Wayne was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 12, 1924. He enlisted in the U S Army Air Corps, December 10, 1942, and was deployed overseas in November, 1944, with the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was assigned to the 388th Bomb Group as a Bombardier in the B-17 Aircraft. On February 20, 1945, Wayne's aircraft was shot down over Germany. After first being captured by brutal civilians, he was turned over to the German military and was a prisoner of war at Frankfurt on the Main, Westler Camp, Doulog Camp, Nurnburg Stalag, Moosburg and Loaf Air Camp. He was put into solitary confinement for one escape attempt. On April 16, 1945, he returned to the United States and on October 27, 1945 was discharged from the Army Air Corps.
Over the next few years Wayne owned two service stations, went to school, became a pharmaceutical representative and met the love of his life, Martha Jeannette Chard. They were married on June 3, 1950. He re-enlisted in the Air Force June 21 and began officer candidate training the same day. On December 15, 1950, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and assigned to electronics school at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. Afterwards, he was sent to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sandia Base Nuclear Surveillance Program, Atomic Bomb Testing, completing school in May 1951, where he remained until October 1951. On August 29, 1950, his son, Wayne, Jr., was born.
During October to November 1951, Wayne was assigned to the National Stock Pile Site, Kaleen, Texas. From November 1951 to June 1952, he was assigned to support the Nuclear Weapon testing in Shreveport, Louisiana. June 1952 to 1953, as a First Lieutenant, Wayne was supporting SAC Commission Strategic Air Command. June 1953 to 1954, he was assigned to Goose Bay Labrador supporting aircraft on nuclear alert. In 1954, Wayne was promoted to Captain. From June 1954 to 1956, he was assigned to Walker Air Force Base supporting the nuclear strike force. June 1956 to 1959, he was assigned to March Air Force Base, 15th Air Force Inspector General's Office, where he inspected bases in the Pacific.
On July 4, 1956, Wayne's daughter Carmen was born. During June 1959 to 1962, he was assigned to the 47th A & E Squadron as Wing Weapons Officer at RAF Station Sculthorpe, England, in charge of training flight crews on nuclear weapons functions. During this tenure, the 47th Bombardment Wing was awarded the Unit Citation. June 1962, he was assigned to Kirkland Air Force Base, Weapons Division Center for Tactical Air Command. In August 1963, Wayne was promoted to Major.
In June 1964, with a full time military career and raising a family, he earned his B.S. degree in chemistry, from the University of New Mexico. From June 1965 to 1968, he was stationed at the New Mexico Sandia Base Joint Task Force, designing low altitude test for Air Defense Command. On October 12, 1967, Wayne was promoted to LTC. June 10, 1968 to June 12, 1969, he served in Vietnam as a weapons inspector where his unit came under a rocket attack and he was injured. From June 1969 to February 1972, Wayne was at Norton Air Force Base, where he was a part of the world wide inspection team. February 1972 to September 1, 1973, he was assigned as Base Executive Officer at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Wayne was transferred to Hawaii and retired September 1, 1973, to spend more time traveling and dancing with his wife and visiting with his family.
Wayne is a dedicated person who put his life on the line for his country. His leadership skills and the positive influence on his troops have resulted in life-long changes to those serving under him. Wayne was honored at the 2007 annual reunion of the 47th A&E Maintron. At the Saturday evening banquet, he was presented with a plaque of appreciation (Click to see) and a model of his B-17 Flying Fortress. It is our great pleasure that we have had the honor and opportunity to have known and served with him.
