Louis Winston Weber

Retired Air Force Col. Louis Winston Weber, former commander of the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing, England Air Force B ase in Alexandria, Louisiana, passed away Monday, November 19, 2007 in Maryville, TN. He enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1943 as an aviation cadet and received training in the P-40 and A-24 aircrafts in 1944. That same year he was assigned to Kweilin, China, as a member of the 23rd Group, 75th Squadron "Flying Tigers", flying P-40 and P-51 aircraft. After completing 52 missions and returning to the United States, he separated in December, 1946. He was recalled to duty in 1952 and spent a year in Korea, flying T-33's and F-86's. His career included numerous assignments including Ellington AFB, Pasadena, Texas; Greenville AFB , Greenville, Mississippi; Cannon AFB, Clovis, New Mexico; Langley AFB, Hampton, Virginia; Command and Staff School, Montgomery, Alabama; Spangdahlem AFB, Spandahlem, Germany; Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada; Seymour-Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, North Carolina; Shaw AFB, Sumter, South Carolina. He also served in Korea, Turkey, Thailand, and Viet Nam. He commanded the 604th Air Commando Squadron at England AFB, flying A-37 aircraft and then deployed with the first squadron of this aircraft to Bein Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. From July, 1967 until June 1968, he was in South Vietnam, where he flew over 300 combat missions. In 1972 he returned to England AFB as the commander of the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing "Flying Tigers". He retired from active military service on August 30, 1974, after serving 25 years, 7 months, and 24 days. During his career he flew A-37's, F-100's, F-105's, A-7's, F4E-s, A-10's and C-130's. He flew 429 combat sorties spanning World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal. Col. Weber retired to Alexandria, Louisiana, where he was involved in real estate and other business enterprises. He was a lifetime member of the Order of Daedalians, an honorary pilots's organization. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 14th Air Force Associations, and the A-37 Association. Col. Weber was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1922, to Dr. Erwin and Beatrice Weber. He had one brother, Erwin Peter, who predeceased him, and one sister, Faith Ditson, who lives in Milwaukee. He married Tommye Jean Meek of Jonesboro, Louisiana in 1947, and they had two children, David Weber of Maryville, TN and Dianne Andry of Abita Springs, Louisiana. Pastor David Webb of Saint Paul Lutheran Church will conduct a private service at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, TN, 865-983-1000. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Louis Winston Weber please visit our Sympathy Store.