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To those who knew him, Wallace Gourley Hynds, Jr., was a most affable and spirited individual who had the ability to make those around him feel good about themselves.</p>
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Born and raised in Sumter, SC, he was the first of Wallace Gourley and Lucile (Thompson) Hynds’ three children, followed by sister Linn and brother Bill.</p>
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Wally left home at 16 to attend Southwestern University. The following summer, Senator Fulmer gave each South Carolina lad a chance to attend the Academy by offering a competitive examination.</p>
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Passing the exam was only part of it. Wally had to eat several pounds of bananas to meet the weight requirement!</p>
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Cadets entering West Point in 1942 were on an accelerated, more arduous academic track. Wally sacrificed time and effort and the best possible grade to tutor classmates who had difficulty. The 1945 <em>Howitzer</em> said, "He more than once saved a fellow cadet from the academic axe." Not long after entering the Army Air Corps, he was introduced to the most cherished passion of his life. Hannah Charlton, a native Nashvillian he called on to convey greetings from a mutual friend, became his bride in December 1945 after only a three-month courtship. They had four children: first a string of girls—Charlton, Sue, and Lucy—and then a boy who was the third person to carry on the family name of Wallace Gourley Hynds.</p>
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COL Hynds’ military career was a distinguished one. Although he passed the foreign service examination, he remained in the military. His diplomatic talents were put to use with several international assignments as a representative of the military. Wally initially went to Clark Field in the Philippines, where he was commended for carrying out his military justice duties in a "distinguished, intelligent, and diligent" manner. In 1948, as a member of the Air Rescue Service at Hamilton AFB, CA, he was a pilot and Assistant Squadron Adjutant. In the summer of 1950, he spent three months flying B-29s out of Japan over North Korea. Next, he attended Navigation School at Ellington AFB in Texas and Bombardier School at Mather AFB in California and was a "three-headed monster" able to perform all functions in a B-47 cockpit. Transferring to Florida’s MacDill AFB in 1952, Wally "upgraded" to flying B-47s with additional duty as Squadron Maintenance Officer. Described as displaying "patient and effective instruction" as a B-47 Instructor Pilot and Squadron Air Training Officer, he was praised for his ability to train even below-average students. In 1954, his crew won the annual SAC Bombing and Navigation Meet competition. This resulted in his appearing on nationwide TV to promote SAC as well as words of praise in an <em>Argosy</em> magazine article that described the grueling event. He reminded the author that, although pilots often get all the glory, the other crew members were equally responsible for such a victory. The family moved to Omaha, NE, in 1957, and Wally was a command pilot flying</p>
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B-52s. At Offutt AFB, the focus of his career shifted to research and development as Chief of the Future Aircraft Section. He was Project Officer for future manned weaponry systems, including the B-70 and nuclear-powered bomber, and was a member of the classified weapons systems evaluation team. He carried out these duties with "initiative, imagination, forcefulness, and long hours of critically detailed chart work." Honing his talent for public speaking in Toastmasters International, Wally was a SAC representative at military and civilian meetings. In 1961, he went to USAF Headquarters and, eventually, was Chief of the Future Strategic Aircraft Section. His primary responsibility at the Pentagon was as head of the Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft Focal Point Office, establishing the requirements for advanced strategic manned aircraft and related aerospace weaponry projects while reporting weekly to the Chief of Staff. He also acted as Operational Requirements Project Officer for the strategic aircraft portion of a study directed by the J oint Chiefs of Staff. He played a major role in the development of the B-l bomber. For outstanding service, in 1965, Wally was awarded the Legion of Merit.</p>
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Considered a "singular authority" in his field, he was often self-taught in areas such as mathematics and aeronautic design. While in Washington, however, he earned a master’s degree in engineering at George Washington University. He also graduated from the National War College in 1966. Next, he was Deputy Commander, Operations, for the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, SC. New to the reconnaissance business, it was said that he had "a tiger by the tail" with this large unit, but he created a productive and harmonious staff.</p>
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Ten months later, he went to Southeast Asia as Deputy Commander, Operations, at Udorn, Thailand, flying an RF-4C on unarmed reconnaissance missions. He was killed in action doing something he adored—flying. On the afternoon of 2 Aug 1967, as he flew his 31 st mission over North Vietnam, his plane crashed, presumably brought down by enemy fire. For meritorious achievement during numerous reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam, he was posthumously awarded the Air Medal (third through fifth oak leaf cluster), the Distinguished Flying Cross, and Bronze and Silver Stars. As a superior once wrote, Wally’s "curiosity and energy being ‘harnessed’ for the Air Force" was very fortunate for this branch of the military. With his dedication to service and strong sense of patriotism, such a compliment must have made him proud; serving one’s country was an honorable duty to this gentleman. He was respected by subordinates and superiors alike.</p>
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One of his reporting officers at MacDill AFB said Wally’s colleagues "not only admire and respect CPT Hynds but genuinely like him." The pain of losing him so early in his life has been tempered by the wonderful memories he left behind as a good and loving husband, father, brother, and friend. No better eulogy could one man want than to remain so alive in the hearts of those who knew him. We still hear his words and laughter, see his infectious smile, and relate his adventures to the newest generation of family members.</p>
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And so he lives on.</p>