EARLY FLYING DAYS	US MILITARY CAREER	AIR SHOW PERFORMER	COMMUNITY SERVICE

This website is dedicated to our dad, John (Wild Bill) Crump. He lived a full & rich life and dedicated it to his country, family, and community. He flew P-40, P-47 and P-51 fighters in WWII, served in the US Air Force for 23 years, and became an air show performer after his retirement. He flew over 60 aircraft and had aeronautical ratings in single engine, multi-engine, land and sea planes, and also held ratings in helicopters, gliders, and jets. He made it his mission to get as many people interested in aviation, including the young. He would always provide free airplane rides to interested youths at airshows hoping that they would pursue an aviation career. He aIso volunteered time to his community. I hope you enjoy reading about his career.

EARLY FLYING DAYS

1929 - 1st Airplane Ride	JOHN W. (WILD BILL) CRUMP, was born on July 2, 1924 in Opportunity Washington. His first flight was at the age of five in a Ford Tri-Motor. He is on the far right in this photo. Bills dad, Jim Crump, is at the far left and got both his son's interested in aviation.
First Lesson	Bill started taking flying lessons Here he is shown next to a Taylorcraft Cub at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA.
Age 16	At age 16, Bill stands next to a Culver Dart aircraft.
Gull Wing Stinson	Bill's love of aviation took him to airports all around the Washington State. Here Bill stands next to a Gull Wing Stinson.

U.S. MILITARY CAREER

Gunnery School Graduate	When WWII started, Bill wanted to join the service to support the war effort. He was able to graduate early his senior year from Edmonds High School so he could enlist in the US Army Air Force. He was sent to Harlingen Aerial Gunnery School in Harlingen, TX where he completed the gunnery program and then was accepted into the aviation cadet program.
Jeep	He completed his flight training in Texas and graduated in class 44B at Moore Army Air Base, Mission, TX. Bill found a coyote pup in 1944 while he was going thru pilot training at Harding Field, Nebraska. The pup was only two weeks old and Bill named him Jeep after Popeyes pet . He took him south to Baton Rouge for P-47 training and Jeep became accustumed to flying. Bill then smuggled him aboard the H/M Queen Elizabeth to England where Bill was stationed.
Wild Bill & Jeep	Here Jeep and Bill practice their howl in unison at Playford Hall, Ipswich England. The coyote had "Dog Tags", a Form 5 log book , and immunization records. Bill was stationed at RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield located in Ipswich, England. More history about the pilots and crew that were stationed at Martlesham Heath Airfield can be found at the www.mhas.org.uk/ webpage.
P-47 Razorback	"Wild Bill" getting ready to enter the cockpit of his P-47 Razorback for a mission to Germany. The P-47 was a very dependable aircraft as it would take alot of damage and still get the pilot back safely.
Jeep & Wild Bill - P47 Razorback	Wild Bill and Jeep pose for a photo next to Bill's P-47 Razorback. Jeep is laying on a 500 lb bomb. Wild Bill went on to transition into the P-51 and logged 311 combat hours, which consisted of 77 missions, mostly strafing, flakbusting and flying escort.
Wild Bill with P-51 Mustang	While stationed at RAF Martlesham Heath, Bill belonged to the 360th Fighter Squadron (356th Fighter Group). Here Bill poses with his P-51 Mustang which was a model D and had tail number 415056.
Jackie - P51D & Wild Bill	Wild Bill and his P-51 Mustang. Note the image of the coyote on the side of the fuselage.
Wild Bill	Wild Bill with his aircraft "Jackie" which was named after his high school sweet heart.
Jeep - 5 Combat Missions	Jeep, the only Coyote in the World to complete in WWII in P-47 and P-51 supporting the Allied effort defeating the Axis powers.
Jeep & Wild Bill	Here is Jeep and Wild Bill in a P-47 Razorback .
Jeep's Gravesite - Ipswitch, England	Jeep was killed shortly after his fifth combat mission when he was accidentially runover by a military vehicle. Jeep was buried with full military honors and his grave site is on the grounds at Playford Hall in Ipswitch, England.
Bill at Jeep's Grave Site	"Wild Bill" returned to Ipswich, England in 1992 to visit RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield and also visit Playford Hall where he lived. Playford Hall was built in 1560 and is surrounded by a moat. Here he stands next to Jeep's gravesite which is on the grounds at Playford Hall.
Wild Bill Crump	Bill poses for his last mission from the RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield in Ipswitch, England.
	Actual video of Wild Bill Crump and the 360th Fighter Squadron at Martlesham Heath Air Field located in Ipswich, England.
Jackie - P51D #415056	Here is a photo of Wild Bill returning from a combat mission to Germany.
Bill's Business Card	Discharged from the service in 1948, Bill returned to his home in Edmonds, WA and became a flight instructor and airline pilot.
Berlin Airlift - 1948	In 1948, Bill was re-enlisted back into milititary service where he joined the USAF. His first assignment was flying DC-4 in the Berlin Airlift.
Bob Hope's Pilot	Bill also flew Bob Hope and the Les Brown Band from Frankfurt to Berlin, Germany on Christmas Eve - 1948.
C-124 Globemaster	Bill was promoted to the rank of major and became a pilot of the Douglas C-124 Globe Master (7th Troop Carrier Squadron) which were based at Larson Air Force Base, WA. The C-124 was the largest troop carrier in the world. As a cargo hauler, the C-124 could carry tanks, guns, trucks and other heavy equipment. In its passenger-carrying role, it could carry 200 fully equipped troops on its double decks or 127 litter patients and their attendants. It was the only aircraft of its time capable of transporting heavy equipment such as tanks and bulldozers without prior disassembly.
Spirit of St. Louis Movie Flyby	Bill leads a formation of C-124 GlobeMasters for a low level fly-by for the film "Spirit of St. Louis" starring Jimmy Stewart. This was the lowest, fastest, and closet formation of this aircraft that had ever been done. As this perfect diamond formation descended below 200-ft AGL the movie camera and crew were blown off their pedestal and the footage was never used in the film.
Major Crump	Major Crump with a Douglas C-124 Globemaster.
Capt. Crump with C-124 Crew - Larson AFB	In 1954, Bill led a squadron of nine C-124 Cargo Masters to France where the they assisted the French by airlifting 500 paratroop/commandos and their equipment to Indochina, landing at Da Nang's Tourane Airfield. It was the longest troop airlift in history at that time. After dropping of the French Troops in Vietnam, the C-124 continued across the Pacific back to their home base, making the airlift an around-the-world flight.

AIR SHOW PERFORMER

Miss America P-51 Airshow Pilot	Bill's love of aviation took him to becoming a airshow performer. He joined the crew of Miss America, a P-51 Mustang and became one of their airshow pilots. Here he is performing at the Paine Field International Air Show.
Pilot Bill Crump	Bill flew Miss America for two years doing air show performances. Bill remarked that flying this aircraft 50 years after WWII came back to him naturally. He said that re-flying this aircraft was the highlight of his flying career.
Miss America - Pilot Bill Crump	Bill getting ready to depart for another air show.
Cessna 150 Aerobat	Here Bill performs a two turn snap roll with the smoke system on in his Cessna 150 Aerobat. Almost every weekend, weather permitting, he would put on a mini air show over Puget Sound for the residents of Edmonds, WA.
Bill's Air Craft	Bill owned two Cessna 150 Aerobats which he used for air show performances and aerobatic instruction. He had both aircraft painted red, white, and blue. Aircraft N8175V was named the Spirit of Edmonds and aircraft N135AU was named the Spirit of Sequim.
Bill & his Aerobat	Bill posing for the crowd at the Paine Field International Air Show which was held at Paine Field, Snohomish County.
Bill Crump	Bill takes a break between performing in the P-51 Mustang and his Cessna 150 Aerobats.
Air Show Performer	Bill standing next to his Cessna 150 Aerobat.

"High Flight"	Bill also owned and operated a "High Flight", the only licensed aerial cremains spreading business in Washington State.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Bill Crump	In 1980 he became president of the Edmonds Rotary Club. During his tenure, he conceived and directed construction of the Gazebo Bandstand in the Edmonds City Park. In 1983 as Commander of the American Legion he was responsible for the return of the War Memorial which is located in front of the Edmonds Museum.
General Douglas MacArthur Award Recepient	In 1988, Bill was awarded the General Douglas MacArthur Award for his dedication to his community.
Olympic Torch Bearer	Because of Bill's community service, he was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch for 6/10th of a mile on it's journey from Los Angeles to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympic Games.
Edmonds War Memorial	Bill Crump was instrumental in re-establishing the War Memorial in front of the Edmonds Museum. This memorial honors the lives of Edmonds residents who gave the ultimate sacrifice fighting our nation wars.
Parade Grand Marshall	Bill was chosen to be the Grand Marshall at the Sequim Irrigation Festival Parade for his contribution to the Sequim, WA community.
Receiving Recognition From The Queen of Sweden	In 1990, Bill returned to Sweden where he and other pilots were honored by the King and Queen of Sweden. Here Bill and fellow pilot Dick Lundstom greet the Queen of Sweden. As WWII was winding down in Europe, these pilots volunteered to ferry unarmed P-51 to the Swedish government. These pilots did not wear their uniforms and also removed their military identification including their dog tags. They were allowed to carry a pistol to be used for defending themselves in case they had to land before arriving in Sweden. This was a top secret mission as Sweden had stayed nuetral during the war.

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