JOHN W. (WILD BILL) CRUMP, born July 2, 1924 at Opportunity Washington. His first flight at the age of five was in a Ford Tri-Motor. He started taking lessons at eight with his father and attended school at Edmonds, Washhington. He was the last aviation cadet candidate to be processed at Fort Lewis and the first to be discharged under the point system at the same place.

After completing all the flight training schools in Texas he then graduated in class 44B at Moore Field Mission Texas. While transitioning to P-47 at Baton Rouge and Harding Field Nebraska he adopted a Coyote Mascot, which was undoubtedly the only coyote to fly in combat in the world. Bill discarded his gas mask and "smuggled" the baby coyote aboard the Queen Elizabeth. The Coyote became a family member at the 360th Squadron, 356th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force located at Martelshom Heath, Ipswich England. The coyote had "dog" tags, a log book ("Form 5 "), Immunization record. The coyote was called "Jeep" NMI Coyoto and flew 5 missions with his master.

After surviving most of the war Jeep was Killed-in-action by a Jeep near Playford Hall Castle and received a Military funeral, a ii" "missing man" formation, taps and a victory roll roll by his master, before being laid to rest in the courtyard of the castle.

Bill flew 77 missions, mostly strafing, flak busting and escort. In flying the jug rolling on the deck was common but I believe few of the surviving jug pilots accomplished a loop in formation. Bill and Lt. Col. Ray L. Burwell (then 2nd Lt.) decided to pre-qualify for the thunder birds by doing formation aerobatics. On the first attempt at the loop, both aircraft stalled on top and Lt. Burwell aircraft dished over, missing canopy to canopy by 5 feet.

Both aircraft fell out of the spin and recovery I was made at tree top level. Bill flew with the airlines to Alaska and instructed between 1945 and 1948 and then was recalled to fly the Berlin Airlift. In November 1949 Bill rejoined a P-47 outfit at Neubiberg, Germany and it was there he flew with Col. Charles E. Lindbergh with the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing.

At Munich Reims Bill witnessed the no stick landing by Capt. Shackelford also of the 86th. Capt. Shackelford lost his prop and then made a perfect landing.

Bill has stayed active following his retirement in 1966. He holds all aeronautical ratings, flys his aerobat in Air Shows around the Northwest and is also a member of the "Damn Yankee" Precision Flight Team. He prefers aerobatics and soaring to flying the chopper and seaplanes around Washington state.

Bill married June E. Sorensen and the Crump's have four sons Terry, Robert, Eric And David. .