Jump to content

Small USAAC pilot grouping


Tonomachi
 Share

Recommended Posts

These three pieces came out of a local estate sale and I was able to identify the owner based on the officer's pay data card pictured below.  There is supposedly a box of medals that I heard about and since this pilot is the recipient of a Silver Star I am going to try and get them. 

 

His obituary reads:

 

Pebble Beach - Willard Clark Fonda, fondly known as "Bill", passed away peacefully on February 18, at the age of 91 with his beloved family holding vigil.

Born in Seattle, WA on June 14, 1920, he was a proud father, grandfather, great-grandfather and loving husband to his wife of 65 years, Jeanne, who preceded him in death. No greater love existed. Our extraordinary patriarch was wise, generous and profoundly loving, exuding confidence with loving advice, comforting and supporting his precious family at every opportunity.

In 1942, while attending Washington State University, Bill was drafted into World War II and trained as a pilot. Promoted to Captain, he bravely led 50 air missions in the European African Middle Eastern campaign, Operation Torch, which was designed to push the Germans back to Germany in anticipation of D-Day. Operation Torch included General George S. Patton, and Britain's General Bernard Montgomery. Captain Fonda was forced to crash-land his plane, successfully, after completing a mission on the Sicilian Coast. A recipient of the Silver Star, Air Medal, Oak Clusters and seven other medals, he then considered applying for the Jet Fighter Squadron, but instead flew to visit his high school sweetheart and proposed to her that very day. They were married July 29, 1944. Bill lost his beloved Jeanne on January 1, 2009.

Bill and Jeanne raised their family in Pacific Palisades, where he owned and operated two Baskin Robbins ice cream stores. In 1970 they relocated to Pebble Beach, where he established Sundance Shutters, installing unique shutters in many local hotels, schools and private homes. He loved woodworking and created unique gifts for his family. Bill loved golf and volunteered for 20 years as a course marshall at the AT&T Pro-Am golf tournament, previously known as "The Crosby."

He is survived by his daughter, Lynne Fonda, of Colorado Springs and son, Robert Fonda, M.D., of Newport Beach. His youngest daughter, Laurie Fonda Gile, passed away in 1991. In addition to his children, he is survived by nine grandchildren, Zoe Dombrowski, Beka Gordon Chinery, Jeremy Caraway, Jason Caraway, Zachary Phillips, Scott Gile, Jacob Gile, Clark Fonda, Emilia Fonda; granddaughter-in-law, Topaz Kosorek; plus 13 great-grandchildren and former son-in-law, Vincent Kosorek.

The family would like to thank the staff at Sunrise Senior Living, for their extraordinary care and compassion. We would also like to thank Dennis Taylor, at The Monterey County Herald, for his marvelous feature on Dad, which was published September 5, 2011.

Memorial services will be held at The Little Chapel by-the-Sea in Pacific Grove on Saturday, March 17 at 1:00pm. He will be interred at El Carmelo Cemetery beside his wife and daughter.
Please visit www.thepaulmortuary.com to sign Bill's guest book and leave messages for his family. Published in The Monterey Herald on February 22, 2012

 

 

Willard C. Fonda Jr (1).JPG

Willard C. Fonda Jr (2).JPG

Willard C. Fonda Jr (3).JPG

Willard C. Fonda Jr (5).JPG

Willard C. Fonda Jr (6).JPG

Willard C. Fonda Jr (7).JPG

86719052_1416878611.jpg

86719052_138533571612.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I picked up a couple of more pieces from this estate sale but unfortunately no medals yet.  I found this vintage aviator's leather cap piece made by Fonda Gloves out of Seattle, Washington.  Does anyone know if this is civilian piece or was it also used by the military?   

DSCF0577.JPG

DSCF0578.JPG

DSCF0579.JPG

DSCF0574.JPG

DSCF0575.JPG

DSCF0580.JPG

DSCF0599.JPG

DSCF0600.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I found a number of wartime photographs of Willard Fonda at what looks like flight school.  There was a unique uniform that I think belonged to Willard Fonda which I placed in the uniform section (see link).

 

 

 

DSCF0582.JPG

DSCF0584.JPG

DSCF0586.JPG

DSCF0588.JPG

DSCF0589.JPG

DSCF0591.JPG

DSCF0594.JPG

DSCF0596.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, dmar836 said:

Civi flight cap. The other stuff and log book is great!

 

Dave

Thanks for the identification.  I found a little information concerning this civilian flight cap that it was also worn by motorcyclists.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
manayunkman

This pilots last name is Fonda and the helmet maker is also Fonda.

 

Are they related?

 

Nice group

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Boy I missed that and I wonder if it is just a coincidence or if he is related to whomever started the company.  One other item popped up at the flea market from the same seller which is a description of how he earned the Silver Star medal:

 

 

thumbnail.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27 minutes ago, manayunkman said:

Is the pilot log civilian?

 

What is the name of the plane?

The log book looks civilian but all of the flight hours entries under Certificate Number says, "U.S. Army".    Here is a picture of the first page and a couple of more pieces of insignia that have come out of this estate sale.  These flea market sellers buy entire estates sometimes and then store boxes and boxes of stuff in their garages and have no idea what they have and bring out things little by little to sell and so far no Silver Star.

 

I have no idea what the name of the aircraft is or which one(s) you are referring to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DSCF0985.JPG

DSCF0984.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok now I know what you are talking about.  There are entries for Fairchild, Vultee, AT6, and PT-19A during WW2 and Stearman, Timm, Cessna, Beechcraft, and Cub during 1952.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

manayunkman

I thought that was Fairchild, it was hard for me to see.

 

Appreciate the additional information and wish you the best of luck in completing the group.

 

Are you in California?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, manayunkman said:

I thought that was Fairchild, it was hard for me to see.

 

Appreciate the additional information and wish you the best of luck in completing the group.

 

Are you in California?

Yes and crossing my fingers that the Silver Star surfaces eventually.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

manayunkman

This should be in the Group forum, combined with the uniform thread, so we don’t loose it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Salvage Sailor
1 hour ago, Tonomachi said:

The log book looks civilian but all of the flight hours entries under Certificate Number says, "U.S. Army".    Here is a picture of the first page and a couple of more pieces of insignia that have come out of this estate sale.  These flea market sellers buy entire estates sometimes and then store boxes and boxes of stuff in their garages and have no idea what they have and bring out things little by little to sell and so far no Silver Star.

 

I have no idea what the name of the aircraft is or which one(s) you are referring to.

 

 

DSCF0985.JPG

 

 

He lived just a few blocks away from my Grandparents and Great Grandparents houses in Glendale (and probably went to school with my family members).  Same telephone exchange too, our number was Citrus 3-3243

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...