Commemoration of Armed Forces Day 1953 - Open house at Sheppard AFB, Texas
Former Sheppard Basic Returns After 50 B-26 Missions in Korea
Korean veteran Al2C William E. Nix, who took his basic training at Sheppard AFB back in 1951, has returned to Sheppard to learn aircraft maintenance.
Bill spent six months in Korea. He was there from the middle of June to early December 1952 as a gunner on the famed Douglas B-26. He made fifty missions in the B-26, most of them as night reconnaissance "search and destroy" sorties.
For his duty in Korea he was awarded the Air Medal with two oak-leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a unit Presidential Citation, the Korean Presidential Citation, and the Korean War Service Medal.
Before going overseas he received Advanced Technical Training at Lowery AFB, CO, and Combat Crew Training at Langley AFB, VA. Upon his return from Korea, Bill was assigned as B-29 a crew member in the Strategic Air Command at Barksdale AFB, LA.
Bill returned to Sheppard and entered the Aircraft and Engine Specialist program. At graduation Bill was promoted to A/1 C and invited to receive training and become an instructor at Sheppard.
In early 1955 he was reassigned to an Air Refueling Squadron at Mac Dill AFB, FL, where he joined a unit as it went on assignment to Morocco. Upon his return, Bill received an honorable Discharge and returned home to Texas and to civilian life in order to attend college and begin his career.
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