frank was living first in Dallas, TX, and then in Windemere, FL, until 2017, when he moved to Longview, TX (about 120 miles east of Dallas) to be with his daughter, Samantha.

Frank is survived by his daughter Michelle Rauch of Lexington, KY; son Brian Rauch and wife Margaret and their daughters Amalia and Rossi of Mesa, AZ; and youngest daughter Samantha Rauch and her three children: Allyssa Morse, Jonathan Roberts and Francis Rauch of Longview, TX; brother Paul Rauch and his wife Elaine of Lynbrook, NY; sister Mary Rauch of Richmond, VA; nephews Kevin Rauch of Sunderland, MA; John Rauch of Longview, TX; Michael Rauch of Biloxi, MS.

Frank was preceded in death by his brothers James, Peter, George and Michael Rauch; sister Susan Rauch and his parents Francis A. Rauch, Sr. and Margaret Rauch.

Frank’s cremains will be interred at the Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, TX on Monday, October 10, 2022 at 2 PM.

LTC Francis A Rauch, Jr. is a retired flight officer at USAFR, Barksdale, AFB, La. Colonel Rauch served in the USAF and USAFR beginning in January 1964 until his formal retirement in December of 2001. He was a flight rated officer for his entire career.

Lt. Col. Rauch

Ex: Capt. John Doe is the Production Chief, 123rd Intelligence Squadron, Example AFB, California. He leads a flight of editors, image designers, and data architects in editing, finalizing, and disseminating all-source intelligence products over numerous publication and data distribution systems. He is also the chair for the 123rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group’s Data Integration Working group, and manages group-wide production and data formatting standards to enable synchronization of group intelligence and targeting efforts.

Lt. Col. Rauch entered the USAF on 9 Jan 1964 as a 2nd Lt. to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training at Laughlin AFB, Texas. He completed this training in November of 1964 and then went to his first assignment to fly C47s with the 319th ACS and England AFB, La. He then served combat tours in Vietnam and the Dominican Republic in 1965 with a total of 90 missions. Colonel Rauch became a training officer as well as a technical advisor for the EC/ AC/ C47 through Project Compass Dart. He resigned from Active Duty after 4 years and 10 months and then transferred in to the Reserves in 1968 joining the 78th MAS to fly C124s. Rauch then transitioned to A37s in 1972 and subsequently to A10s in 1980 with the 47th TFS/ 917 TFW. Rauch served 21 years and 11 months in the Air force Reserve. He served many years as a Senior Pilot, Squadron Commander, Safety Officer as well as developed training and readiness improvements to help maintain unit combat readiness. Lt. Col. Rauch was well respected by the people within his service units as well as broader units earning recognition for his performance in joint readiness exercises, foreign training deployments as well as fighter competitions.

Prior to his Retirement, Lt. Col. Rauch was stationed with the 47th TFS at Barksdale AFB, La.

Lt. Col Rauch was also a civilian ATP rated Captain. His civilian career began in 1969 with Braniff Airlines as a flight Engineer for Boeing 707s, 727s and First Officer status for 737s. Later in his civilian career, Rauch goinged type ratings for 757/767s with North American Airlines followed by a 747 rating with Polar Air Cargo. He also flew for US Customs and Border Patrol on the OV10 Bronco in the late 1960s and was a “Skyjacking Officer”. Rauch clocked over 20000 flight hours.

Lt. Col. Rauch was a lifelong member of the following organizations: Reserve Officers Association, Air Force Association, the Airline Pilots Association, and Braniff International Silver Eagles.

EDUCATION

1963 Bachelor of Arts, English, St. Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont

1964 USAF Pilot School, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas

1971, Resident Course, Squadron Officers School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama

Air Command and Staff College—could not find date

War College—could not find date

ASSIGNMENTS OR CAREER CHRONOLOGY

1. January 1964 – November 1964, Undergraduate Pilot, 3646th Pilot Training Wing (ATC), Laughlin Air Force Base, Tex.

2. November 1964 – May 1966, Pilot, 319th Air Commando Squadron, England AFB, La.

3. May 1966 – June 1967, Pilot Transport, 317th Air Commando Squadron, England AFB, La.

4. July 1967 – September 1968, Squadron Instructor Pilot, 4412th Combat Crew Training Squadron, England AFB, La.

(Temporary assignment to 3247th Special Activity Squadron, Grenier AFS, NH, Pilot in support of Project Compass Dart)

5. August 1970 – December 1971, Pilot Transport, 78th Military Airlift Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

6. January 1971 – June 1972, Senior Pilot Transport, 78th Military Airlift Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

7. A – June 1972, Senior Pilot Tactical Fighter, 78th Special Operations Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

8. June 1972 – March 1973, Senior Pilot Tactical Fighter Flight Commander, 78th Special Operations Squadron Barksdale AFB, La.

9. March 1973 – December 1979, A37 Pilot Flight Commander, 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

10. December 1979 – April 1983, A10 Pilot Flight Commander, 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

11. April 1983 – July 1986, A10 Pilot Squadron Commander, 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

(February 1985 – March 1985, Crisis Management Officer J-3 Response, Joint Operations Division, Operations Directorate, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, WINTEX/ CIMEX 85)

12. July 1986 – July 1990, A10 Pilot Deputy Commander, 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Barksdale AFB, La.

13. July 1990 – December 2001, Inactive Ready Reserve Officer.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS

1. November 1966– December 1967, Senior Pilot Transport, 3247th Special Activity Squadron, Grenier, NH, as a Captain

2. February 1985 – March 1985, Crisis Management Officer, J-3 Response Joint Chiefs of Staff, Barksdale AFB, La, as a Lt. Colonel

FLIGHT INFORMATION [FLIGHT RATED ONLY]

Rating: Pilot

Flight hours: Total unkown

Aircraft flown: C47