Lt. Col. Arthur W. Day, USAF, Ret.

Lt. Colonel Arthur W. Day was an Air Force officer with 32 years of military service. During WWII he flew the P-47 Thunderbolt in ground attack through France and Germany. During the period of the Korean conflict he flew the P-51 Mustang and the F-86 F Saber. In 1966, he took his squadron of F-100s from Louisiana to Vietnam completing 187 Combat missions. He retired in 1975 and was hired as General Manager of the Quality Assembly Co. in Austin. Later he helped found the Emerald Air Cargo Line as VP for Flight Operations here in Austin. A graduate of Indiana University with post studies at NYU, USC and Air Command and Staff College, Art lived as a youth in Fort Wayne Indiana until he enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942.

His military decorations include: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal (15 oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal as well as many others.

He was preceded in death by his son, Derrick (Dale) Day of Palos Verdes Estates, CA.

He was a member of Air Force Association, Retired Officers Association, Order of Daedalians (A National Fraternity of Military Pilots), F-86 Sabre Pilots Association, Acacia Fraternity, Post 76 American Legion, Austin Founder Lions, and a Master Mason. Some of his community service included Troop Scout Master in Austin, President of the PTA in Goldsboro NC and Cub Scout chairman. He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Jane; three children, Dan (Kim), of Austin; Holly Chapman (Don) of Leesburg, VA; Susan of Houston; and four grandsons Dylan Day, Matthew Chapman, Christopher Chapman, Duncan Day and one granddaughter Madison Day.

A graveside service with Full Military Honors will be held at nine o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 9th of February 2013, at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, 2800 Hancock Drive, Austin, Texas.

A Memorial Service will be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 9th of February, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas.

His wife and children wish this number one husband, father and fighter pilot Gods Speed.

Condolences may be sent to www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com