First Lieutenant Thomas E. Doyle, USAF
On a grim, cloudy day in the Spring of 1988, in a little town in West Germany, a
young California pilot gave his life to save local children and townspeople.
USAF 1st Lt. Tom Doyle was returning with his flight from a low level NATO
mission. While over the center of the city of Forst, his F-16 fighter experienced
catastrophic engine failure. Although he could have bailed out, Lt. Doyle elected
to stay with his crippled fighter to guide it away from the shops, schools and
congestion below. He succeeded — and died in the ensuing crash.
After the crash the townspeople of Forst, in recognition of Lt. Doyle’s act of
heroism, established a small memorial fund for him — a fund which has grown
through contributions of friends and family, and is now known as the Thomas E.
Doyle Memorial Fund. The Fund now makes annual cash awards toward the
continuing education of young Californians who are planning a career in aviation
or aerospace, whether in the air or in a related technical field. Candidates should
be youths whose performance in school or in their community best demonstrates
the qualities of character, leadership and commitment to excellence that
characterized the life of Lt. Tom Doyle.
Lt. Doyle graduated from Las Plumas High School in Oroville, California. His
love and flying and commitment to excellence were evident early in his life. At
age 14 he soloed in gliders. At 15, he was cadet commander of his Civil Air
Patrol squadron. At 16 he was the California Wing Cadet of the Year. At 17 he
earned his FAA private pilot certificate and won appointment to the U.S. Air
Force Academy. As an AFA cadet he earned his CFI rating in gliders and
became a glider instructor for his Academy classmates. Graduating near the top
of his class, he won a coveted Air Force assignment to fly fighter aircraft.
Once, during fighter training, he experienced an engine failure in formation at low
altitude. He successfully landed his F-16 “deadstick,” saving both himself and his
aircraft, and subsequently received an “Aircrew of Distinction” citation from the
Air Force. During another incident after his assignment to Germany, he
successfully landed his malfunctioning F-16 at night. But besides being an
excellent pilot, Lt. Tom Doyle’s quiet competence, friendliness and modesty
made him numerous friends among the townspeople and children near his base.
Lt. Thomas E. Doyle will not be forgotten, either in Germany or by his many
friends in Civil Air Patrol’s California Wing.
Please Sign the 1st Lt Thomas E. Doyle Petition!