JOHN W. (WILD BILL) CRUMP, was born on July 2, 1924 in Opportunity Washington. His first flight was at the age of five in a Ford Tri-Motor.
U.S. MILITARY CAREER:
Gunnery School Graduate: When WWII started, Bill wanted to join the service to support the war effort. He was able to graduate early his senior year from Edmonds High School so he could enlist in the US Army Air Force. He was sent to Harlingen Aerial Gunnery School in Harlingen, TX where he completed the gunnery program and then was accepted into the aviation cadet program.
Jeep: He completed his flight training in Texas and graduated in class 44B at Moore Army Air Base, Mission, TX. Bill found a coyote pup in 1944 while he was going thru pilot training at Harding Field, Nebraska. The pup was only two weeks old and Bill named him Jeep after Popeyes pet . He took him south to Baton Rouge for P-47 training and Jeep became accustumed to flying. Bill then smuggled him aboard the H/M Queen Elizabeth to England where Bill was stationed.
Wild Bill & Jeep: Here Jeep and Bill practice their howl in unison at Playford Hall, Ipswich England. The coyote had "Dog Tags", a Form 5 log book , and immunization records. Bill was stationed at RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield located in Ipswich, England. More history about the pilots and crew that were stationed at Martlesham Heath Airfield can be found at the www.mhas.org.uk/ webpage.
P-47 Razorback: "Wild Bill" getting ready to enter the cockpit of his P-47 Razorback for a mission to Germany. The P-47 was a very dependable aircraft as it would take alot of damage and still get the pilot back safely. Jeep & Wild Bill - P47 Razorback: P-47 Razorback. Jeep is laying on a 500 lb bomb. Wild Bill went on to transition into the P-51 and logged 311 combat hours, which consisted of 77 missions, mostly strafing, flakbusting and flying escort. Wild Bill with P-51 Mustang: While stationed at RAF Martlesham Heath, Bill belonged to the 360th Fighter Squadron (356th Fighter Group). Jackie - P51D & Wild Bill: Wild Bill and his P-51 Mustang. Note the image of the coyote on the side of the fuselage. Wild Bill with his aircraft "Jackie" which was named after his high school sweet heart. Jeep - 5 Combat Missions: Jeep, the only Coyote in the World to complete in WWII in P-47 and P-51 supporting the Allied effort defeating the Axis powers. Jeep's Gravesite - Ipswitch, England: Jeep was killed shortly after his fifth combat mission when he was accidentially runover by a military vehicle. Jeep was buried with full military honors and his grave site is on the grounds at Playford Hall in Ipswitch, England.
"Wild Bill" returned to Ipswich, England in 1992 to visit RAF Martlesham Heath Airfield and also visit Playford Hall where he lived. Playford Hall was built in 1560 and is surrounded by a moat. Wild Bill Crump Jackie - P51D #415056
Discharged from the service in 1948, Bill returned to his home in Edmonds, WA and became a flight instructor and airline pilot. Berlin Airlift - 1948:
In 1948, Bill was re-enlisted back into milititary service where he joined the USAF. His first assignment was flying DC-4 in the Berlin Airlift. Bob Hope's Pilot: Bill also flew Bob Hope and the Les Brown Band from Frankfurt to Berlin, Germany on Christmas Eve - 1948. C-124 Globemaster: Bill was promoted to the rank of major and became a pilot of the Douglas C-124 Globe Master (7th Troop Carrier Squadron) which were based at Larson Air Force Base, WA. The C-124 was the largest troop carrier in the world. As a cargo hauler, the C-124 could carry tanks, guns, trucks and other heavy equipment. In its passenger-carrying role, it could carry 200 fully equipped troops on its double decks or 127 litter patients and their attendants. It was the only aircraft of its time capable of transporting heavy equipment such as tanks and bulldozers without prior disassembly. Major Crump In 1954, Bill led a squadron of nine C-124 Cargo Masters to France where the they assisted the French by airlifting 500 paratroop/commandos and their equipment to Indochina, landing at Da Nang's Tourane Airfield. It was the longest troop airlift in history at that time. After dropping of the French Troops in Vietnam, the C-124 continued across the Pacific back to their home base, making the airlift an around-the-world flight.
AIR SHOW PERFORMER: Miss America P-51 Airshow Pilot Bill's love of aviation took him to becoming a airshow performer. He joined the crew of Miss America, a P-51 Mustang and became one of their airshow pilots. Here he is performing at the Paine Field International Air Show. Bill flew Miss America for two years doing air show performances. Bill remarked that flying this aircraft 50 years after WWII came back to him naturally. He said that re-flying this aircraft was the highlight of his flying career.
"High Flight"
Bill also owned and operated a "High Flight", the only licensed aerial cremains spreading business in Washington State.
In 1980 he became president of the Edmonds Rotary Club. During his tenure, he conceived and directed construction of the Gazebo Bandstand in the Edmonds City Park. In 1983 as Commander of the American Legion he was responsible for the return of the War Memorial which is located in front of the Edmonds Museum.
General Douglas MacArthur Award Recepient
In 1988, Bill was awarded the General Douglas MacArthur Award for his dedication to his community.
Olympic Torch Bearer:
Because of Bill's community service, he was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch for 6/10th of a mile on it's journey from Los Angeles to Atlanta for the 1996 Olympic Games.
Edmonds War Memorial:
Bill Crump was instrumental in re-establishing the War Memorial in front of the Edmonds Museum. This memorial honors the lives of Edmonds residents who gave the ultimate sacrifice fighting our nation wars.

Receiving Recognition From The Queen of Sweden:
In 1990, Bill returned to Sweden where he and other pilots were honored by the King and Queen of Sweden. Here Bill and fellow pilot Dick Lundstom greet the Queen of Sweden. As WWII was winding down in Europe, these pilots volunteered to ferry unarmed P-51 to the Swedish government. These pilots did not wear their uniforms and also removed their military identification including their dog tags. They were allowed to carry a pistol to be used for defending themselves in case they had to land before arriving in Sweden. This was a top secret mission as Sweden had stayed neutral during the war.
Source: http://wildbillcrump.com