Posted by Family and Classmate on January 28, 2003:

WILLIAM HENRY LYNCH was born and raised in Lawrence, MA, the son of William H. and Ella Mulvihill Lynch. Upon graduating from Central Catholic High School he entered Boston College in 1943. He was well liked and led an active social life. He loved sports and played basketball in high school and fenced in college. While in college, he enrolled in the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps and applied for a congressional appoinment to West Point. In March 1944, he was called to active duty, serving in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. In the meantime, he received a USMA appointment and joined the Class of '48 in July 1944. Bill's West Point roomates remember him as a true Boston gentileman and a good friend. They recall his broad knowledge and sound judgement made him the leader in debates, where he repeatedly finished on top. He fenced, played soccer, joined the ski and fishing clubs, and served as an acolyte for the Catholic Chapel and wrote for the Howitzer. At graduation, Bill was scheduled for pilot training in the newly created U.S. Air Force. While a cadet, Bill dated Maryalice Subatch, a recent graduate of Boston University and the daughter of Anthony and Leontyne Subatch, also from Lawrence. They married on graduation day, exchanging vows in the Catholic Chapel. Bill had two months of graduation leave before reporting to San Antonio, TX, for flight training at Randolph AFB. Much to his chagrin, he ended up in the large group that did not finish primary because of a postwar draw down in pilot authorizations. However, he did regale his family with the story of his two "landings" ten feet above the runway that may have contributed as well. This 1949 change in his career aspirations brought Bill to the field of research and development, and he pursued his new area with zeal for the remainder of his Active Duty service. After short tours at Eglin AFB, FL and Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, Bill was sent to MIT in 1951. He was promoted to captain in 1953 and graduated the smae year with a master's degree in engineering. He was assigned to the Wright Air Development Center in Ohio, where he helped develop aircraft and missle guidance systems. It did not take long before his supervisors recognized his exceptional technical competence, his uncanny insight into core problems and, most importantly, his ability to come up with practical and affordable solutions. Bill was promoted to major in 1957, and transferred to Headquarters, Air Research and Development Command, with duty at Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA. At Hanscom, he was responsible for monitoring all test activities of the joint U.S.-Canadian Air Defense System, comprising manned interceptors, Bomarc missles and the SAGE radar network. Bill recognized that meeting Bomarc test requirements would require resolution of conflicts on the availability of heavily used test facilities belonging to three separate commands. On his own initiative, he prepared a joint facility test plan, briefed the general officers of the three commands, and obtained their approval of his plan. Bill's outstanding performance brought him to the attention of the Royal Canadian Air Force and led to his 1959 assignment to the RCAF Bomarc Office in Ottawa, Canada. He was given responsibility for coordinating the introduction of the Bomarc into the Canadian air defense missle forces. With the successful integration of the Bomarc, Bill was sent to the Universty of California - Los Angeles in 1961, where he earned a doctorate in astronautical engineering. Bill was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1963 and assigned to the Pentagon the following year. During the next four years he was an important member of the highly respected Air Staff team responsible for system analysis of strategic missles and missle defense systems. In 1968, Bill was assigned to the Space and Missle Organization, Los Angeles, CA, where he was active in the development and acquisition of strategic systems. In 1969, hw was promoted to colonel. As his career took him across the country and back again several times Bill generally would extend travel to take his family camping. Saving his leave time for long summer vacations made pitching the tent and starting the campfire familiar for a family that grew to include two sons and two daughters. From hiking through the desert in Joshua Tree to canoeing in the lakes of the Rockies, he shared the entire country with his family. In 1971, Bill, accompanied by his family, was sent to Paris, France to be the SHAPE military assistant to the high-level civilian director who provided technical support for the NATO Military Committees. He completed a number of studies, including aircraft vulnerability, used by operational planners and combat commanders in Viet Nam to improve operational tactics. The director said Bill was adept at establishing rapport with, and gaining the respect of the foreign nationals at all levels of NATO, and that the effectiveness of his office was greatly enhanced by Bill's management skills, integrity,tact, and diplomacy. The travel "bug" hit Bill and Maryalice hard while they were in Europe. Although the family was smaller then, their two daughters having left for college and marriage, he began to share the rest of the world with his wife and sons. From Scandinavia through the Black Forest to Morocco, long summertime vacations once again became times of exploration and adventure. Bill retired in June 1977, having acquired recognition in the form of four Legions of Merit, matching the record for individual awards of that medal. With an excellent reputation as a skilled professional, he worked in Southern California for General Dynamics and as a private consultant until 1980. After his second retirement, Bill moved to the Pacific Northwest, reminiscent of New England, and more of the mountains he loved. Bill is survived by his son, William H. Lynch; daughters, Karen A. Stuckey and Sheila I. Smith; granddaughters, Cara Christopherson and Andrea Smith; and sister Claire Lent. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Maryalice, and followed by son J. Daniel Lynch. Col. William H. Lynch will be remembered for his devotion to his family and friends and his steadfast adherence to the spirit and practice of the West Point motto, "Duty, Honor, Country." All are reflected in his military files and the memories of those who knew and loved him. Well done, Bill. Be thou at peace.

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