In 1984, Col Ivy died in a B-52 crash. Then this stark stone memorial was placed in the memorial park at Fairchild AFB, WA. A small group in Spokane, WA would like to place an additional small plaque to help explain the mystery of who Col Ivy was and why there is a memorial to him.

UPDATE: Any funds received in excess of that needed to place the plaque will be used for flowers to commemorate Memorial Day and the date of the crash in future years. Thank you!

It is a compelling story of an American hero.

William Ivy was born in 1939 and West Point, Mississippi was his hometown. Graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1963, he attended pilot training and deployed to Vietnam where he was awarded a Silver Star for his actions as an AC-47 gunship commander. Returning from Vietnam he eventually was assigned to B-52s in the Strategic Air Command. He rose in rank and responsibility and by 1984 he had been promoted to Colonel and become the Deputy Commander for Operations of the 92nd Bomb Wing at Fairchild AFB.

On October 16, 1984, a Boeing B-52G (callsign SWOON 52) left Fairchild to perform a night low-level mission over Monument Valley, AZ. While flying in and out of snow showers, the B-52's right wing and #4 engine pylon struck the north crest of Hunts Mesa on the Navajo Indian Reservation. The aircraft continued to travel another 3,465 feet before it crashed onto a lower southern bluff of Hunts Mesa. After first striking the mesa, five members of the crew managed to eject from the aircraft with serious injuries. The exceptions being Sgt. David Felix whose parachute failed to deploy before ground contact and Col. William Ivy who was seated in the observers seat without the capability to eject or escape before the plane crashed. Both were killed in the accident.

Here's the text of the bronze plaque we hope to place.

SWOON 52

October 16, 1984

Col. William L Ivy, 92 BMW Deputy Commander for Operations

and Sgt David W Felix, 325 Bomb Sq Gunner were killed

when their B-52G crashed during a night

low-level mission over Monument Valley, AZ.

Five of the seven crewmembers survived.

This plaque placed by Flight 41, Order of Daedalians

Please help us make this a reality to honor the memory of Col Ivy and Sgt Felix.

The Order of Daedalians is a national organization that welcomes commissioned military officers, warrant officers or Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) in any component of the United States Armed Forces who is a pilot, navigator, combat systems officer (CSO), naval flight officer (NFO), air battle manager (ABM), remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) pilot or flight surgeon of heavier-than-air-powered aircraft or astronaut. Direct line descendants of our Founding Members are qualified as well. Col Ivy was an active member.