When I initially saw this, I thought it was another footlocker, however I really liked the stenciling on it from Saigon, Vietnam. I saw it at an auction house and so I later bid on it during the auction a few days later.

 

I paid a bit more than I expected, however when I realized that it was a shipping crate - and later found information on its owner - I was pleased to have picked it up.

 

 

This crate belonged to (then) LTC Lewis L. Howes, U.S. Air Force - 30th Weather Squadron Republic of Vietnam. After some cursory online research, I found references to LTC Howes having been the Squadron Commander - while the 30th was in Vietnam - between December 1963 and March 1964. I looked at the customs stickers on the side of this crate and saw that the stickers are dated 16 April 1964 - which corresponds to the time he was in Vietnam.

 

 

LTC Lewis L. Howes joined the U.S. Army Air Force in 1944, having served in the ETO, then later in other places (Japan, Korea, Nebraska and Alaska). During the Cold War years in the 1950's, LTC Howes flew air missions in which he was tasked to collect radiological readings after Soviet atomic tests.

 

 

Colonel Howes retired in 1968, wrapping up his military career as Director of Military Personnel at Travis AFB.

 

He went on to join a real estate firm, and eventually sat on the board of directors.

 

Colonel Howes became an avid genealogist, and had traced his family history back to Thomas Howe, who came to Plymouth Colony from England in 1637.

 

 

Colonel Howe passed away in 2006, and given a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

 

During the course of my research I found a document in which Colonel Howe is mentioned as being one of three U.S. Air Force officers who are seen as pioneers of Weather Reconnaissance.

 

 

 

 

neat piece, would love to find an SF marked one. Would look great as part of our display at shows and in my war room

Col. Lewis L. Howes was my step-father. My father was Col. James H.S. Rasmussen of the Strategic Air Command and later TAC. Dad died in 1966. My mother married Lew in 1972, and then she died in 1973. Lew never remarried. My brother and I treated Lew as our father-figure even after my mother died. And when he developed Alzheimer's Disease in his 80's, we looked after him and stayed with him until his death in 2006. I arranged his funeral at Arlington Cemetery where he is buried not far from my father's grave. I am the executor of Lew's estate.

 

Now what I'd like to know is how did his military packing case wind up in an auction? And did you find anything inside the crate? It's not like Lew to leave his things lying about, so this whole thing seems a bit weird.

 

You did a good job on Lew's biographical information. If there is anything about him that you still want to know, email me at bjr@bjrhill.com.

Barbara J. Hill

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