Edward J. Ludwig

Edward J. Ludwig, Major USAF retired, passed away 21 Oct. 2014. He was born in Brooklyn, NY 19 April 1922 and was raised in Queens, NY. He graduated from the Academy of Aeronautics in 1942 as an aircraft and engine mechanic. Edward married his beloved wife, Zoya W. Pigg in 1946; she preceded him in death in 1995. They met at Mitchell Field, NY while both were serving in the US Army Air Force. As an NCO, Edward was a B-17 Engineer/Gunner stationed with the 8th Air Force in England during WWII, and flew as a flight engineer on B-29 missions in Korea. He also served with a special operations squadron during the Vietnam conflict. In 1952 he was commissioned as an aircraft performance officer and served in that capacity at DMAFB with the 303rd Bomb Wing from 1958 to 1963. He retired in 1970 with 28 years of service while stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. Eleven of those years, 1952 to 1963, were in a commissioned status. Edward then worked for Flying Tigers Airline for 19 years in Anchorage, AK returning to Tucson in 1989. Upon returning from Japan in 1968, he settled his family in Tucson as this was to be his retirement home. In July 1996, Edward married Keiko Sakurai, who was born and raised in Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan, entering the United States in 1951 and becoming a US citizen in 1956. He is survived by his second wife, Keiko; daughters, Nancy Coady and Patricia Barbuto (Dom); sons, Raymond and Brian (Mei-Lei), seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, six nieces, three nephews, cousin Bob, and his beloved dog Miko. Among his rewards and decorations are the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal W/9 OLC, Presidential Unit Citation W/1 OLC, American Campaign, Korean Presidential Citation. He is a member of TROA, Air Force Association, 8AF Historical Society, 15th AF Association, 379th BG WWII Association, 303rd BW Association, 98th BG/Wing Association, 90th SRW Association, Air Force Gunners Association and Society of the Strategic Air Command. A visitation will be held on Monday, October 27, 2014 from 12 pm – 2 pm at East Lawn Palms Mortuary. Funeral services to be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 2:00 pm with interment to follow at East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery.