USAF 303rd BG Pilot Colonel VanDerhei WWII-1971 Group

USAF 303rd BG Pilot Colonel VanDerhei WWII-1971 Group
USAF 303rd BG Pilot Colonel VanDerhei WWII-1971 huge grouping with many items from VanDerhei 1943-1971 military career. Various citations and awards, paperwork, a large flight record book that records his entire flight career from 1944-1971, aviation school yearbooks to include 44E Victory Field Vernon, Texas (classmates signed next to their picture) and The Planesman Class 44E GCAAF, newspaper clipping about VanDerhei, (7) letters written home by VanDerhei from the Vietnam talking about his experiences and mortar attacks on his base, (65) plus photos to include photographs in Vietnam of mortar attacks and bombed out buildings, Republic of China Menu, desk name plate, flight notebook that attached to his leg while flying, 303rd Bomb Group Lifetime Membership card, 1963 19th Air Force Letter of Outstanding Performance from Colonel Harry S. Coleman, plus much more. Look over pictures for everything you will receive. LTC VIVIAN VANDERHEI U.S. Air Force, Retired Vivian Space VanDerhei, 86, of Henderson, passed away Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009. He was born Feb. 22, 1922, in Deerbrook, Wis., and was a 35-year resident of Nevada. Vivian entered into the U.S. Air Force Jan. 23, 1943, and retired Dec. 31, 1971, with an honorable discharge, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel and served during World War II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars. Vivian specialized in numerous areas of testing, from moving clouds in weather research, to being an atomic test pilot, 8th Air Force, 4900 test group (AFSC), 303 Bomb Group, 427 Bomb Squad, Hells Angels and he flew countless aircraft including, but not limited to, B-52s and B-47s. Also, he was an instructor for all aircraft he flew. Just to mention a couple medals received in his career, RVN Staff Service Medal, Bronze Medal, Armed Aircraft Honor Medal and the RVN Gallantry Cross w/Bronze Star.