Colonel William (Bill) Lloyd Baechle died April 1978 from cancer at the age of  43 in Maryland.

He was born on May 10th, 1934 in New York City.  He graduated from the University of Maryland in the summer of 1977.

Colonel Baechle served in the United States Air Force for 25 years, including two tours of duty in Vietnam (one as a "Wild Weasel" and one as a "Red River Rat").

Other posts included Nellis Air Force Base, Air Force War College, Montgomery, Alabama, the Pentagon, Washington,  D.C., Woodbridge Air Force Base, England, Air Force South Air Force Base, Italy and in Japan.

His wife, Charlotte Jean Fromme Baechle, was born March 29, 1935 in New York City and died in 1988 in Las Vegas Nevada also from cancer and is buried with him at Arlington National Cemetery.

Survivors include 4 Daughters, Deborah, Brenda, Linda and Patricia and their husbands; 5 grandsons and 3 granddaughters.

His military decoations included the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross (2), the Air Medal (2), the Meritorious Service Medal (3), the  Joint Service Commendation Medal (5), and the Combat Readiness Medal (7)

The Colonel graduated from Troy State University with Associate of Arts June 8, 1973.  He also graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts  in 1977.

Some of the units that he served with are:

78th TAC Fighter Squadron, Woodbridge England Commander
Fighting 612th 1960-1961
613th TFS England Air Force Base March 1961 - March 1962
Wild Weasel 66th FTR WPNS Squadron (Vietnam)
USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center October 1969 - June 1972

Distinguished 
Flying Cross (2)
 

Air Medal (2)