Colonel
Richard E. Skelton
d. 16 Nov 1977
Col. Skelton was the 52 TFW Commander from 10 JUN 77 to 16 NOV 77. He died from a heart attack during a mission in an F-4 after safely landing his plane at Spangdahlem. He was a highly-decorated combat veteran of the VietNam conflict.
The Spangdahlem AB gymnasium was formally named the Skelton Memorial Field House Feb. 17, 1977. On Nov. 20, 1977, just four days after his death, the wing held a memorial service for Col. Skelton on Spangdahlem AB, attended by approximately 2,000 military and civilian mourners