More detail on this person: Colonel Retired
William A. (Wild Bill) Lyell was born in Waco,
Texas in 1923. He was 93 years old. After
graduating from high school in 1940, he went to
work at the post office in Washington, D.C. in
1941.
Bill entered the Army Air Corp in 1943 and
graduated as a pilot in single engine fighter
aircraft and served in that capacity until
discharged in late 1945.
Upon return to civilian life, he worked for the
post office inspection service and pursued a
musical career at radio stations in San Antonio,
Texas as a singer and guitarist.
He was recalled to active duty in the Air Force at
the outset of the Korean War in 1950 and was a
flight examiner and instructor pilot in single and
multi-engine aircraft and helicopters. Bill had a
long association with helicopters. He served as a
helicopter instructor at the Air Force school for
6 years. He was the helicopter instructor for the
Air Force Chief of Staff, General Curtis Lemay.
He was commander of the "Doomsday" squadron,
the helicopter unit designated to move the
president, his family and staff to the emergency
locations of the White House. He was the
commander of the 56th Rescue Squadron, Tripoli,
Libya and of the 40th Rescue Squadron, Udorn,
Thailand. While there he participated in the Son
Tay Raid - an operation to rescue our prisoners of
war in Vietnam. He furnished all of the aircraft
and two of the crews for this operation.
Altogether he spent 31 years in the military
service. He was Director of Combat Operations at
NKP, Thailand.
Bill led an interesting life. He was a crop
duster pilot, a cut man for professional boxers, a
race car driver - he said he always had a close
set at the race. He flew the helicopter scenes in
the movie "Flight From Ashiya" starring Yul
Brenner and Richard Widmark.
After retirement he resumed his musical hobby as
an accompanist at fiddle contests. His wife,
Stephanie, eager to become a part of his hobby,
began to play the fiddle and they participated in
contests all over the United States.
Eventually Bill became nationally recognized as a
guitar accompanist, playing on over 50 albums,
tapes and CDs with many of the professional
fiddlers active today. Bill credits Pat Hopson of
Mound, Texas as his mentor as a guitar
accompanist.
Bill is survived by his wife, Stephanie; son, Bill
Lyell, Jr. of Abilene; step-daughter, Helen Xenos;
one grandchild, Sean Talamini; a sister, Martha
Gadel of Waco and numerous nieces and nephews.
Charitable donations may be made to: Wounded
Vets, Web: http://www.vfw.org
This information was last updated 03/18/2017
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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