George S. Arbuthnot, Col. USAF(Ret.)

George S. Arbuthnot, Col USAF (Ret) died February 29, 2012. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. S.V. Arbuthnot, born January 14th, 1918 in Manifest, Louisiana. He was married for 66 years to Cicely Ann Girlinghouse Arbuthnot who died in 2009. He leaves his sister, Myrtis Arbuthnot; daughters, Elizabeth (Mrs. H. Kent Howard) and Jane (Mrs. Eric D. Perkins); grandchildren, Davy Eaglesfield, Ann Eaglesfield, Austin Perkins, Caitlin Perkins, Justin (Mrs. Nathan Phillips), and Stacy Howard; great grandchildren Bryan, Aaron and Audrey Sims, and Gavin Howard; nieces, Kathy (Mrs. David Scharer) and Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. N. Ray Jones), and nephew John Arbuthnot (Carlla).

Col. Arbuthnot graduated from LSU in 1940 with a BS degree in Geology. He worked in the oil prospecting business before joining the Army Air Force Pilot Program class of ’42. He flew P40 fighters against the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands. His squadron was assigned to Cold Bay, Umnak, Adak, and then Amchitka where they were in range of Kiska that was occupied by the Japanese. He flew over 100 combat missions against the enemy installations on the islands. His plane was shot down over the Bering Sea and he survived the icy waters held up by his Mae West until being rescued by the U.S. Navy.

Upon returning to the U.S., he was assigned to the famous 366th Fighter Group flying the Jug P47. The group was sent to Europe in 1943, first to England, then to the Continent shortly after D-Day. He flew over 100 combat missions against enemy strongholds. His plane, was destroyed several times by enemy fire and he flew several P47’s named for his beloved Cicely Ann and Cicely Ann II and III. He was awarded numerous medals including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (200 missions), and the French Croix de Guerre.

He later served at Dover AFB, Delaware, The Pentagon, Tokyo, Nellis AFB, Taipei, as Basic School Commander at Lackland AFB, with NATO at Karup AFB, Denmark and as Tech School Commander at Sheppard AFB. He retired November 1st, 1970.

He was a life member of the Order of Daedalians, AFA, P-47 Thunderbolt Advocates, 366th Fighter Group Association, 18th Fighter Squadron, 11th Air Force, F-86 Saber Jet Association. He was a member of the Protestant Chapel at the Army Residence Community.

There will be a graveside service for family at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas on March 19, 2012 at 11:30 am.

In his memory, please donate to Fisher House, a facility to house families of service men and women who are hospitalized:

Ft. Sam Houston Fisher House

3623 George C. Beach Road

Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234