Capt., US Navy
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
http://www.usna.com/NC/History/ClassOf1940/F.htm#6
After graduation, Bill and several classmates ended up in Long Beach awaiting a ride to Pearl to join COLORADO. They waited about two months which gave them plenty of time to get acquainted with the attractive young ladies of the area. Bill and Willie Hodnett were buddies for the social outings. The new-found freedom was cut short when a destroyer showed up to take them "back to the Navy".
COLORADO returned to Puget Sound for overhaul before WWII started; the Yard wasn't much fun. Bill Fly and Bill Butler escaped at every opportunity to hunt quail, grouse or ducks. The faraway attack on Pearl Harbor found them on the Hood Canal duck hunting.
In July, 1942, Bill abandoned ship for flight training. There, in New Orleans, he met a lovely young lady, Isabel Morales, whom he finally was able to persuade to be his wife. Next, to Pensacola where wings were "won" in April, 1943. Finally, on to Melbourne, Florida, for operational training. After that, he joined VC-33 and operated off Jeep carriers in the Pacific for the remainder of the war. Meanwhile, Isabel and Bill became proud parents of a lovely baby girl, Sandra.
After the war, there were tours as Exec. of SAN CARLOS (AVP-51) based in Panama; Executive Department, USNA; Naval War College; and C.O. VF-22. While in VF-22, at Jar, they adopted a fine son, Greg.
Following, there were staff tours, including CarDiv Two and First Fleet, plus a delightful two years as Air Group Commander. Finally came the National War College, then two ship commands, and a tour with the Joint Staff, which finished off the active duty. Since 1971, they have been in Virginia Beach; here Bill "retired" from the faculty Tidewater Community College in 1981. Now, as a part-time yard man, handy-man and gentleman farmer (farm near Farmville, Va.), he often wonders how he ever did the "odd" jobs plus pursue a Navy career. Isabel and Bill claim that some day they'll really retire.
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
http://www.usna.com/NC/History/ClassOf1940/F.htm#6
After graduation, Bill and several classmates ended up in Long Beach awaiting a ride to Pearl to join COLORADO. They waited about two months which gave them plenty of time to get acquainted with the attractive young ladies of the area. Bill and Willie Hodnett were buddies for the social outings. The new-found freedom was cut short when a destroyer showed up to take them "back to the Navy".
COLORADO returned to Puget Sound for overhaul before WWII started; the Yard wasn't much fun. Bill Fly and Bill Butler escaped at every opportunity to hunt quail, grouse or ducks. The faraway attack on Pearl Harbor found them on the Hood Canal duck hunting.
In July, 1942, Bill abandoned ship for flight training. There, in New Orleans, he met a lovely young lady, Isabel Morales, whom he finally was able to persuade to be his wife. Next, to Pensacola where wings were "won" in April, 1943. Finally, on to Melbourne, Florida, for operational training. After that, he joined VC-33 and operated off Jeep carriers in the Pacific for the remainder of the war. Meanwhile, Isabel and Bill became proud parents of a lovely baby girl, Sandra.
After the war, there were tours as Exec. of SAN CARLOS (AVP-51) based in Panama; Executive Department, USNA; Naval War College; and C.O. VF-22. While in VF-22, at Jar, they adopted a fine son, Greg.
Following, there were staff tours, including CarDiv Two and First Fleet, plus a delightful two years as Air Group Commander. Finally came the National War College, then two ship commands, and a tour with the Joint Staff, which finished off the active duty. Since 1971, they have been in Virginia Beach; here Bill "retired" from the faculty Tidewater Community College in 1981. Now, as a part-time yard man, handy-man and gentleman farmer (farm near Farmville, Va.), he often wonders how he ever did the "odd" jobs plus pursue a Navy career. Isabel and Bill claim that some day they'll really retire.
Capt., US Navy
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
http://www.usna.com/NC/History/ClassOf1940/F.htm#6
After graduation, Bill and several classmates ended up in Long Beach awaiting a ride to Pearl to join COLORADO. They waited about two months which gave them plenty of time to get acquainted with the attractive young ladies of the area. Bill and Willie Hodnett were buddies for the social outings. The new-found freedom was cut short when a destroyer showed up to take them "back to the Navy".
COLORADO returned to Puget Sound for overhaul before WWII started; the Yard wasn't much fun. Bill Fly and Bill Butler escaped at every opportunity to hunt quail, grouse or ducks. The faraway attack on Pearl Harbor found them on the Hood Canal duck hunting.
In July, 1942, Bill abandoned ship for flight training. There, in New Orleans, he met a lovely young lady, Isabel Morales, whom he finally was able to persuade to be his wife. Next, to Pensacola where wings were "won" in April, 1943. Finally, on to Melbourne, Florida, for operational training. After that, he joined VC-33 and operated off Jeep carriers in the Pacific for the remainder of the war. Meanwhile, Isabel and Bill became proud parents of a lovely baby girl, Sandra.
After the war, there were tours as Exec. of SAN CARLOS (AVP-51) based in Panama; Executive Department, USNA; Naval War College; and C.O. VF-22. While in VF-22, at Jar, they adopted a fine son, Greg.
Following, there were staff tours, including CarDiv Two and First Fleet, plus a delightful two years as Air Group Commander. Finally came the National War College, then two ship commands, and a tour with the Joint Staff, which finished off the active duty. Since 1971, they have been in Virginia Beach; here Bill "retired" from the faculty Tidewater Community College in 1981. Now, as a part-time yard man, handy-man and gentleman farmer (farm near Farmville, Va.), he often wonders how he ever did the "odd" jobs plus pursue a Navy career. Isabel and Bill claim that some day they'll really retire.
WWII, Korea, Vietnam
http://www.usna.com/NC/History/ClassOf1940/F.htm#6
After graduation, Bill and several classmates ended up in Long Beach awaiting a ride to Pearl to join COLORADO. They waited about two months which gave them plenty of time to get acquainted with the attractive young ladies of the area. Bill and Willie Hodnett were buddies for the social outings. The new-found freedom was cut short when a destroyer showed up to take them "back to the Navy".
COLORADO returned to Puget Sound for overhaul before WWII started; the Yard wasn't much fun. Bill Fly and Bill Butler escaped at every opportunity to hunt quail, grouse or ducks. The faraway attack on Pearl Harbor found them on the Hood Canal duck hunting.
In July, 1942, Bill abandoned ship for flight training. There, in New Orleans, he met a lovely young lady, Isabel Morales, whom he finally was able to persuade to be his wife. Next, to Pensacola where wings were "won" in April, 1943. Finally, on to Melbourne, Florida, for operational training. After that, he joined VC-33 and operated off Jeep carriers in the Pacific for the remainder of the war. Meanwhile, Isabel and Bill became proud parents of a lovely baby girl, Sandra.
After the war, there were tours as Exec. of SAN CARLOS (AVP-51) based in Panama; Executive Department, USNA; Naval War College; and C.O. VF-22. While in VF-22, at Jar, they adopted a fine son, Greg.
Following, there were staff tours, including CarDiv Two and First Fleet, plus a delightful two years as Air Group Commander. Finally came the National War College, then two ship commands, and a tour with the Joint Staff, which finished off the active duty. Since 1971, they have been in Virginia Beach; here Bill "retired" from the faculty Tidewater Community College in 1981. Now, as a part-time yard man, handy-man and gentleman farmer (farm near Farmville, Va.), he often wonders how he ever did the "odd" jobs plus pursue a Navy career. Isabel and Bill claim that some day they'll really retire.
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