William Thomas Hardaker – Captain, United States Navy

From a contemporary press report:

William Thomas Hardaker, 80, a retired Navy captain who worked in Washington for the Air Transit Association from the late 1960s until retiring in the mid-1980s as a vice president, died October 21, 1998 at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington. He had pancreatitis.

Captain Hardaker joined the Navy in 1938 and was a naval aviator in the Pacific during World War II, participating in the battles of Midway and Guadalcanal. He commanded an air patrol squadron in the Far East during the Korean War.

After that, his assignments included a tour as assistant chief of the international strategic section in the office of the chief of naval operations.

His last assignment before retiring from active duty in 1968 was as commanding officer of the Naval Air Station at Quonset Point, R.I.

Captain Hardaker, who lived in Washington, was a Pennsylvania native.

He was a graduate of George Washington University and the National War College.

After retiring from the Navy, in addition to working for the Air Transit Association, he did consulting work for aviation associations and aircraft manufacturers. He also served as a volunteer historian with the National Air and Space Museum.

He was the author of technical works on aviation and space and a member of the Army & Navy Club in Washington. He was the recipient of awards for his aerospace contributions from such organizations as Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, the Air Traffic Association and the Senior Aerospace Executives.

Survivors include his wife, Gale Angas Hardaker of Washington; a son, Dr. William Jr., of Durham, N.C.; a daughter, Elizabeth Hardaker Marsh of Morristown, N.J.; and five grandchildren.


HARDAKER, WILLIAM THOMAS, CAPT, USN (Ret.)

On Wednesday, October 21, 1998, of Washington, DC, beloved husband of Gale Angas Hardaker; father of Dr. William T. Hardaker, Jr. and Elizabeth Hardaker Marsh. Also survived by five grandchildren, Katherine Tracy Rankin, Ryan Elizabeth Hardaker and William Mack Hardaker, Ashley Gale Marsh and Carter Scott Marsh. Funeral service will be held at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel, Arlington, VA, on Wednesday, November 4 at 9 a.m. Interment with Full Military Honors, Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Air and Space Museum, Independence Ave. and 7th St., SW, Washington, DC 20560; or Georgetown University Medical Center, 3800 Reservoir Rd., NW, Washington, DC 20007. Arrangements by JOSEPH GAWLER’S SONS.

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