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Airlee Owens was interred in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Bandon, Oregon.
Airlee joined the USAF in 1959, he was sent to Syracuse University to learn the Russian Language. He was sent to his first listening post near Karamursel, Turkey. After extensive training in survival, escape and evasion, and prisoner of war survival he served his second tour of duty flying missions out of Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska.
For his service there he was awarded the Air Medal. Because of men like Airlee, my family and I enjoy the freedoms we have today. Airlee joined the Patriotguard 1/JAN/09. Thank You Airlee Owens for your Service. We will not forget. It will be an Honor to Stand for a Man that has already Stood for Us. Rest in Peace Airlee Owens.
Greg Keller
Bluesbiker@Patriotguard.org
Patriot Guard Riders
Oregon State Captain
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Larry Lane Albuquerque, NM, wrote on Mar 2, 2010 8:10 PM:
"Airlee was an amazing man ... one whom we Air Force guys admired and loved. His legacy shall live forever in the hearts and souls of his fellow silent warriors who flew intelligence missions during the Cold War. Our bond was tight, our memories were many and our devotion to duty was untiring. Bless this gentle man; may his soul live evermore. RIP, Airlee!"
Gary Bohman wrote on Mar 2, 2010 10:55 AM:
"I am a volunteer at the VA hospital in Vancouver, Washington, where I play Native American Flute for the patients. I met Airlee as he thanked me for being there the first time I played. We became friends immediately as I suspect everyone does when meeting him. I saw him weekly for a few months. I am the proud owner of one of his origingal "medals" he gave out to fellow veterans. We also shared our personal art, his photography and my watercolors, one of which is a rendition of his picture of the Bandon lighthouse. Airlee touched the lives of many at the VA and is sorely missed."
Bud Rosenstrom wrote on Mar 1, 2010 9:01 PM:
"RIP, silent warrior. You are loved and revered by many. You've left us a pair of big shoes to fill, ya ol' bear. Airlee you are what many strive to be and so few attain. I'll choose to remember standing with you on a Friday night in Bandon and your undying support of our troops. RIP, old friend."
"To the family, sincere condolence and deepest sympathy. Airlee was a wonderful friend and a passionate patriot. He will be sorely missed."
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Other Comments:
Airlee was a colleague in USAFSS, a guy I got to know a bit through the FTVA organization and USAFSS Rollcall group. We'd talked on the phone a few times, and I'd planned to go down and visit on one of my jaunts to California.
He was not an officer, but an A1C. His AFSC was 20351, Voice Intercept Processing Specialist - Russian linguist.
He joined the USAF 17 August of 1959 with BMTS at Lackland. He received his Intensive Russian Language training at Syracuse University, NY, Defense Language Institute (December 1959-September 1960). He received his Voice Intercept Processing Specialist training at Goodfellow AFB, Texas with the 6940th School Squadron (1960-1).
He served with the 6933rd Radio Squadron Mobile at Karamursel AS, Turkey (1961-2 ). He then went through flight training, survival training, etc. and air borne intelligence training (1962-3).
Thus, awarded crewman wings. He served with the 6985th Radio Squadron Mobile at Eielson AFB (1963-64). There, he was a "backender" flying on our USAFSS missions on the RC-135 over the North Pacific. He flew 49 reconnaissance missions. (He received his Air Medal in 1963).
After service, he was an active member of the Prop Wash Gang, Freedom Through Vigilance Association, and USAFSS Rollcall, and had very good USAFSS oriented websites.
Airlee was well liked in his little town of Bandon, Oregon, and was a very good photographer as one can see from his many photos on line.
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TWS Memorial Team
2010, Freedom Through Vigilance Association (FTVA)
