Horace Greely Linscomb Jr.

Lt Colonel Horace G. Linscomb, Jr., US Air Force, only son of Horace and Bertha Siegmund Linscomb, born at Old Seton on Friday the 13th of July 1928. Eagle Scout, Austin HS and St Edward’s MBA graduate, Quiet Birdman and an Old Fighter Pilot with 122 combat missions plus two weeks evading capture behind enemy lines, skirted being bold and finally went west on June 2, 2024.

Great-grandfather Siegmund bought 2 city blocks from the Austin family, was a stonemason on the Capitol and his own family home that later became the original El Matamores. Grandfather Siegmund’s Govalle home, now Boggy Creek Farm, displays a historical plaque.

At age 16, he soloed at Haile’s Flying Service, licensed for passengers at age 17. With 2 years at St Edwards, he enlisted in Aviation Cadet class 49C (1949) and was given the callsign “Hoss”. Graduated from P-51 Mustang fighter advanced and assigned to the 78th Fighter Wing. His first jet flight was solo. On November 20, 1949, Hoss married Alice Marie Sternnadle at St Mary’s Church in Austin. In 1950, leading a low-on-fuel wingman to a safe landing on a smoke closed field, his F-84 struck the ground, lost both wings and exploded. Fuselage ammo detonation caused fireman to give up. Three heroic fellow pilots took an axe from asbestos clad firemen and rescued Lt Linscomb. A fourth pilot, for the first time, used his jet blast to keep fire from the cockpit.

Six months later, Hoss was in Korea flying F-80s, then Forward Air Controller with ROK (Korea) Infantry, which was later overrun by Chinese. Six US Advisors were killed and six were captured but Lt Linscomb and his Radio Operator fought on and walked out to friendly lines.

Hoss was trained as Bomb Commander and flew to England with the 20th Fighter Wing, the first tactical unit to carry nuclear weapons on jet fighters.

He flew Reconnaissance missions in Southeast Asia in 1961, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65 and in 1968 staff assignment. In 1966, Hoss was the first TAC RF4 pilot to sign into Bergstrom Air Force Base and became the Instructor Pilot in the first RF4C delivered to Bergstrom.

After high performance jets, Hoss flew target and transport missions until retirement. He served the nation to the best of his ability and aptitude for 29 years and still flew whenever possible.

Survived by daughters Lizabeth Hancock (Mark) and Licia Braune, grandchildren Jessica Smith (Walter), Justin Dressen (Emily), Alex Kramer (Tyler), Annie Braune, Brandon Linscomb and Jake Linscomb, plus many nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren.

Predeceased by his beloved wife Alice, daughter Lois, son Thomas and sisters Raye Williams and Jane Sue Pratt.

The family extends special appreciation to the staff and residents at Gaines Ranch and Magnolia Hospice.