Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III
602nd Special Operations Squadron
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016
1. Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III Marker
Inscription.
Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III. 602nd Special Operations Squadron. Lieutenant Colonel Jones flew an A-1H Skyraider on a rescue mission on 1 September 1968 in search of a downed U.S. pilot near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. Although his aircraft was hit repeatedly by enemy fire, he continued his search until he sighted the survivor. Disregarding his own safety, Colonel Jones then attacked a nearby enemy position. His aircraft was again hit, destroying the pilot's ejection system and causing the cockpit to burst into flames. Colonel Jones attempted to transmit the location of the survivor, but his calls were blocked by friendly transmissions urging him to bail out. Despite intense pain from multiple burns, he elected to fly his damaged aircraft back to base, where, on the operating table, he reported the survivor's position. As a result, the downed pilot was rescued later in the day. Colonel Jones was killed in an aircraft accident before the medal could be presented. However, President Nixon presented the Air Force Medal of Honor to his widow on 6 August 1970.
Lieutenant Colonel Jones flew an A-1H Skyraider on a rescue mission on 1 September 1968 in search of a downed U.S. pilot near Dong Hoi, North Vietnam. Although his aircraft was hit repeatedly by enemy fire, he continued his search until he sighted the survivor. Disregarding his own safety, Colonel Jones then attacked a nearby enemy position. His aircraft was again hit, destroying the pilot's ejection system and causing the cockpit to burst into flames. Colonel Jones attempted to transmit the location of the survivor, but his calls were blocked by friendly transmissions urging him to bail out. Despite intense pain from multiple burns, he elected to fly his damaged aircraft back to base, where, on the operating table, he reported the survivor's position. As a result, the downed pilot was rescued later in the day. Colonel Jones was killed in an aircraft accident before the medal could be presented. However, President Nixon presented the Air Force Medal of Honor to his widow on 6 August 1970.
Erected by the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park Council.
Location. 30° 24.822′ N, 86° 42.039′ W. Marker is in Hurlburt Field, Florida, in Okaloosa County. Marker can be reached from Oneal Avenue. Located at the Hurlburt Field Memorial Air Park and access to the base is restricted. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 Independence Road, Hurlburt Field FL 32544, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Marker and A-1E Skyraider of the type flown by Colonel Jones.
Marker is the one second from left.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 17, 2016
3. Marker and A-1E Skyraider aircraft.
Public Domain
4. Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III
Photographed By Don Morfe, February 21, 2001
5. Lieutenant Colonel William Atkinson Jones, III Grave Marker
He is buried in St John's Church Cemetery, Warsaw, VA.
The grave GPS coordinates are N37.9581 W76.7554.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 23, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 20, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 372 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 20, 2016, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5. submitted on November 20, 2016, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland.