By Ms. Minnie Jones, 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published April 06, 2017
Col. Thomas K. Smith, Jr., 433rd Airlift Wing commander, speaks to a crowd of about 500 guests, after accepting the 433rd AW's induction into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame, March 30, 2017 at the GDC Technics Hanger, Port San Antonio, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Minnie Jones)
Honorees, from left to right, Wayne Fagan, Chair Honoree Selection Committee, San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame; Retired Air Force Col. William Ercoline, who excepted the award on behalf of Col. William Charles Ocker; Retired Air Force Col. W.R. Stewart, who excepted the award for Col. Carl Joseph Crane; Retired, Air Force Lt. Col. E. Olga Custodio, first female Hispanic U.S. military pilot; former San Antonio Mayor, Phil Hardberger; Col. Thomas K. Smith, Jr., 433rd Airlift Wing commander; Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., former NASA astronaut; and Richard Perez, the President and CEO of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce pose for a photo after the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame awards dinner, March 30, 2017 at the GDC Technics Hanger, Port San Antonio (formerly Kelly Air Force Base), Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Minnie Jones)
Wayne Fagan, Chair Honoree Selection Committee, speaks during the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame 2017 Dinner. This is the second year of the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame. (U.S. Air Force photo by Minnie Jones)
San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor speaks at the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame awards dinner, March 30, 2017 at the GDC Technics Hanger, Port San Antonio, (formerly Kelly Air Force Base), Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Minnie Jones)
Members from the 433rd Airlift Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas join Col. Thomas K. "TK" Smith, Jr, 433rd AW commander, accepted induction into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame, during an awards dinner, March 30, 2017 at the GDC Technics Hangar, Port San Antonio, (formerly Kelly Air Force Base), Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo by Minnie Jones)
The 433rd Airlift Wing was inducted into Dee Howard Foundation’s San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame, during an awards dinner, March 30 at the GDC Technics Hangar, Port San Antonio (formerly Kelly Air Force Base), Texas.
The 433rd AW joins the ranks of other San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame greats, such as Maj. Gen. Benjamin Foulois, Air Education and Training Command, Durrell U. ”Dee” Howard and others.
The Alamo Wing was honored for its leadership in ensuring combat readiness, and their performance in peacetime missions. Col. Thomas K. "TK" Smith, Jr., 433rd Airlift Wing commander, accepted the award on behalf of the 433rd AW.
“Since I have served 12 years, which is the majority of my 30 plus years of my Air Force career here at the 433rd AW, I would have to say, this was the top highlight of my career, representing the Alamo Wing at its induction,” said Smith.
The 433rd AW traces its history back to the U.S. Army Air Corp's 433rd Troop Carrier Wing. The unit, which was activated in 1943, distinguished itself in combat during World War II. In 1955, it was activated as a reserve wing at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas and moved to Kelly Air Force Base, Texas in 1960. In 1964, the “Alamo Wing” was the first wing in the Air Reserve Forces or Air National Guard to win the coveted Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, an award the unit has won three times since.
Other inductees into the hall of fame that night were, former Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison; Retired, Air Force Lt. Col. E. Olga Custodio, the first Latina U.S. military pilot, flight instructor with the Air Education and Training Command, and the first Latina captain for American Airlines; Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., the first African-American to perform an extra-vehicular activity during his Space Shuttle flights; Colonels Carl Joseph Crane and William Charles Ocker, for their service at Brooks and Kelly Fields and their leadership in developing instrument flight systems; and Col. William B. Tuttle, the former president of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, who established the Military Affairs Committee of the Chamber and Luther Bynum Clegg, owner of the Clegg Company.
This is the second year of the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame. “This years’ honorees were picked because of their outstanding contribution to San Antonio and who has something remarkable or significant in aviation,” said Wayne Fagan, Chair Honoree Selection Committee, San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame 2017 Dinner.
The Dee Howard Foundation Fund was established in 2013, in memory of aviation pioneer and entrepreneur Dee Howard for the support of programs that enhance excellence and global leadership in the aviation and automotive sectors in the San Antonio region.