Wayne Edward Downing

One of the few remaining WWII combat pilots, he was born Armistice Day, now commonly known as Veteran’s Day, on November 11, 1919, to Wayne Wallace and Doris (Selleck) Downing.

Wayne spent most of his youth in Duluth, Minnesota, before moving back to Iowa with his parents and younger brother, Norris Selleck Downing. After graduating high school in Sioux City, Iowa, he completed three years of college at Denver University before volunteering in the aviation cadet program. It was there that he quickly discovered his passion for flying. Later degrees were earned at Arizona University (B.S., 1958) and Maine University (M.Ed., 1963).

Wayne was a fiercely proud Air Force veteran. During WWII, he flew 86 combat missions from England and France as an A-20 Havoc and A-26 Invader pilot of the 416th Bomb Group. While in Europe, he met Norma Raley Downing, a US Army nurse who landed on Utah Beach, Normandy, France in July 1944. They were married on October 20, 1944, in Cherbourg, France. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, 17 Air Medals, 6 ETO Battle Stars, and two Presidential Unit Citations.

After WWII ended, he continued his service to participate in Search and Recovery of Body Bones, Bombs and Aircraft crashes not yet recovered from the war with USS LST 711. Wayne continued serving during the Cold War flying B-47s among other aircraft until he was honorably discharged in 1962.

A natural mathematician, Wayne moved on to teach high school and community college math courses; however, his love of aviation was his true passion for the remainder of his life.

Wayne was mild-mannered, patient, generous, kind, and humble. He was a fixture in his Thousand Oaks neighborhood for 50 years and was affectionately regarded as an honorary grandfather to many of the neighborhood children.

Wayne is survived by his daughter, Nancy Downing (Therese Velasco); his granddaughter, Sara Downing (Jonathan Wall); sister-in-law, Ann Johnson (Jerry); niece, Norrie Jean Rawdon and nephew, Mark Johnson. He is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Norma, his parents and his brother.

Services will be held Monday, August 13, at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Mortuary at 10 a.m.

Donations in his honor can be made to the 416th Bomb Group Archive.